solid axle swap - Customdakotas.com Forums

Keoki1978 · 02-28-2010, 05:18 PM

Whats up people.. This is my first post and need some suggestions... My truck is a 2000 Dodge Dakota Sport Quad Cab 2wd V6 auto. I got this truck just a few months ago in November 2009, and since then I have got the Doetsch 3in lift kit and the PA 3in body lift to not even clear my 305-55-20 nitto terra grapplers. Sucks since I had to hack off some of the fender. But looks great, drives like shiznit. So the story behind it.....

Got the truck cheap, like $2000 with just bearly over 107,xxx miles on it, cheapest I found for a quad cab. But the front end needed a complete rebuild. Thats were the lift comes in. Got the 20's on CL for $400 with low pro tires, got the 305-55-20 nittos off CL for $150 for all 4. Even wear, like half tread left. Even after I rebuilt the whole front end, it still goes all over the road. 3 shops cant align it at all. One recommended a SAS for me saying it will be the best for this truck.

Now backup to January. I was at a local salvage yard lookin to pick some parts off other dakotas when I noticed all the Jeep Cherokee's sitting behind me and that they were all 2wd with a solid axle front end. I took my tape measure over to the frame rails of the jeep, then to the dakota and they were like right on. I didnt check the width of the axle though. But I'm not looking for a 4wd, dont need it, but have herd that a SAS drives better than the IFS on a lifted truck. I also like the fact that I'd be able to move the wheels forward a bit to clear the firewall. So what are your thoughts on this idea?? Aside from some custom modification needed, does it or will it help my truck drive straight like it should?

Before anyone gets the wrong idea, I've always wanted a quad cab pickup jacked up on some big wheels and tires. I dont need a 4x4 or a big truck like an F250, Ram 1500 or bigger, Chevy 1500 or bigger but always liked the way they look. This is a grocery getter and my to and from work truck that involves driving only on the road. I like the looks and maybe to jump some curbs from time to time..

Alta Boy · 02-28-2010, 06:47 PM

Why can't the shop align it? Has it been in an accident and the frame is so messed up that it can't be done? What exactly can't be aligned? Is it because of the suspension lift that it can't be aligned?

Sorry man. Lots of questions but if going through all the time and effort to do an SAS doesn't cure your problems then it's kind of a waste.

94mark3 · 02-28-2010, 07:56 PM

Post up some pictures.

And Pete has a very good point. And great questions

95SloNlo · 02-28-2010, 10:55 PM

seems incredibly drastic. i think you need a better alignment shop. anytime a truck is lifted/lowered it needs to be re aligned so its a common occurance at an alignment shop. i dont understand why they cant do it.

bigmike97dak · 02-28-2010, 11:23 PM

fucking sas it bro thad be so bad ass and run some 37"s

as for the alignment idk why they couldnt do it? but what ev just sas it and take lots of pictures

Keoki1978 · 03-01-2010, 04:20 PM

Well I took it to a few places and herd the same thing from most shops, "its a dodge dakota" but they all seem to not want to touch it. Pepboys was the only one, but a note at the bottom said "no warrenty due to suspension mods". 2 4x4 shops said they were very busy, and one recommended the sas. They all said that the dakotas suspension literally sucks. Anyway, I'm considering the solid axle front end. Just wanted some input... No wreck as far as I can tell. Carfax said it was clean.

bigmike97dak · 03-01-2010, 04:25 PM

dakota-durango.com has alot of sas coverage guys arnt as nice over their tho this forum is super helpful

grid_lock · 03-01-2010, 04:28 PM

man im tired of not warrantying trucks/cars cause they have suspension mods. i understand that some people do it ghetto style and its no good but when you do it proper it should be under coverage. tell me if im wrong but thats how i feel.

95SloNlo · 03-02-2010, 05:54 AM

try pirate4x4.com too. looooots of people doing this sort of thing on that website. but i wouldnt tell anyone about it. they might be a little upset you are not going with 4 wheel drive.

hynge · 03-02-2010, 06:14 AM

dude, pirate is awesome for info...those guys bash so hard on your posts.

i use it for my jeep