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jasonsdakota
Dodge Dakota
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4/13/2007
16:58:26
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 Subject: 2004 dakota rides rough
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i have a 2004 dakota and hate the truck like ride. i know some bigger trucks dampen the ride a little better. also this thing shakes right to left after taking a turn or hitting bumps or something. it's bothering me more as time goes on. how do the 2005 and newer dakotas ride compared to the 2004 and older?
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Marv
Dodge Dakota
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4/13/2007
20:58:00
| RE: 2004 dakota rides rough
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Get softer rear shocks, or put a couple sand bags in the bed between the wheel wells.
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OBIO3
Dodge Dakota
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4/13/2007
21:22:24
| RE: 2004 dakota rides rough
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My tire shop insists putting 45 lbs air in my Dakota tires and that makes it ride like a lumber wagon. I lower the air pressure down to 32 front and 28 rear. Greatly improves the ride. Still corners just fine and tire wear is great. I put 48,000 on the factory tires and tire shop said my tires still had just over 30% wear left. They gave me $30.00 each trade in.
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jasonsdakota
Dodge Dakota
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4/13/2007
23:22:40
| RE: 2004 dakota rides rough
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good tips. i am in the market for a new truck anyway. can anyone comment on how the new body style 2005+ compare to the 2004 and older trucks. the 05 seem more solid and almost like a larger truck but i haven't driven one long term
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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4/14/2007
13:24:20
| RE: 2004 dakota rides rough
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1. It's a truck, it will ride rough. But it sounds like you have some reall handeling issues. No vehicle should do what you describe.
2. Tire pressure has a huge impact on ride and handeling. I bought some new tires last week for my '01 QC 4x4 - Michelin LTX M/S. I used my tire pyrometer to set the correct pressure. With a mostly empty bed, I need 37 front, and 35 rear. Gives me a nice even temp across the tread. Havn't had a chance to check with a load yet.
3. Stock shocks are terrible. Heavy duty off road shocks will be worse. I have Rancho RS500's, and I like them a lot. Other people use Monroe Reflex with good results.
4. I like the engineering of the new trucks. Don't like the styling. There are some things missing from the basic package - like full gauges. And there are some things missing from the options list - like a 3.92 rear gear and 9.25 differential.
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Ken Grierson
Dodge Dakota
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4/14/2007
14:50:27
| RE: 2004 dakota rides rough
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OBIO3 and .bob are right on about the tire pressure. I usually run all 4 at 35 and have never them with over 40 with a full load in the bed. You'd be completely amazed at the ride quality for 5lbs of pressure.
However, it should never shake like you describe so I'm wondering if:
1. tires are out of round?
2. tires are out of alignment?
3. right, left or both side suspension pieces are bent.
4. If it's a 4x4 have you had the front drive pieces, axles, boots, etc checked?
I have a 2004 Quad SXT and it just started crabbing on the right when making a full lock right turn. It's still under extended warrenty and the dealer is replacing the right front axle says it's bent. Barely can see it is bent but bent just the same.
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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4/15/2007
14:51:24
| RE: 2004 dakota rides rough
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I have an 04 V8 Quad Cab 4x4. My understanding is the stock shocks on our truck perform reasonably well from the factory but wear down FAST, as in they may be shot in 60K or less.
This appears to be the case on my truck. Out of the factory the truck handled exceptionally well and still had a smooth ride that soaked up most bumps and road irregularities without transmitting much of anything to the cabin. After about 40K the ride got progressively more jittery and bumpy and now the truck bounces alot when I hit roads with lots of small bumps close together. I used to be able to take a fast curve, hit a bump, and feel all four tires remain in solid contact with the ground as the impact got soaked up without any hard impact felt. Now it sometimes bounces to the side.
I've heard awesome things about Eddlebrock IAS and will be trying a set of those next as I paid too much for this truck to just replace it for one issue rather than trying to modify it to work better. If your main concern is ride quality and you otherwise like the truck, I'd say look at your options for new shocks. 100 bucks for a complete set of front and rear shocks is cheaper than a brand new. However, the tone of your post indicates you really just want a new truck and ride quality is an excuse. Just be aware, you may well find with an 05-07 that the same thing happens. The shocks might be done for in 2-3 years and you find the same problem with ride quality again.
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jasonsdakota
Dodge Dakota
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4/15/2007
21:39:57
| RE: 2004 dakota rides rough
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eddy, you know me too well. i am thinking about a 2008 dakota or a used tundra, or even 5.7 tundra, although a divorce may come with it. :(
does anyone know if the 05's ride smoother. by design i know they are 300 pounds heavier.
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jasonsdakota
Dodge Dakota
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4/16/2007
00:01:18
| RE: 2004 dakota rides rough
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well, i think a little research showed a tow package having stiffer springs. i'm pretty sure mine has tow package. how big a deal is it to replace the back with base model springs?
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jounce
Dodge Dakota
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4/16/2007
00:47:34
| RE: 2004 dakota rides rough
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Kowalski has stated that the Eddlebrock IAS shocks he put on the the back of his really calmed down the truck on turn/bumps. I have them all around on my 03.Way better than stock,would like to try Monroe reflex on my fronts(people seem to like them a lot and can be found on sale) and leave the IAS`s in the back,front still hits hard sometimes. The IAS`s on the back make it like a new truck,almost eliminates the jumping around on turns.
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jasonsdakota
Dodge Dakota
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4/16/2007
16:22:04
| RE: 2004 dakota rides rough
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with the tow package my 2004 has, what is stiffer?
is it the leaf springs or the shocks?
shocks seem easy enough to replace, but how about leaf springs, can i soften that up a little?
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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4/16/2007
19:04:36
| RE: 2004 dakota rides rough
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The 5.7 Crew Max caught my eye too but as of right now I still refuse to pay 40K for a pickup truck. Considering the crazy deals that could be had on last generation Tundras last year, I think I will be holding off until closer to the end off this design cycle. Not a big fan of paying the 'first--one-on-the-block' tax.
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jasonsdakota
Dodge Dakota
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4/17/2007
00:55:09
| RE: 2004 dakota rides rough
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is replacing the shocks everything,
or is it possible to replace leaf springs?
which one is stiffened for the tow package?
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jounce
Dodge Dakota
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4/17/2007
20:13:43
| RE: 2004 dakota rides rough
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The springs were stiffer for sure not sure about the shocks.My 03 factory shocks with the tow package sucked. Look,changing out the springs is a big job compared to simply replacing the shocks. Why don`t you try some Monroe Sensatraks(sp) or better yet Eddlebrock IAS`s shocks on the back and go from there. If you end up changing the springs,you should change the shocks while your at it anyway.
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OBIO3
Dodge Dakota
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4/17/2007
21:26:32
| RE: 2004 dakota rides rough
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The tow package does not include stiffer springs. You have to order the HD springs as a separate item. My 99 was supposed to come with the HD springs along with the tow package. It did not come with the truck . The dealer sent me to a terrific spring shop and they fixed me right up. This stopped the truck from sagging with the camper on the bed. , did not make the truck higher or lower and did not ride ruff. On my 99 they added a leaf next to the main leaf but out at the ends it did not touch. The truck needs to go down from a load about an inch to be effective.
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