dakota

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)

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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

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Put a 90 frame under it. 90 was the last year for the 5 lug wheels.
I believe you will find not much will match up, 97 is the next generation frame (96 was the end of the old one). You have the slip on rotors, and I think the spindles are different then the old ones. I believe I've read the rear axles are different lengths then the 96 & older ones as well. Gene