RE: Front struts options for the Dakota
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RE: Front struts options for the Dakota - 2/22/2008 7:56:33 AM
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rookie
Posts: 317
Joined: 3/23/2007
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could one carefully test fit these alleged quick struts and return them if needed? I had a lot of trouble trying to get my struts back in their seat(top) after the tm leveler was on top of the strut. they were to long, especially w/ the extra long bolts sticking up. it took some creative (if not dangerous) prying to cojole them back into place. probably would've been easier if i'd removed the bottom of the strut from the lower control arm. I would worry if the entire ram strut assembly is more than a couple of inches longer. Unless there was a way to safely compress the strut a little, while installing it. ratchet straps? bolt up the top of the strut and cinch the bottom of the spring toward the top strut mount?
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RE: Front struts options for the Dakota - 2/22/2008 12:02:51 PM
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blackdak06
Posts: 120
Joined: 7/27/2007
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has anyone tried to contact Chassis Tech to talk with them about this. They did make a lift kit for an 2005 Dakota for the SEMA show so they probably have a lot of the answers we're looking for.
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RE: Front struts options for the Dakota - 2/22/2008 3:34:56 PM
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Hunterdude
Posts: 43
Joined: 6/1/2007
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They actually make and sell kits for our trucks, however about the only thing they are known for is the @#$% that they put out. Their kits don't fit, aren't complete or don't hold up. I've yet to see anyone put their kit on their Dak and with the number of people begging for lifts that tells you something.
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RE: Front struts options for the Dakota - 2/22/2008 5:52:07 PM
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rookie
Posts: 317
Joined: 3/23/2007
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how much is this kit? I think if i can fit some ram struts it would be cheap and maybe around 3" lift. I have a level kit and i even cheated it up with some metal shims but it still only gives just under 2"
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RE: Front struts options for the Dakota - 2/26/2008 7:54:56 PM
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cuda70
Posts: 38
Joined: 10/9/2006
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Any more info on this?
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RE: Front struts options for the Dakota - 2/27/2008 6:43:29 AM
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djsilver
Posts: 81
Joined: 1/12/2008
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If you want to lift your Dakota there are several ways to do it. Multiple companies make the spacers to add 2-2.5" using the stock struts/springs. The Ram Quick-lift kit would fit, add 2-3" inches with better shocks and a stiffer spring. Either method will change your front drive axle angles them same amount for a given amount of lift (You 4WD guys have to figure that out) As far as getting either installed, the best way would be to use some coil spring compressors to shorten the strut while you put them on. When figuring front lift amounts, the Motion Ratio is .6 so 1" at the strut will be about 1-11/16" at the wheel.
The problem I'm working on is that I want better dampening with no lift but no-one makes shocks for the Dakota other than OEM. The Ram shocks will fit with some tweaking (upside down springs and custom spring pads) but they're about 1-1/2" longer so they'll limit compression travel. I'm going to dis-assemble one of my struts today to verify some measurements but my plan is to use aftermarket Ram struts with upside down stock DAK springs but install some of those lift spacers ABOVE the spring perch with a top plate and shaft sleeve so that I can move the rubber bumper above the spring perch to give the shock room to maintain my stock compression travel. Doing this will open up many options, as it would even make room for things like Bilstein or Koni strut cartridges in a modified ram strut casing (their shortest units start at 11-1/2", which is the same as the ram strut but about 1-1/2" longer than a DAK strut.)
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RE: Front struts options for the Dakota - 2/27/2008 12:06:37 PM
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Cadillac15
Posts: 144
Joined: 12/7/2007
From: Marathon NY
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Has anyone thought about the possibilities of doing an SAS? just a thought. and so then, we determined the Ram Quick-Lift will fit for 3"?
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RE: Front struts options for the Dakota - 2/27/2008 3:43:06 PM
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cuda70
Posts: 38
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So, right now I have the tm spacers up front, how much more would the Ram Quick lift lift it? I don't necaesarrily want it any higher as I am worried about binding when in 4 wheel drive. It already feels tight when you turn the wheels sharp when 4x4 is engaged, is that normal?. Who's going to be the first to try this and where do you buy the ram quick lift
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RE: Front struts options for the Dakota - 2/27/2008 5:07:04 PM
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djsilver
Posts: 81
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Cadillac15
Has anyone thought about the possibilities of doing an SAS? just a thought. and so then, we determined the Ram Quick-Lift will fit for 3"?
OK, I give. What's an SAS?
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RE: Front struts options for the Dakota - 2/27/2008 5:33:12 PM
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Hunterdude
Posts: 43
Joined: 6/1/2007
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Solid Axle Swap. Pretty much the holy grail of offroad modifications but makes the truck illegal to drive on public roads in some states.
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RE: Front struts options for the Dakota - 2/27/2008 6:10:37 PM
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djsilver
Posts: 81
Joined: 1/12/2008
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quote:
ORIGINAL: djsilver
If you want to lift your Dakota there are several ways to do it. Multiple companies make the spacers to add 2-2.5" using the stock struts/springs. The Ram Quick-lift kit would fit, add 2-3" inches with better shocks and a stiffer spring. Either method will change your front drive axle angles them same amount for a given amount of lift (You 4WD guys have to figure that out) As far as getting either installed, the best way would be to use some coil spring compressors to shorten the strut while you put them on. When figuring front lift amounts, the Motion Ratio is .6 so 1" at the strut will be about 1-11/16" at the wheel.
The problem I'm working on is that I want better dampening with no lift but no-one makes shocks for the Dakota other than OEM. The Ram shocks will fit with some tweaking (upside down springs and custom spring pads) but they're about 1-1/2" longer so they'll limit compression travel. I'm going to dis-assemble one of my struts today to verify some measurements but my plan is to use aftermarket Ram struts with upside down stock DAK springs but install some of those lift spacers ABOVE the spring perch with a top plate and shaft sleeve so that I can move the rubber bumper above the spring perch to give the shock room to maintain my stock compression travel. Doing this will open up many options, as it would even make room for things like Bilstein or Koni strut cartridges in a modified ram strut casing (their shortest units start at 11-1/2", which is the same as the ram strut but about 1-1/2" longer than a DAK strut.)
I took one of my struts apart for more measurements today; (Keep this in context that I'm trying to maintain stock ride height)
The spring is 13" long and 3" ID except for the strut end which is reduced to 2" ID. I took it to a local race shop to have it tested and it came out to around 485lb/in. The Dak spring won't fit upside down as I was hoping because the small 2" end won't fit over the 3" center of the strut top-mount. I did a little searching and found several aftermarket springs at 3"x (12" or 14") x 500lb/in (Eibach, Draco, QA-1). That would allow the use of a Ram strut from a spring fit perspective but there's a problem with the top strut-mount, which I'll cover next;
Someone in a earlier post said that the Dak and Ram shared the same strut top-mount but that's not the case. The Dak p/n is 52013484 and The Ram p/n is 55398091 and I can see from the measurements why. The Dak bump stop is about 2/3's inside a metal shield which is attached to the top-mount. On full compression the strut could go partially inside the shield but the Ram strut wouldn't fit. If you look at the drawing you'll see that if part of the center section of the Dak top strut-mount is cut off, the opening would be big enough to allow the Ram strut to fit inside on full compression and would make room for the longer Ram strut (hold that thought!) For you guys that want the lift, you can use the Ram strut and spring but make sure you get the Ram top-mount as well.
Ok, so if I've cut away part of my top-mount, where do I put my bump stop? Remember the Ram strut body is 1-1/2" longer than the Dak but also has more travel so the extended length is almost 3" longer. I would put a lift spacer above the spring perch and bolt it down where the top-mount studs extend through the spring perch. I'd have to fabricate a short sleeve with a big washer welded on one end to drop in the center hole in the spring perch and extend into the top-mount. The purpose would be something for the strut body to hit on full compression to transfer the force through to the bump stop that will be sitting on top of the washer. The bump stop would be held in place by a cover plate bolted to the top flange of the lift spacer. The cover place would then have a center hole where the strut shaft nut would hold everything together. The only tricky part is that it will have to be assembled in place since the upper spring perch is sandwiched into the assembly. Sound crazy enough?
BTW, I did do some checking around for Dakota or Ram lowering kits but the only thing I could find was for earlier models with different suspension designs.
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