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Wraithdakrt
Dodge Dakota
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9/11/2002
22:08:28

Subject: R/T Drop on 20's
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Ok guys. Just finished my Hotchkis drop on my 2000 CC R/T. I'm looking at ordering the 20" American Racing Maxims. The price is great. But,I was wondering what size tires I would need. I don't want to have any rubbing problems. Any info on backspacing would be great too.



blakdak01
Dodge Dakota
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9/11/2002
23:31:59

RE: R/T Drop on 20's
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hey i have those same rims

Http://www.streetsourcemag.com/Profile.asp?profileid=9795



reddak318
Dodge Dakota
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9/12/2002
16:25:26

RE: R/T Drop on 20's
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I have those rims on my truck also..I have the same tires as blakdak01. I have the street scene front bumper cover and i had to cut a little bit off the end of it so they wouldnt rub. Definitely save up and get good tires, i didnt and now im paying for it because the truck looks like a friggin 4x4. go with the dunlops9000's. 35's in the front and 40's in the back. IMO that is the perfect setup. Talk to the guy with the graphite R/T on 20's.



Mike Galeoto
Dodge Dakota
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9/13/2002
13:03:37

RE: R/T Drop on 20's
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I have a 2002 AWD Sport R/T that I want to
bring down to R/T height or at least normal
2wd height. What's the right way and is there
major differences with 4x4's?
Can I just use on of the Kits available on a 4x4
or are there special kits.

I've been reading the postings for some time
now to figure this out, so any help would be
great. I currently have a 6 1/2 and 7 1/2" gap to
top. I also have the R/T 17's and want to keep
a little tire height.



wraithdakrt
Dodge Dakota
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9/13/2002
13:27:05

RE: R/T Drop on 20's
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Is it a 2002 R/T or Sport? One or the other. If it is an R/T, it should already be at R/T height. If it is a 4X4 Sport. I'm not sure why you would want to lower it. I thought the purpose of 4X4 was to have enough ground clearance to use the 4X4. But I do beleive they can be lowered. Just do a search on it. I think I remember someone else asking this a while back.



Mike Galeoto
Dodge Dakota
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9/16/2002
13:47:09

RE: R/T Drop on 20's
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Wraith Dak R/T,

It's going to be alot more common in the
2003's. It's basically a Durango R/T with a
bed. 5.9 with 3.92 LSD, It is a Sport R/T as it
states on the registration and yes most would
not want to lower it but 4x4 height is not
appealing. The AWD's cars today are low and
still work in the snow and corner well and
that's what I'm after.
Seriously, I've got no solid answers as to
putting these lowering kits on 4x4 models?
I can't search on this since my Mac is not
recognized for some reason and can't
register.
ANY help from the experts would help or at
least the best manuf to call. Mike



wraithdakrt
Dodge Dakota
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9/16/2002
17:31:52

RE: R/T Drop on 20's
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Well I did a search for ya. Seems it is very expensive or a pain in the but. Because of custom fabricated parts and most customs shops won't put there time or effort into it. DJM made a custom order kit to lower Durango 4X4's. But there rear suspension is set up different. Might be the same on yours though. Give em a call. The fianl thing I found was this.
-If you are not worried about carrying heavy loads then remove the smallest of the main leaf springs. Keep the overload spring and when you reassemble everything but this spring on backwards. This will actually help to reduce your wheel hop. (Anyone remember the old slapper bars?)This will actually give you 1-2" of drop (measured fender to tire)


-If carrying a load is a concern for you then you can change the shackle. And no, you can't really find any drop shackles for the 4WD's. You can install a 2WD lift kit shackle upside down though and it works fine. Just make sure you don't go too big without raising the hangers to right the suspension geonetry and pinion angle.

-Up front I've found through much testing that you can actually attain 2 1/2 of drop (again tire to fender) by cranking the torsion bars and still have the truck ride nicely..even in 4WD..granted when you are all the way at 2 1/2 inches the life of your CV boots will be decreased...but hey Sears warranties those..hehe And don't worry about the CV angles as it's within the limits.

- Now just to give you some perspective on how far you can take this I have a '94 4x4 dak that currently is dropped 4-6". In the front I moved the differential up 3" so that it is 1 1/2" from the oil pan. I then had fabricated some adjustable upper control arms and after setting the height i wanted I installed some stiffer T-bars. In the back i just did an axle flip, which after installing new spring perches gave me almost 6" of drop.

So as you can see it is possible and I must say it is fun knowing you will always win off the line against other lowered trucks.

Hope that helps any! Also call some custom suspension shops in your area. They might be willing to take up the challenge!




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