Dodge Dakota ForumDodge Dakota PhotosDodgeDakota.net Membership
  Forums   Forum Tools
02:07:48 - 04/23/2024

Custom Style
FromMessage
aburger
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

8/03/2006
23:51:45

Subject: Lots of questions, please help!
IP: Logged

Message:
Hey again, thanks for the replies to my previous post. This is where I'm at now: I am going to go with a 2/4 Belltech drop (if it will work). I have in my possesion a set of 18" MOMO Twin wheels that I am going to run with 255/55/18 tires. The questions that I have are these:

Does anyone know if the 2/4 Belltech kit will fit on a single cab, 4-banger Dakota with a manual trans?

Since the wheels are only 18's, do I have to do a big brake swap? The new wheel/tire combo is a lot heavier than my stock 15's, but I need new brakes anyway. Will new brakes be enough without going bigger?

With the 2/4 drop, and the bigger wheels/tires, does anyone know if I will get rubbing on the wheel wells and tires?

And lastly, how much worse will my gas milleage get with the drop and the extra weight from the wheels/tires? Will my little 4-cylinder even be able to handle it?

This has been a great site, and everyone's been really helpful. Thanks in advance.




ken
GenIII
 User Profile


8/06/2006
14:13:04

RE: Lots of questions, please help!
IP: Logged

Message:
yes the belltech kit will fit, but your back is going to be lower than your front. this is because the kit is made either for a v6 or v8 and since the 4 cylinder is lighter, the springs wont get compressed as much and therefore will sit higher than the kit is designed for. i currently have the belltech 2/4 drop and even with a v6, the front still sat about 1/2" higher than the back before i got bags.

no you dont have to do a big brake swap. i would definitely at least get a fresh set of pads at the very least, however. i had 22s on mine for a while and left on the stock brakes that were pretty worn. when it came time to change the pads, i upgraded to hawk hps pads and a set of cross drilled rotors from autoanything.com. they were the same size as stock so they were fairly cheap, but i saw a HUGE improvement in braking. i would reccommend going with a similar set up, especially if you need new brakes anyways.

you may experience some rubbing in the front when the wheel is turned all the way. this can be easily fixed by trimming about 1/2" off the inside corner of the bumper. you will probably get rubbing in the back when you hit bumps because the wheel well is going to be sitting less than an inch above the tire. i would reccommend getting a set of adjustable tow bags. they're air bags that you inflate or deflate through air hoses that go through your license plate screws. i put these in because i wanted to keep the back about 1/2" higher than it was and i also wanted to be able to haul things. if you put any kind of weight in your bed with just the 4" drop in the back, you will definitely see rubbing.

the drop wont hurt your gas mileage, it may even help it slightly. i dont know how heavy your wheels are but you most likely will see some drop. wont be anything too major though, maybe 1-2 mpg at the most.

if you have any questions about any of this or need help, ask me because i've had almost this exact same setup on my truck for almost 2 years now.

can't lose on 22s

   P 1


Post a reply to this message:

Username Registration: Optional
All visitors are allowed to post messages


Name:
Email:
Notify me when I get a reply to my message:Yes  No

Icons:            

          

Subject:
Message:
 



Home | Forums | Members | Pictures | Contact Us

This site is in no way affiliated with Chrysler or any of its subsidiaries.