Update; Front struts options for the Dakota
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Update; Front struts options for the Dakota - 3/11/2008 10:39:10 AM
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djsilver
Posts: 81
Joined: 1/12/2008
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My project is on hold for parts, mainly to me not doing sufficient research. The struts from LKQ were the cross-pin style. They were nice enough to give me a refund but didn't have any of the others in their nationwide inventory system. I called Rancho to get their info on Ram struts and was told the 4x2's got the cross-pin and the 4x4's got the fork-mount. Went searching again and found a set at a parts-recycler in Detroit  I'm waiting for a call-back now to find out what the shipping is going to cost.
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Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 3/17/2008 4:20:31 PM
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djsilver
Posts: 81
Joined: 1/12/2008
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Well guys, I gave it my best shot but no easy swap. Basically, the Ram coilover strut assembly as a unit is just too long. I'd like to apologize for any bad info I gave out earlier as a result of jumping too quickly with incomplete information. I'm going to try and summarize everything here and add some pictures to illustrate;
Summary;
The Dakota uses a coilover strut assembly that's 19" from top of the top-mount to the center of the bolt hole in the bottom fork mount. The spring rate is approx. 485 lb/in and the motion ratio is approx. 0.6 (That means that for every inch the strut is compressed the actual wheel travels 1.67")
The Durango's and Ram 2WD trucks use torsion bar suspension systems and are not compatible
The '06 up Ram 4WD trucks use a coilover strut system similar to the Dakota. The assembly is 22" from top of the top mount to the center of the bolt hole in the bottom fork mount. The spring rate for the set I bought from an '06 Ram 1500 4WD is the same as the Dakota, at 485 lb/in. (the spring wire is thicker but the coil diameter is also bigger, so it works out the same)
What this means is that to mount the Ram strut assembly on the Dakota, you'd have to push down on the control arms enough to get a 3" increase between the mounting points for the strut assembly. Because of the motion ratio of the Dak, that would move the wheel down approx. 5". This doesn't work for several reasons, which I'll list here;
1. With the lower control arm forced down until the ball joint binds, there's only 19-1/4" between the strut mounting points. I used spring compressors to shorten the Ram strut but ran into the next problem;
2. With the LCA forced all the way down, the LCA angle was so severe that it interfered with the bottom of the strut and wouldn't allow the strut bolt to be inserted. Even if this were not a problem we'd run into the next one;
3. With the LCA forced all the way down, the extreme angle of the upper control arm would put it beyond bind and would interfere with the larger spring on the Ram strut assembly.
With this said, I see the following options available;
1. Wait until the '08 Dakota TRX4 struts are available from Dodge and use those.
2. Wait until the Monroe 71111 struts are available and use those
3. Use a Ram OEM or aftermarket Ram strut with an aftermarket 3"x12"x500lb/in spring and modified upper spring perch.
Someone mentioned the possibility of using a drop kit for a Ram. I looked at what's available from Slammed1.com but their kits use drop spindles rather than shortened struts. I emailed them to verify and will pass on the info if they do have shortened struts.
The first two pictures below are views of the Ram strut while attempting to get it mounted to the Dakota. The third picture is of the bare Ram strut inserted, with a 2-1/2" drop spacer on top of the spring perch. This is the idea with #3 above, where I'd move the bump stop so it's above the spring perch and bolt the top of the strut rod to a plate on top of the spacer. Personally, I'm going to eat my losses on the Ram struts I bought and wait a while to see what comes available from Dodge or Monroe.
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< Message edited by djsilver -- 3/17/2008 4:36:43 PM >
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RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 3/17/2008 4:45:40 PM
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studlyblueiz
Posts: 160
Joined: 9/30/2006
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well it seemed hopeful. Thanks for tryin that out.
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79' CJ 7-Too much to list & not the right forum ;)
2006 Dakota SLT- HO 4.7 V8, 4x4
Mods: K&N CAI, Flowmaster 40's, Taurus Efan w/SPAL controller
Disappointing news: held off on Fastman TB for a set of 1ton axles for my jeep!
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RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 3/17/2008 5:14:43 PM
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Hunterdude
Posts: 43
Joined: 6/1/2007
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Yea thanks for trying.
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RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 3/17/2008 5:40:58 PM
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themoneyshot
Posts: 27
Joined: 2/22/2008
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Damn!! i was hoping that it would work. i guess ill get on the wait list for the monroe 71111.
nice try though. we all appreciate the thought, time,effort, and cash you put out.
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RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 3/20/2008 8:20:17 PM
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DD064x4QC
Posts: 75
Joined: 10/21/2007
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that looks like the right one but do they really sell it is the question???????????
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06 dodge dakota
K&N CAI, Flowmaster exhaust bolt-on kit,
Mopar auto starter, tint all the way around,
and Line X bedliner
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RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 3/22/2008 3:58:35 AM
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Dak_in_Black
Posts: 406
Joined: 9/30/2005
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The p/n for the Monroe is 71100...
Monroe does not give a date
Rockauto says "Non-stock item--shipping delayed up to 51 business days"
Shockwarehouse "71100 Monroe Sensatrac / New part available June 2008."
So, nothing yet....
< Message edited by Dak_in_Black -- 3/22/2008 4:08:49 AM >
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RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 3/22/2008 1:34:07 PM
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rookie
Posts: 317
Joined: 3/23/2007
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stuffing an assembly that is three inches longer would be pretty tuff. I had trouble getting the strut w/ the TM spacer back in place. I had to compress it a bit and clearance the LCA w/ a grinder. And that was for an assembly that was probably less than 21" long.
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RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 3/22/2008 1:42:08 PM
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rookie
Posts: 317
Joined: 3/23/2007
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first, how much were those struts that your eating? second, is it possible to compress them enough to get them to bolt on?
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RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 3/24/2008 7:29:12 PM
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djsilver
Posts: 81
Joined: 1/12/2008
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quote:
ORIGINAL: rookie
first, how much were those struts that your eating? second, is it possible to compress them enough to get them to bolt on?
I spent $185 including shipping. While trying to disassemble one for measurements, I spent about 3hrs with rust-buster, a heat gun and finally a propane torch trying to get the rusted nut off the top and finally broke the hex nipple and had to drill out the end of the strut rod to get it apart.
When I was trying to install it, I had the spring compressed enough that I had the pre-load off the perches and could spin the spring freely. These springs are about 500lbs/in so you can see in the picture that my spring compressors were under enough tension that the rods are visibly bent. I have a second, older set of spring compressors and I may have been able to compress them further with both sets tightened up but even if I got them on there I couldn't have gotten the upper A-arm back on because of spring interference and if I got past that, there would likely be zero droop in the suspension and droop is very important for ride-quality.
To the other poster about the Monroe struts; I stand corrected and 71100 is the correct p/n for the Dakota.
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