3rd Gen Dakota 2005 - 2011 Dodge Dakota Tech - The ultimate forum for technical help on the 3rd Gen Dakota.

Trailmaster Suspension

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 08-18-2010, 06:17 PM
The Dutch Touch's Avatar
The Dutch Touch
The Dutch Touch is offline
Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ontario, canada
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Trailmaster Suspension

To anyone who ordered the trailmaster leveling kit i have a question, how thick are your spacers?
I just measured mine and they are 3/4 of an inch, and i was under the impression that the leveling kit was 2 inches.
Any help would be appreciated.
 
  #2  
Old 08-18-2010, 06:27 PM
rengnath's Avatar
rengnath
rengnath is offline
Champion
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Greenfield, Wisconsin
Posts: 3,686
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

The kit will give you "2 inches of lift" if that makes sense. If you measure your fender from the ground before and after the install of that 3/4" spacer, it should have a 2" difference. Since all the components and control arms are at difference angles, only a 3/4" spacer is needed to jack the front up 2".
 
  #3  
Old 08-18-2010, 06:42 PM
The Dutch Touch's Avatar
The Dutch Touch
The Dutch Touch is offline
Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ontario, canada
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

hey thanks for the quick reply im new to the custom truck world lol, so i just wanted to make sure i got the right kit.

Would anyone recomend that i replace the shocks at the same time, given that ill have it apart anyway?
 
  #4  
Old 08-18-2010, 06:55 PM
MonkeyWrench4000's Avatar
MonkeyWrench4000
MonkeyWrench4000 is offline
Record Breaker
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,513
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Make sure you install the TM kit the NEW way, which does not use the 3 bolts. With the new installation instructions, no new bolts are needed, just the spacers, and they are installed to pre-load the coil spring of the strut.
 
  #5  
Old 08-18-2010, 08:00 PM
The Dutch Touch's Avatar
The Dutch Touch
The Dutch Touch is offline
Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ontario, canada
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Yea i know i heard nothing but bad things when you use a bolt-on levelling kit on our 4x4 dakotas. I also only received the two spacers and the new instructions so no need to worry lol.
Any comments on shocks?
Any tips/tricks that could help me make this install a bit easier.
 
  #6  
Old 08-18-2010, 08:06 PM
dakotaff's Avatar
dakotaff
dakotaff is offline
Champion
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Jersey
Posts: 3,955
Received 82 Likes on 79 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by The Dutch Touch
o worry lol.
Any comments on shocks?
Yeah, replace em while you're putting in the leveling kit. Monroe & Rancho are the most popular by the members here, you can't go wrong with either.
 
  #7  
Old 08-18-2010, 09:32 PM
rengnath's Avatar
rengnath
rengnath is offline
Champion
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Greenfield, Wisconsin
Posts: 3,686
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

The factory shocks and struts are the reason many of the suspention parts wear out prematurely .... like ball joints. The new struts up front will stiffen it up a bit, in a good way.
 
  #8  
Old 08-18-2010, 09:58 PM
The Dutch Touch's Avatar
The Dutch Touch
The Dutch Touch is offline
Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ontario, canada
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Thanks guys, i was going to install the kit this weekend, but now ill wait off a bit till i get the new shocks.

Now i got another decision to make Rancho or Monroe.
 
  #9  
Old 08-18-2010, 11:22 PM
rengnath's Avatar
rengnath
rengnath is offline
Champion
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Greenfield, Wisconsin
Posts: 3,686
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Make sure you get struts for the front, shocks for the rear. The part numbers for Ranchos are in the Commonly Asked Questions thread which is stickied at the top of the 3rd Gen Dakota section.
 
  #10  
Old 08-18-2010, 11:47 PM
The Dutch Touch's Avatar
The Dutch Touch
The Dutch Touch is offline
Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ontario, canada
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

i havent found the pic for the ranchos yet but will i have to get a new top assembly as like the one shown in this pic,
http://catalog.monroe.com/monroe/pro...catalog=MONROE
or can i just use the same part which i'll take of the old strut, will it fit?
 


Quick Reply: Trailmaster Suspension



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:24 AM.