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01:24:43 - 04/20/2024
Raised / Lifted Dakotas
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Fox
Dodge Dakota
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11/07/2004
01:37:06
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 Subject: 2wd/4wd ride height
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I just read in another thread (http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/raise/737.html) that the stock height of a 4x4 dak is 3" taller than that of a 4x2. Is that suspension or body? Or is this even a legitimate question...Thanks anyway
-Fox
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rivermaniac
Dodge Dakota
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11/07/2004
20:48:23
| RE: 2wd/4wd ride height
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what do you mean ???? a stock 4x is 3" taller than a stock 2wd ...................
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Walt_Felix
Dodge Dakota
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11/07/2004
23:26:58
|  RE: 2wd/4wd ride height
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Fox,
That is correct, pre-2005, I don’t know what suspension changes were made to the new design. Differences in the 2wd suspension vs. a 4x4 suspension made about a 2-3” difference in overall height. A 2wd utilized a coil spring front suspension with the rear axle above the leaf springs. A 4x4 utilized a torsion bar front suspension with the rear axle below the leaf springs. A stock height 4x4 is about 2"-3" taller than a stock height 2wd. Again, this is in reference to pre 2005. I know DC made major changes to the Dakota suspension on the new model, I haven't had a chance to look under one yet so I don't know what was changed. I hear rumor that the 4x4 now sports a coil spring suspension but I can't confirm that right now.
__________________
Walt Felix
http://www.MoparsinMotion.Com
http://www.Walt-n-Ingrid.Com
    
Note: I very frequently get email from people asking about the lift kit in my
’88. Typically, I will NOT respond the emails (about 90%) that ask questions
I’ve already covered on my web pages (ie. Where did you get the kit?, Who
makes it?, How much did it cost?, What modifications did you have to make to get it to fit your truck?. How hard was it to install? What problems did you
encounter? etc, etc...)
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Fox
Dodge Dakota
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11/08/2004
19:11:14
| RE: 2wd/4wd ride height
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Wow thats cool, thanks alot. Ive got a 98 so that info is perfect. Is a torsion bar front suspension better than sping? Cause it seems like a 4x4 would be better suited to off road, so it should probably have a better suspension...right? As for getting a lift kit or a body kit, does having a higher stock height negate getting one of the two? I would really like to do more off road stuff, but Im afraid my truck wont be able to handle it. (its stock right now, except for larger than stock tires). Is there any real purpose to a body lift other than using bigger tires or for looks? And a suspension lift, does that actually give you more suspension travel? (I know I could search for this on the forum but Ill just ask it right here) Thanks for all your help.
-Fox
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Walt_Felix
Dodge Dakota
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11/09/2004
13:47:50
| RE: 2wd/4wd ride height
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Q. “Is a torsion bar front suspension better than sping? Cause it seems like a 4x4 would be better suited to off road, so it should probably have a better suspension...right?”
A. That’s really hard to say because we’re comparing two very different designs. A torsion bar is, in actually, a lateral spring. The spring rate is determined by how much force is required to twist one end of the bar while still allowing for it to spring back to normal. One benefit of a torsion bar front suspension is adjustability. You can raise or lower the front end by simply adjusting the anchor bolts. They also have a more varying spring rate. The more pressure applied, the more resistance they generate allowing for a smoother ride on normal surfaces. That’s why most manufactures have moved towards using them because most truck owners these days don’t use them as trucks. You don’t get that same adjustability from a coil or leaf spring configuration. However, the more consistent spring rate of coils or leafs make them a better choice for carrying weight but also makes them ride stiffer. The geometry of a torsion bar suspension allows for more suspension flex which gives you better off road traction but the same geometry makes them far more complicated to lift.
Q. “As for getting a lift kit or a body kit, does having a higher stock height negate getting one of the two?”
A. No, a lift kit, whether body or suspension, lifts the vehicle in relation to its existing height. A body lift raises the body 2 or 3 inches off the frame and a suspension lift raises the frame in relation to the center height of the wheels.
Q. “I would really like to do more off road stuff, but Im afraid my truck wont be able to handle it. (its stock right now, except for larger than stock tires).”
A. I wouldn’t be too afraid, Dakotas are pretty capable off road in their stock configuration. One thing to watch out for is ground clearance. Try to make your wheels roll over larger obstacles rather than straddling them. Another thing to remember is the throttle is not always your friend. Sometimes matting it to the floor will only dig you in faster. You’ll need to figure out where the point of traction vs. over powering is in relation to the surface your on, tire tread and gearing. Sometimes feathering the pedal in a lower gear will get you up a hill faster than matting the pedal in a higher gear. Plus, you’ll have a lot less tendency to break something.
Q. “Is there any real purpose to a body lift other than using bigger tires or for looks?”
A. Nope, that’s pretty much all you gain.
Q. “And a suspension lift, does that actually give you more suspension travel?”
A. Not necessarily. Some suspension kits will include brackets to relocate the lower bump stops. Since most modern IFS kits reuse the stock torsion bars, the spring rate hasn’t changed any. Since travel is limited by the spring rate and the position of the bump stops, the suspension will only travel downwards as far as the upper bump stop will allow and only up as high as the lower bump stop will allow.
Walt
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Fox
Dodge Dakota
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11/10/2004
00:00:24
| RE: 2wd/4wd ride height
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Holy crap. Wow. Thanks alot, that was a major help :) That was exactly what I was getting at with the ground clearance thing. A suspension lift "will" give me a higher ground clearance but not more travel right? So in theory I should bottom out on the bump stop before the ground right? (Assuming the ground is level).
Sadly though, I think my 4x4 days are done for a while, I took a nice nose dive today off a 3 foot wood chip pile...man Im a dumbass. I kinda meant to just drive over it, but I gave it too much throttle (exactly what you said not to do...), caught air, and landed hard on the skidplate under my front diff. I thought I had just about ripped off my front end...the impact was enough to blow a light buld and almost shake my rear view loose. Fortunately (i think...?) I hit the skid plate so nothing was actually damaged, but it appears the the impact was enough to srunch up some of the metal in the driver side fender, evidence by the nice little wrinkle in the corner where the front clip joins the cab (ill post a picture tomorrow or something), and now it appears that my hood doesnt shut correctly...Im not sure if both fenders got jarred, or the hood get tweaked...but either way, I think Im gonna stick to the roads for a while. Thanks again though for the info, was a great help.
-Fox
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