Hi all! Long story short, I picked up a 2011 Dakota yesterday and was driving home from the dealer (about 30 miles). I could not believe the crappy ride. When I got home, my wife and daughter wanted to go for a ride. About two blocks later they both asked what was wrong with the way the truck rides.

I did a search and I found older Dakotas had stock shock problems that could be corrected with ranchos and moroes etc. I want to fix this truck asap but could not find any shocks for this year and model.

When I go over the smallest bump, the rear of the vehicle shakes (it sorta wiggles) from side to side and it is so noticeable.

P.S. The dealer did put on new wrangler tires

Thanks, Jay

 

Have you owned a truck before?

 

just wondering ,but wasn't it noticeable during the test drive before signing papers?
maybe couldve been used for better deal leverage....or a reason to move on to another vehicle.

 

Most trucks are going to have a lot of shake and bounce when the rear goes over a vehicle since the bed of a truck weighs very little and the suspension is rated to hold a lot of weight. I've replaced everything suspension wise on my truck and it still rides harsh when compared to cars and suvs.

 

Don't forget it is a very heavy truck. It's not going to ride on clouds. Your probably going to feel every bump in the road.

 

Thanks for the feedback guys! I have had a '97 Ram and a '02 Dakota. I just traded in my '03 Dakota for this truck and all three of thoses trucks rode much better. This truck is making me dizzy from its shaking from side to side. It happens at the slightest bump.

When I test drove it, I drove on a super smooth road for about three miles each way, figuring that a 2011 would drive much better than my three past Dodges.

Can someone tell me how to correct this?

Jay

 

My '11 Dakota rides extremely smooth for a truck. The independent suspension helps a lot. I don't know what's wrong with yours.

 

I would recommend getting a shell, if you are ok with that. the extra weight will help a bit.

I lightened mine by almost 180lbs, and that rear end shimmies over everything, but I don't care much.

Do the 2011s have a rear sway bar?

But, by comparison, the Dakota feels like an empty flatbed 4500 compared to my S10 I used to own.

 

The rear suspension on the Dakota is a Leaf Spring and Shock Setup as far as I know.
I drove my parents '11 Corolla and Brothers '10 Elantra for a week when I had my trucks entire front apart, and going back to the truck, its a Very noticeable difference. Ive only really driven Trucks since I started driving so Im used to it.

The rear on mine sways slightly, but its normal. Only time it did more then normal I had a semi-flat rear tire.

 

Reject is correct, the rear is not an independent suspension, just the front. The rear is a solid axle, the same (or extremely similar) 9.25" rear end that has been used in Ram 1500s since 1994.

Only time mine sways is going fast over a large bump, but maybe I am just used to trucks. I've always had one since 2002 (1995 Dakota, 2001 Ram 1500, 2010 Dakota).