Can anyone tell me the best and most economical way to change my 6 lug 1997 Dakota 2wd to a 5 bolt pattern configuration. Any help would be appreciated. Mopar 1953

Starting at the rear, you would push out the studs, plug weld the axle flanges, redrill the pattern and get some matching drums. Of course, you might find that a different year 5 lug axle shaft would interchange and then you would have a new stock axle shaft. In the front you would need to go from the spindles out. In other words, research when the change was made to 5 lug, compare the spindles from yours to the 5 lug, if the spindles are the same then get new 5 lug rotors (common wear items) along with matching bearings and brakes. You can learn a lot by going to the rockauto.com web site and comparing part numbers. I was once offered a complete set of Hollander interchange manuals, I wish that I had bought them. Finally, I don't believe in wheel adapters (dangerous)

Call Brandon Burns, the guy who started this thread:

http://www.dakotart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17734

He CNC cuts his own billet hubs and then drills them to whatever bolt pattern you want.

I think he was charging around $300 shipped for the pair of front hubs


then call Moser and order yourself a set of rear axle shafts, also drilled in whatever bolt pattern you want. Cost for those was around $350 last I checked.


in the end, you get a real, "correct" 5-lug conversion for less than $700, and your aftermarket/custom wheel selection opens up, AND they are cheaper.

Or you can do the fill/drill on your original hubs/axle shafts for a lot less, and hope the welder didn't have an off day.