RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota

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RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 4/2/2008 5:51:01 AM    djsilver Posts: 81 Joined: 1/12/2008 Status: offline The upper mount (the big piece of steel that the top of the strut assembly bolts to) is welded to the frame.  I mentioned a few pages back that if was bolted, it would be easy to slot the holes or drill new ones to adjust ride height or accomodate different length struts. (in reply to turbot_bird) Post #: 91

RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 4/2/2008 9:40:52 AM    turbot_bird Posts: 1898 Joined: 12/15/2005 From: Winter Garden, Fl Status: offline Ok, must of missed that _____________________________ AMSOIL Dealer www.Notnormalmotorsports.com www.NotNormalPhotography.PhotoReflect.com (in reply to djsilver) Post #: 92

Front struts options for the Dakota; Here's your setup! - 4/3/2008 5:01:12 PM    djsilver Posts: 81 Joined: 1/12/2008 Status: offline OK guys, here's your setup   But seriously, this is the front suspension from a Mitsu Raider that ran Baja in this thread; http://www.dodgeforum.com/m_1254773/tm.htm Doesn't everyone need custom King triple bypass, triple reservoir shocks?  What really caught my eye is that they appear to have modified the lower control arm so that they could use a shock with a standard "eye" mount on the bottom.  Certainly would open up the choices for front struts! Thumbnail Image Thumbnail Image Attachment (2) (in reply to turbot_bird) Post #: 93

RE: Front struts options for the Dakota; Here's your se... - 4/4/2008 12:03:11 AM    turbot_bird Posts: 1898 Joined: 12/15/2005 From: Winter Garden, Fl Status: offline haha, wish there was more pictures from the other side of the hub lol _____________________________ AMSOIL Dealer www.Notnormalmotorsports.com www.NotNormalPhotography.PhotoReflect.com (in reply to djsilver) Post #: 94

RE: Front struts options for the Dakota; Here's your se... - 4/5/2008 7:54:07 AM    rookie Posts: 317 Joined: 3/23/2007 Status: offline what about cutting the ram spring to fit better? (in reply to turbot_bird) Post #: 95

RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 4/8/2008 12:59:36 PM    06dakota08   Posts: 3 Joined: 4/8/2008 Status: offline     ok, now ive just spent the last hour almost, reading this. now ive got an 06 4wd and i just went the cheap way for now with the 8$ twist in spacers for now, looks pretty good, now im a welder and fabricator sooo im thinkin. at the bottom where the fork is, who is to say that we cant weld 2.5, 3 inches of 1/4" plate on each side of those things and then brace the heck out ofem. a piece of that plate on each side to box it in and i guarantee the wont bend or break, no matter how much $&^%*# you put them through..... i think im gonna get up with LKQ this week and get some stock dakota struts so i dont mess up mine..... let yaw know what happens. what do you think djsilver??????? p.s. those little twist in spacers get rid of some of that "bouncy ball" effect.... Ben (in reply to djsilver) Post #: 96

RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 4/9/2008 3:17:10 AM    cramerica Posts: 160 Joined: 8/20/2007 Status: offline 06Dakota08 - As a welder fabricator...is there anything sketchy about welding on a cast steel part like our A-arms? _____________________________ '07 ST 2WD 3.7 / 6 Speed Flowmaster 40 (in reply to 06dakota08) Post #: 97

RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 4/9/2008 11:47:42 AM    djsilver Posts: 81 Joined: 1/12/2008 Status: offline Welding on cast parts is not "sketchy" but it requires special procedures that most folks aren't prepared to do in the garage, like pre-heating and post-weld heating/stress relief/controlled cooldown.  In looking at the pictures again I see that they're actually running two shocks but only one has a coilover spring and they're mounting the bottoms on either side of the original shock mounting point.  On top the coilover shock is mounting in the original location, but again they've modified the mount to accept a normal "eye" mount.  The smooth shock is the same way but obviously mounted to a fabricated bracket.  If someone wanted to run two "eye" mount shocks on a Dakota, you could do it by replacing the bolt that holds fork in place with a longer (hi-grade) bolt and some spacers and do something similar at the bottom without needing to weld anything.  The top would require a custom bracket but it could bolt-on and wouldn't require welding or cutting on the truck.  Boy are we getting off track now! (but isn't it fun)  (in reply to cramerica) Post #: 98

RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 4/9/2008 8:52:38 PM    06dakota08   Posts: 3 Joined: 4/8/2008 Status: offline djsilver is right, most shops are not setup for welding cast, the only way to weld it is to preheat the whole area and get the proper rods to weld it with, there is no good and safe way to weld on cast suspension parts.  the only other way is to buy nickel welding rods and use low heat and gently weld it back together about an inch at a time, my welding teacher and i worked on a cast iron tractor block for about a week to repair a crack 6 inches long. THERE IS NO SAFE WAY TO WELD CAST SUSPENSION PARTS. if you try to weld something to them it will weaken them and they will break. (in reply to djsilver) Post #: 99

RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 4/10/2008 1:11:46 AM    flyboy1304   Posts: 253 Joined: 6/18/2007 Status: offline HMM the whoas of trying to lift a dakota, or even trying to get a better ride  quality.... WOW you guys are really trying... wish I could help... I should be back from Iraq in 28days!!!! I think i'm just gonna settle on the tm kit with a body lift for now... keep up the research! _____________________________ 06' Dakota crew cab SLT V8 4x4 crew cab tinted windows Flowmaster exhaust. CAI, Billit Grill Access tonneau cover Whats next? Level kit, body lift, 33's, (in reply to 06dakota08) Post #: 100

RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 4/18/2008 2:58:34 PM    rookie Posts: 317 Joined: 3/23/2007 Status: offline Are these a arms cast iron?  cast steel welds quite nicely.  cast iron is a beech though.  i still wouldn't trust a welded a- arm, unless it was massively oversized. (in reply to flyboy1304) Post #: 101

RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 4/18/2008 3:17:53 PM    Altair Posts: 4474 Joined: 3/10/2007 Status: offline So what are the possibilities of getting a new A arm made that would allow us to use real shocks? _____________________________ quote: ORIGINAL: batman13 i liked the first clinton, he shot from below the belt..... (in reply to rookie) Post #: 102

RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 4/24/2008 1:23:37 AM    flyboy1304   Posts: 253 Joined: 6/18/2007 Status: offline I think i've seen like tubular A arma on like pre-runner truck i think i had some on my explorer some years back, not sure how much it would cost... or what tools you would need tho. anybody????? _____________________________ 06' Dakota crew cab SLT V8 4x4 crew cab tinted windows Flowmaster exhaust. CAI, Billit Grill Access tonneau cover Whats next? Level kit, body lift, 33's, (in reply to Altair) Post #: 103

RE: Project Wrap up; Front struts options for the Dakota - 4/25/2008 5:59:33 AM    rookie Posts: 317 Joined: 3/23/2007 Status: offline i think we all just need to put 08 dak shocks on.  i hear that they are stiffer.  i wonder about the springs though too. (in reply to flyboy1304) Post #: 104

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