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08:46:31 - 04/19/2024
Off Road
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Jared
Dodge Dakota
12/13/2001
19:37:57
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 Subject: Lift options for 97 2wd dakota
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Message:
Hello everyone,
I have a 97 Dakota, 2wd, 4cyl, reg. cab., w/30' tires on stock wheels. I had Fabtech coil springs, and shocks installed. It looked good, but the front was quite a bit higher than the rear. Everything worked great, with the exception of it making a "clunking" noise when I hit a big dip. Does anyone know why the springs made that noise? I took it back to the place that installed the springs, they cut my springs down without asking me first :( The result of that, was it took care of the noise, but it made the truck look almost like it did before w/out the lift. I want to get it lifted again, so that I can maybe run 31"s. Fabtech's 3" performance looks just right, but it cost a fortune. Are there any other ways to achieve that amount of lift without the price? I was thinking 3" coils, the add-a-leaf system to the rear, maybe a body lift(are those hard to install?). Please give your opinions on what how I should do the lift, or what you did with your dakota?
Thank you,
Jared
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TallQuad
Dodge Dakota
12/14/2001
12:44:03
|  RE: Lift options for 97 2wd dakota
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Message:
Jared, there is alot of info on this subject in the "raised dakotas" forum. Or just type in "fabtech" or "2wd lift" in the search. This will help answer most of your questions! :-)
I currently run the 3" Fabtech kit and mine also makes a kinda "thump" sound when I hit big bumps. From what I know, its the bump stops hitting the frame in the front. The stock set-up on our dakotas only have so much room with the a-arms, so when you lift it the room is even less, so the a-arms basically have no were else to go. On the other hand, there is MORE room for the for them to compress (go for jumping...hehe). Does that all make sense?! So when the truck pushes DOWN, it has plenty of travel, but when the truck comes UP it runs out of room and hits the bump stops, and thats what you were hearing. Cutting the coils just lowered the truck back down... those guys shouldn't have done that.
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QUAD2NV
Dodge Dakota
12/14/2001
22:43:42
|  RE: Lift options for 97 2wd dakota
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Message:
Jared, the Fabtech kit isn't the only 2wd lift kit available for the Dakota. Check out...
www.Doetsch-Shocks.com
They have a 3" 2wd lift kit available that's only about $600 and it includes the upper A arms, coils and shocks. You can use a 1.5" add-a-leaf for the rear (should be around $50).
I'm actually using the 3" Fabtech kit along with a 3" body lift and 2" coil spacer. You just have to take it easy over the bumps since there's no way of stoping the upper A arm's bump stop from hitting the upper coil basket. The only option would be a long travel suspension kit which AIM Industries carries for your year of Dak. This kit pushes the spindle, coil and A arms out to aid in the amount of travel you can obtain.
Check out my site for some pics of the Fabtech kit installed, under "Suspension".
www.QUAD2NV.com
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