Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: ramblebee]
#54204
06/17/08 05:11 PM
06/17/08 05:11 PM
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Webster
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Ramblebee, your truck looks SWEET!!!! What is your wheel and tire size? That truck sits perfect!
255/50/17 front, 275/50/17 rear on American Racing Hoppsters. The rear tires will be for sale soon its getting tubbed.
Great looking Truck
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: bigdad]
#54205
06/17/08 05:13 PM
06/17/08 05:13 PM
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Truck looks great ! Good job
Can you tell Bigdad I like your truck too
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: turbododgepirate]
#54206
06/17/08 06:10 PM
06/17/08 06:10 PM
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ramblebee
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Im not sure what year truck you are working on, if its 79-93 you should be able to use your stock tierod ends with the 91-96 Dak spindles. The Dak steering arm is shorter than the Ram so you may still need to use the longer C-body adjusting sleeve. I used the 91-96 spindles on my 73.The van ends I used carry the same part # as 79-93 Ram. From what I learned while doing my truck, use 87-90 Dak spindles for 72-78 Rams and 91-96 Dak spindles on 79-93 Rams this should allow you to use the stock tierod ends. You can use either spindle on any truck its just a matter of finding the right combination of parts.I did a quick summary of parts earlier in the thread. If your truck has the larger inner wheel bearing(84-up) then that makes it that much easier. Let me know if you need help. Im always lurking on here.
Sorry, yes, it is a 1985 D100. So what should I ask for at the parts store for the adjusting sleeve? I don't know what a C body is
Do you know if there are any good springs out there that will lower the truck about 2" ? I think the dakota spindles plus a 2" spring drop would be perfect for what I want.
Ask for Moog part #ES440S 76 Newyorker adjusting sleeves. As for the springs there is a member here that is selling a 4/6 kit for our trucks now. He has two inch coils in the kit and I think he will sell parts seperately. I think the name of the company is Mid America Customs maybe someone else will chime in with the name.
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: ramblebee]
#54207
06/17/08 10:15 PM
06/17/08 10:15 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 847 Parsons (SouthEast) Kansas
funkyjbp
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4406RR is his username, mid america customs is the shop in the st. louis area. i've talked to him by phone and his chassis stuff sounds right on! i've been trying to catch him lately and haven't heard anything from him though. i want to get some parts too!!! good luck! jp in ks.
71 SWB, 413
77 SWB, 318
92 SWB, 5.2 magnum
79 Macho Short bed, 318
03 stratus coupe R/T
too many others not on the road!
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: ramblebee]
#54210
07/16/08 04:14 AM
07/16/08 04:14 AM
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Posts: 2,682 Clinton Twp. Michigan
coronet1966d
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so can you give a rundown of what parts exactly i need to get? i have an 85 ram and i just want to do the spindles and swap the rotors to 5x4.5 so far i see 91-96 dakota drop spindles and modify the dust shields? right now my truck has the axle flip in the back and cut stock coils up front. it bottoms out all the time and rides like CRAP! i daily drive this thing!
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: coronet1966d]
#54213
07/17/08 10:01 AM
07/17/08 10:01 AM
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ramblebee
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one more thing, with just the drop spindles how much will it drop my truck?
Im not sure with just the spindle swap how much drop you get. Chisholm claimed 2" for the arms I used. I got 5" with the spindles and the arms. But I like em low
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: coronet1966d]
#54214
07/17/08 10:50 PM
07/17/08 10:50 PM
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85_Ram_4speed
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one more thing, with just the drop spindles how much will it drop my truck?
Not to be a smarta-s, but ah, 2" drop spindle---um, im thinking 2" drop---at least thats what they did on my dakota---so im thinking they'll do the same on my '85 ram. And of course if you change to a smaller tire at the same time, that'll drop it more too.
The old out of production chislem arms are fabricated and can have variences, as well as springs (new or old), so these types of things can cause the vehicle to have various dropped heights---also depends on what kind of weight is in the front--big block, small block---steel stuff vs. aluminum--etc, and dont forget, no two MFG's tires of the same size will neccesarilly have the same circumfrence either---further propergating a varience.
Sooooo, generally, a 2" drop is what your going to get IF nothing else is changed---again based on my experience with these spindle on a dakota.
Your drop may vary, and lets us know how it turns out if you do it---im waiting for some spare cash to redo the whole front suspension at the same time, my spindles are nice and comfy in the livingroom .
Outcast Dodge guy.
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: 85_Ram_4speed]
#54215
07/18/08 12:11 AM
07/18/08 12:11 AM
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ramblebee
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one more thing, with just the drop spindles how much will it drop my truck?
Not to be a smarta-s, but ah, 2" drop spindle---um, im thinking 2" drop---at least thats what they did on my dakota---so im thinking they'll do the same on my '85 ram. And of course if you change to a smaller tire at the same time, that'll drop it more too.
The old out of production chislem arms are fabricated and can have variences, as well as springs (new or old), so these types of things can cause the vehicle to have various dropped heights---also depends on what kind of weight is in the front--big block, small block---steel stuff vs. aluminum--etc, and dont forget, no two MFG's tires of the same size will neccesarilly have the same circumfrence either---further propergating a varience.
Sooooo, generally, a 2" drop is what your going to get IF nothing else is changed---again based on my experience with these spindle on a dakota.
Your drop may vary, and lets us know how it turns out if you do it---im waiting for some spare cash to redo the whole front suspension at the same time, my spindles are nice and comfy in the livingroom .
The 2" drop Dak spindle will Lower a Dakota 2". But I never measured it in relation to a stock Ram spindle so i cant say exactly how much drop the spindle will give. But yes I would say 2" is in the ball park.
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: Cheeto]
#54217
07/18/08 06:50 AM
07/18/08 06:50 AM
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85_Ram_4speed
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Dak spindle...in relation to a stock Ram spindle
Long ago I was told by a friend with a Hollander interchange manual that Dak and large bearing Rams ('84+)used the same spindle. This is why I wish they didn't cast the steering arm into the dropped spindles.
I think you have mentioned that before and the fact that a dakota also has a bolt on arm (although i dont know if the bolt spacing is the same), those spindles should have been cast like a factory one so the arms can bolt on. I found the stock arms off my dakota, just for curiosity, i should measure the bolt spacing on the steering arm and see if someone wants to post the one off the ram.
My only thought was the cast in arm off the dropped spindle could be machined off and holes drilled for the steering arm.
But obviously it doesnt really seem to matter to much as the spindles work as designed in our rams as well as dakotas. I just think a little forthought would have been nice is all.
Speaking of forthought, i should have thought that there may have been a difference between a dakota and ram spindle as far as stock heights, but cheetos picture of the spindles compared always pops in my head and i didnt remember a ton of variation in height if any, so again sorry if i may have responded to the one poster a little rudly about the height drop.
Outcast Dodge guy.
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: 85_Ram_4speed]
#54218
07/18/08 01:46 PM
07/18/08 01:46 PM
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Cheeto
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Bolt spacing should be the same. The stock Dak steering arm is shorter, from spindle centerline to tie rod hole, than a Ram arm. The dropped Dak "arm" is shorter than a stock Dak arm. This is so that the arm doesn't rub on the stock 15" rims when a Dak is dropped with these spindles. Unfortunately it was the casting company/designers being conscientious of the consumer costs that makes it more of a parts-bashing nightmare to retrofit these spindles to Rams. I talked to an engineer at Bell Tech way back in the early 90's about Dakota spindles and that was when I first learned that they would bolt on Rams but the steering arms might be an issue. He said there just wasn't enough percieved demand for Rams to make them fit both and they thought people would balk at the idea of having to buy new wheels at the same time they lowered their Dakota. Remember, in '91 17" wheels were HUGE!!!
Cheeto It's not perfect. It's not correct. It's not yours!
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: turbododgepirate]
#54220
07/25/08 05:07 PM
07/25/08 05:07 PM
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ramblebee
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I tried to get Moog part #ES440S 76 Newyorker adjusting sleeves, but was told that they were no longer available. I went to NAPA and they had 269-1121 but they only had 3 in the country. I bought two of them. About $43 with shipping to my local napa. Just a FYI
I had to order mine from Oriellys they didnt have them in stock either. Rockauto.com also showed to have them in stock several months ago when I was doing my truck. Im sure there isnt a huge demand for c-body adjusting sleeves these days.
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: ramblebee]
#54221
07/27/08 06:22 PM
07/27/08 06:22 PM
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z1bigtom
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Ramblebee...Sent you a PM...Lemme ask here also...I have a 78 D200 Clubcab...3/4ton..I'm lookin to do just a small drop....What are my options...Wil be rebuilding my frontend in a couple weeks time is now if i'm gonna do it..
78 D200 Clubcab, 400, 727, Dana 60 welded...Droped 3" front..Rear soon to come
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: z1bigtom]
#54222
07/27/08 10:51 PM
07/27/08 10:51 PM
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ramblebee
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Ramblebee...Sent you a PM...Lemme ask here also...I have a 78 D200 Clubcab...3/4ton..I'm lookin to do just a small drop....What are my options...Wil be rebuilding my frontend in a couple weeks time is now if i'm gonna do it..
My knowledge is limited as far as lowering the 3/4 tons. Some used the the same ball joints as half tons. If it has the 3300# axle it is the same. If it has the 4000# axle it is different. I sent you a pm also.
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: ramblebee]
#54223
07/29/08 04:10 PM
07/29/08 04:10 PM
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turbododgepirate
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Anybody know the correct back spacing for these trucks? I am planning to put a 15X8 steel wheels with 245/60-15 tires front and rear. Specifically the Series 84 black Daytona wheel from US wheels. http://www.uswheel.com/wheel.cfm?category=59The 5.5 wheel have a -13mm offset. which is a .51 inch offset... doesn't seem right. I'll be painting them the same color as the truck, Petty Blue. I want it to have sort of a nascar-truck look. Lowered and on these wheels and tires.
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