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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: ramblebee]
#54104
03/01/08 01:43 PM
03/01/08 01:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,965
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Cheeto
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Parts books are not always correct and Ma Mopar may have changed things whenever she (or the guy on the assembly line) felt the need. When mocking this up years ago, my '78 spindles matched all the dimensions on the Dak spindles as far as ball joints and tie rods. Dakota dust shields don't cover the entire rotor, just the concave center section. They do however have the matching mounting holes as a Ram. Other than "flat tire drag clearance" or whatever the Highway Patrol calls it, the biggest concern for severly lowered Rams will be the center crossmember. I had an '81 truck lowered so far with cut springs that the x-member would scrape the ground on a good dip in the freeway! 
Cheeto
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It's not correct.
It's not yours!
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: Cheeto]
#54105
03/01/08 02:03 PM
03/01/08 02:03 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 847
Parsons (SouthEast) Kansas
funkyjbp
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Parsons (SouthEast) Kansas
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"scrub line' is the term you are looking for. In order to be safe in the event of a flat tire, the rim must contact the ground before any of the chassis or frame. in other words, with a bare wheel bolted on, the rim itself must be the lowest point of the chassis and frame. To get more clearance, run a larger diameter wheel. I have concerns with the dropped spindles and dropped springs that i wouldn't clear with 15 inch wheels. the cure, 17, 18, or 20 inch wheels. 17s would give me one more inch or clearance, etc. awesome work ramblebee. 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: Cheeto]
#54106
03/01/08 03:13 PM
03/01/08 03:13 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 248
Amarillo, Tx
ramblebee
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Amarillo, Tx
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Quote:
Parts books are not always correct and Ma Mopar may have changed things whenever she (or the guy on the assembly line) felt the need. When mocking this up years ago, my '78 spindles matched all the dimensions on the Dak spindles as far as ball joints and tie rods.
Dakota dust shields don't cover the entire rotor, just the concave center section. They do however have the matching mounting holes as a Ram.
Other than "flat tire drag clearance" or whatever the Highway Patrol calls it, the biggest concern for severly lowered Rams will be the center crossmember. I had an '81 truck lowered so far with cut springs that the x-member would scrape the ground on a good dip in the freeway!
Thanks for the info cheeto.Ball joints were not a problem but the hole in the steering arm on the Dak spindles was to large.Its just a matter of finding the right parts to work together.Ive had fun researching it.This isnt a hard mod to do once you find the right parts.
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: TrxR]
#54108
03/01/08 11:43 PM
03/01/08 11:43 PM
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Quote:
Since you guys have some spindles out could you give me a quick measurment off the dakota spindle? I am looking for the height from the bottom to the top and from the centerline of the spindle to the centerline of the tie rod hole.
Thanks
These are rough measurements using a tape measure my micrometer wouldn't extend far enough. The measurement from top to bottom is 7 13/16, and the meaurement from centerline of spindle to centerline of tie rod is 8 1/4.
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: QuickDodge]
#54110
03/02/08 02:14 PM
03/02/08 02:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,965
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Cheeto
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The mointing points for the ball joints is same as Ram. The steering arm on dropped Dakota spindles is shorter than stock Dakota arm (which is shorter than stock Ram arm).
In that pic of the spindles I placed the rusty looking bar at the lower ball joint mounting point on both spindles. The bolt-on steering arm of the Ram spindles incudes a steering stop that caused it to look out of position compared to the dropped Dak spindle.
Last edited by Cheeto; 03/02/08 02:18 PM.
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: ramblebee]
#54113
03/02/08 06:48 PM
03/02/08 06:48 PM
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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I mocked up one side of the suspension today. I installed 2" drop springs 2" drop spindles and I am still 3.5" higher than the passenger side that I cut the springs on. I am thinking that chassis tech sent me the wrong springs. I measured from center line of the spindle to the fender lip and it wasat 13.5" with the springs cut, after the spindle and new spring swap I am setting at 17" I'm confused.
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
#54114
03/02/08 07:11 PM
03/02/08 07:11 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 248
Amarillo, Tx
ramblebee
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Amarillo, Tx
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Quote:
I mocked up one side of the suspension today. I installed 2" drop springs 2" drop spindles and I am still 3.5" higher than the passenger side that I cut the springs on. I am thinking that chassis tech sent me the wrong springs. I measured from center line of the spindle to the fender lip and it wasat 13.5" with the springs cut, after the spindle and new spring swap I am setting at 17" I'm confused.
I saw your post on dodgetalk.com . Those springs look a little tall to me to be lowering springs.I cant remember exactly what the length of a stock spring is. I could have told you a couple hours ago but they are mounted in the truck now.Im thinking stock is around 11".I think your springs are the problem not the spindles.
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: ramblebee]
#54115
03/02/08 07:22 PM
03/02/08 07:22 PM
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Anonymous
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I didn't think it was the spindle, I measured the spring that isn't mounted and it reads 14" from tip to tip. I have already emailed chassis tech to let them know that I have the wrong springs. Would 2" of spring and 2" of spindle drop get me down to the 13.5 measurment that I had before? Oh sorry to high jack your thread and by the way I really like your truck.
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
#54116
03/02/08 07:44 PM
03/02/08 07:44 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 248
Amarillo, Tx
ramblebee
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Quote:
I didn't think it was the spindle, I measured the spring that isn't mounted and it reads 14" from tip to tip. I have already emailed chassis tech to let them know that I have the wrong springs. Would 2" of spring and 2" of spindle drop get me down to the 13.5 measurment that I had before? Oh sorry to high jack your thread and by the way I really like your truck.
The 2" drop your getting out of the spindle is made up for by a longer than stock spring.Get that straightened out and I bet you will be good to go.  No Hi jack,thats what its about Dak spindles on old Dodge trucks. 
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
#54117
03/02/08 07:47 PM
03/02/08 07:47 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,325
Truckville, the capital of NY
85_Ram_4speed
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master
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Truckville, the capital of NY
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My notes i have show a stock '85 ram spring to have a 10" free length. Even a later 94-01 ram is only supposed to have a 10.5" -11" free length. I'd say you were given the wrong springs.
Outcast Dodge guy.
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: ramblebee]
#54118
03/03/08 11:26 AM
03/03/08 11:26 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 422
GSO.NC
Mstaedt
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Quote:
Well Its done just need to replace inner tie rod ends and an alignment.I even drove it a little.Rides very good compared to cut coils.It is LOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW.
It looks great!
I'm curious whether you've noticed any problems with bump-steer? I say this because of the fact that the lower control arm and the tie-rod are no longer parallel since the outer tie-rod end is flipped from it's original position. I agree that the angle of the tie-rod ends looks a lot better this way (as you pointed out in post #4230174).
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
[Re: Mstaedt]
#54119
03/03/08 04:33 PM
03/03/08 04:33 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,325
Truckville, the capital of NY
85_Ram_4speed
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Truckville, the capital of NY
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That is a great question
I'd also be curious about the bumpsteer issue as i have some pretty wicked bumpsteer every once in a while in my '96 dakota since i installed these spindles.
You have to hit a bump just right and your sawing at the wheel to keep her in line on the road--but like i said, its not consistant, just every now and again, mostly at higher speeds--and since these were installed.
Outcast Dodge guy.
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
#54120
03/03/08 04:39 PM
03/03/08 04:39 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,064
Iowa
76dodgeboy
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Iowa
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Quote:
I mocked up one side of the suspension today. I installed 2" drop springs 2" drop spindles and I am still 3.5" higher than the passenger side that I cut the springs on. I am thinking that chassis tech sent me the wrong springs. I measured from center line of the spindle to the fender lip and it wasat 13.5" with the springs cut, after the spindle and new spring swap I am setting at 17" I'm confused.
My wife 76SWB /6 auto from hub to fenderlip sits at 17.5 stock.
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
#54122
03/03/08 08:02 PM
03/03/08 08:02 PM
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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I talked to Kenny at AIM or Chassis Tech what ever the name of the place is that I bought the springs from and he asked if I put the Dakota spindles on a Ram and I told him yes so he then went right in to telling me that the spindles wouldn't drop a ram like they would a Dakota. I borrowed a picture from this thread that was of a Ram spindle and Dakota spindle side bye side to show him that they are in the most part the same spindle. I also took three pictures of the spring they sent compared to a original Ram spring, the difference is that the aftermarket spring is about 1" taller and 1/2" wider. I also told him on the phone that the aftermarket spring was taller and he told me that it was taller so that the spring rate would be greater so it wouldn't bottom out. I guess he thinks I am some kind of a dumby anyway I compiled a compilation of pictures for him to look at so I am goig to call him back tommorow to see what kind of bull @@@@ he has to tell me.
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Re: Dakota spindles on 73 clubcab done (almost)
#54123
03/03/08 08:31 PM
03/03/08 08:31 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 248
Amarillo, Tx
ramblebee
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Quote:
I talked to Kenny at AIM or Chassis Tech what ever the name of the place is that I bought the springs from and he asked if I put the Dakota spindles on a Ram and I told him yes so he then went right in to telling me that the spindles wouldn't drop a ram like they would a Dakota. I borrowed a picture from this thread that was of a Ram spindle and Dakota spindle side bye side to show him that they are in the most part the same spindle. I also took three pictures of the spring they sent compared to a original Ram spring, the difference is that the aftermarket spring is about 1" taller and 1/2" wider. I also told him on the phone that the aftermarket spring was taller and he told me that it was taller so that the spring rate would be greater so it wouldn't bottom out. I guess he thinks I am some kind of a dumby anyway I compiled a compilation of pictures for him to look at so I am goig to call him back tommorow to see what kind of bull @@@@ he has to tell me.
Well I can tell you that the 91-96 Dak spindle will drop a Ram.And I personally have never seen a dropped coil spring that is longer than the stock spring and Ive done several chebbies.I still think your spring is too long,unless there is somthing different between 87-90 and 91-96 Dak spindles.They look the same in the pics. 
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