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Raised / Lifted Dakotas
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ian1872
Dodge Dakota
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6/19/2002
14:35:52

Subject: question for the experienced
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how far is too far to crank up your torsion bars? obviously a reallignment will be needed but where should i stop. i'm hoping to get one inch above level and block the back.

also, where did you guys got to buy your U-bolts and which universal blocks did you use?

ian



RESQready
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6/19/2002
15:59:57

RE: question for the experienced
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Depending on how your T-bars were set from the factory, you could get anywhere from 1.5" - 2" higher. Personally, I didn't want to max it out, so I cranked them all the way up, then backed off a couple of turns. All total, the front end was just about level -- maybe .5" higher in front.

You can get 1.5" STEEL lift blocks from most any off-road shop (I got my Superlift blocks from 4Wheel Parts). It seems that 1" is only available in ALUMINUM -- which you want to stay away from!

I went to a shop that sells trailer parts like axles, leaf springs, etc... and they custom bent my U-bolts while I waited. Just measure the stock bolts and add 1.5". Simple as that. I think they cost around $10 ea, and you can find a trailer place in the phone book (I used AC Spring in San Jose, CA)

What's really goin' on?
RESQready Dakota

ian1872
Dodge Dakota
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6/19/2002
17:31:07

RE: question for the experienced
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i looked through your pictures and can't tell, is your truck level or is it still higher in the back?

ian



RESQready
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6/19/2002
17:41:14

RE: question for the experienced
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It's about an inch higher at the rear wheel wells.

I drove around with the truck leveled for about a month and never got used to the look. I like it now.

What's really goin' on?
RESQready Dakota

ian1872
Dodge Dakota
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6/19/2002
17:52:59

RE: question for the experienced
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when you did this was it too tall in the front? and was that why you used blocks on the back?

ian



RESQready
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6/19/2002
18:05:47

RE: question for the experienced
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Pretty much.

I thought a T-bar crank alone would be enough for me. However, raising the front end that much made the rear end look lower. Amazing how even a 1" difference in height really becomes obvious!

What's really goin' on?
RESQready Dakota

ian1872
Dodge Dakota
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6/19/2002
18:14:34

RE: question for the experienced
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ok, so now i have more questions. i noticed you had to trim your wheel wells, was this because you used the stock wheels with the thirty three's, or would it have been required no matter what? would they have rubbed with a wheel with more back spacing?

ian



RESQready
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6/19/2002
19:20:14

RE: question for the experienced
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Actually, I'm running 32's on 3 3/4" backspacing. Are you looking at pics on my website under the 33" Tire Experiment? That blue and silver truck belongs to ForeXFour, and yes he did have to trim because of the larger tires. Even with 32's, I had to trim for those times when the wheel is cranked over rough terrain.

What's really goin' on?
RESQready Dakota

ian1872
Dodge Dakota
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6/19/2002
19:30:39

RE: question for the experienced
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i was DOH! hmmm, i'm really depressed, i thought tuff country made the 5.5 for the '02. now i'm just looking for options without chopping things up.

ian



LFL_Y2KDAK
Dodge Dakota
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6/21/2002
07:11:02

RE: question for the experienced
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RESQready,

First let me say the truck looks awesome. I've seen several other posts where they say that 32's will fit on stock rims with no rubbing at all. Did yours rub because of the backspacing on the wheels? I'm getting ready to buy some new tires for my unlifted 2000 DAK for my stock 15x8 wheels. Just want to make sure they'll work fine.

Thanks, and keep truckin'!

LFL_Y2KDAK
2000 4x4 CC SLT Plus
Towing package/Heavy Duty Service group
Home Brew Cold Air Intake w/ K&N
Pioneer Sound
Safari Bar with KC Daylighters




RESQready
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6/21/2002
14:00:55

RE: question for the experienced
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32's will fit with stock rims, but you will have some minor rubbing on the bumper fascia. Trimmed mine about an inch until I got the new bumper installed. When I went with aftermarket rims (less backspacing) they stuck out a little more and began to rub in the back of the wheel well. Nothing that can't be modified in a matter of minutes

What's really goin' on?
RESQready Dakota

Hawkeye
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6/21/2002
18:38:00

RE: question for the experienced
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32's will fit with no rubbing on the factory 15x7 rims. on the 8s they rub as RESQ stated above.



99Dak5.2L4x4
Dodge Dakota
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6/24/2002
09:21:39

RE: question for the experienced
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My 32x12.5x15 pro comp all terrains still rub a little on the frame of the truck when turning fully to the left and right even after I cranked the torsion bars 1 inch. I'm running the stock 15x8 rims.



99Dak5.2L4x4
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6/24/2002
09:23:50

RE: question for the experienced
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I stated the wrong size tire. I have 32x11.5x15 all terrains not 12.5

ooopps



ian1872
Dodge Dakota
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6/24/2002
13:33:33

RE: question for the experienced
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i have the 16x8 rims on a 4x4. i have a 3" body lift(still haven't installed it), if i ran 32's would i still have to trim the plastic?

ian



Dan Gruber
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6/25/2002
01:02:26

RE: question for the experienced
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On the tires rubbing or not rubbing thing...

Obviously wheels play a huge role, particularly the backspacing, since that will generally determine where you'll rub (on the frame with stock wheels, on the lower bumper/fender liner with less backspacing). Each truck is a little different as well, especially when it comes to where the torsion bars are set at the factory.

But you need to consider that tires are also different, and a 33 inch tire might be bigger or smaller than you think. As an example: According to Goodyear, the 31 inch tires that came on my truck from the factory had a diameter of 30.4 inches. The 32 inch BFG Mud Terrains I'm now running have (according to BF Goodrich) a diameter of 31.9 inches. So what looked to be a 1 inch gain in diameter was actually a 1.5 inch gain. Sounds like an insignificant difference, but I got a small amount of rubbing on the lower portion of the front bumper with my 32 inch BFGs even after the body lift and a little bit of torsion bar cranking. So on Saturday I did some VERY minor trimming and now I have no rubbing at all.

In addition to all that, tread pattern plays a role. I firmly believe that if I had opted for an all season or all terrain 32 inch tire, I wouldn't have gotten any rubbing at all. But because the mud terrains have a square shoulder to them, the edge of the tread blocks stuck out just enough to rub when the suspension was compressed.

My advice: find the actual diameter for the tires you have and the tires you want. Then measure to see if there is enough room for the difference. And then don't be too surprised if you get rubbing even if your measurements say you shouldn't.

Say it with Krylon!
Dan
2000 CC SLT 4.7 4X4 Auto 3.92 LSD
3 inch Performance Accesories lift & 32 inch BFG MT KM's

ian1872
Dodge Dakota
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6/25/2002
12:33:30

RE: question for the experienced
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since we're on this topic, i have a K&N intake. i was told that with the body lift this won't fit anymore? is this true or is this only if i try to keep the air dam in place?

ian



YJ
Dodge Dakota
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6/25/2002
13:54:37

RE: question for the experienced
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There's a link on ResQReady's web site that shows jay leno in front of that yellow dakarta truck. They say they stuffed 33's under there with no lift and it looks like they put some wider aftermarket wheels. All with just a torsion bar adjustments. How can this be the case? Many of you are saying that 32x11.5's will rub on the stock 15x8 wheels, but when you say, front bumper or fascia, is that just the plastic cover in the wheel well and not the inside of the fender flare, which is painted?

ResQReady, did you have any problems with the rear of your truck when installing 33's? Any other tips for a guy wanting to put 33x12.5 bfg muds on stock 2K 4x4 dakota quad cab w/15x8's?
I'm thinking of installing 1.5" lift blocks in the rear and cranking the torsion bars up front. What exactly do cranked torsion bars do to these trucks, anyway?

Thanks for all of the info. Sorry for all of the questions. It's almost time to buy new tires. ; )

YJ



ian1872
Dodge Dakota
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6/25/2002
14:30:21

RE: question for the experienced
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the cranked torsion bars basically stiffen the front suspension reducing the natural sag from the weight of the truck.

ian



RESQready
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6/25/2002
15:05:18

RE: question for the experienced
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The tires on that Yellow Dodge Dakarta are now on ForeXFour's truck. That's the 33" tire experiment I refer to on my website. Of course with an aftermarket winch bumper, there are no issues rubbing on the plastic bumper facsia -- He did do some trimming to the back of the wheel well plastic.

Last weekend, we went out to Hollister Hills and put those 33's (on stock 15x8 wheels) to the test. Of all places, the worst rubbing was at the front of the REAR wheels wells. It bent a little sheet metal, which was later trimmed off. Take a look at the pics.

http://www.djrescue.com/dakota/photos05.htm

I'm still runing 32's by the way.

What's really goin' on?
RESQready Dakota

ian1872
Dodge Dakota
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6/25/2002
16:26:35

RE: question for the experienced
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were those 33's with the stock height, or was there a lift?

ian



RESQready
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6/25/2002
17:38:13

RE: question for the experienced
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No lift.

What's really goin' on?
RESQready Dakota

YJ
Dodge Dakota
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6/26/2002
17:56:35

RE: question for the experienced
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Excellent, RESQready. Thank you.

I will probably throw on a couple of 1.5" lift blocks or shackle extensions, then go with the 33's. I hope the front end will fair ok. I don't have one of those million dollar nice bumpers you guys have. ; )

Thanks again,
YJ



kanter
Dodge Dakota
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6/27/2002
14:12:56

RE: question for the experienced
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What size 16 will fit with the bars cranked and a 1 inch block in the rear. Will a 285/75/16 fit? How do you get the odometer to read correct again?



kanter
Dodge Dakota
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6/30/2002
11:47:27

RE: question for the experienced
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Help... anyone out there with 16 inch rims and torsion bars cranked?



kanter
Dodge Dakota
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7/02/2002
12:11:19

RE: question for the experienced
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HELLO........ HELP........



4wDakota
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7/02/2002
12:56:18

RE: question for the experienced
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Kanter, what-do-ya want to know?

Corey

98 CC 4x4, 5.2 Auto 3.55LSD

Brad
Dodge Dakota
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7/03/2002
11:00:26

RE: question for the experienced
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I'm running 15x10 Eagle Alloy 589's on 33x12.50 Pro Comp XTerrains with a 3" PA Body Lift and Torsion Bars cranked (4 turns - approx. 1") - See pictures for trimming of my fender wells.

http://www.pixhost.com/pixe/eclipsegst/rim1.jpg
http://www.pixhost.com/pixe/eclipsegst/rim2.jpg



kanter
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7/08/2002
23:28:51

RE: question for the experienced
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I am wondering how big of tires I can run on my 2002 QC with 4.7 and 3.55s? I am going to put a 1 inch block in back and torsion the bars up a little.

How bad would a set of 285/75/16s hurt my drivability and would they fit? I dont plan to off road. I just want the lifted look till I get a 5.5 inch lift next year.



4wDakota
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7/09/2002
11:30:08

RE: question for the experienced
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285/75/16's are 33x11.50's and FourXfore runs 33x12.50's with only torsion bar cranking.
You should be OK although you may have to trim a little behind the wheels and the bumper fascia.
You could always get a body lift. 2thextrm is running those tires with a body lift and torsion bars cranked and its sweet.
The 5.5 tuff country lift won't fit on your truck, only up to 99 models.


98 CC 4x4, 5.2 Auto 3.55LSD

ian1872
Dodge Dakota
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7/09/2002
17:07:22

RE: question for the experienced
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i just put on a set of 285/75/16's and the only rubbing is on the lower part of my mopar dakota molded front mud flaps. that's gonna be solved when i trin about an inch wide cresent shape out of the side. other than that there is absolutely no rubbing.

ian

Graphite '02 Dakota Sport Plus QC 5.9 4X4



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