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Pickups Dodge Dakota Dodge Dakota Suspension and Axles
113 messages, Last post on Oct 22, 2009 at 4:47 PM
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I have a 98' Dakota 4X4 with a V-6. I have to say it has been pretty reliable over the years. It's heading towards 99K(not bad for 11 years) Now it get fairly lousy mileage even with a V-6, and even if I tune up it won't be that much better. The ride is not very good, I replaced the stock shocks with monroes, and its OK, but not great. I had both upper and lower ball joints go bad, so they are about 4+ years now. One thing that happened last June or July is a shackle let loose and nearly put the leaf spring through the bed. I've never had that happen on any truck I had in the past and I'll blame living here in the Rust Belt and myself for not crawling underneath and doing an inspection more often so I would have seen in coming. So they're new now and all is fairly decent. I see the new body style Dakotas 05's and up and wonder if people really like them. My friends have asked if I would by another Dodge and really don't know what I'd do if I could buy something else. It never left me sitting(except when the battery died) and the most major repair I had to do was when a freeze-out plug let loose at the back of the engine. Had to yank the tranny out to change a $2 plug!
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Replying to: shopdog97 (Mar 08, 2009 11:14 am) A bad freeze plug is highly unusual problem on a 3.9. I haven't heard of a rusted out shackle before now, either. Unfortunately ball joints replacements were common for Dakotas of that vintage, and even up through 2003. They had a recall on the uppers. I've heard a number of Dakota owners ay they wouldn't buy another, but I've heard more say they would. What most don't consider is the fact that a Dakota is a far heavier and more capable truck than a Ranger, S10, Canyon, Tacoma or a Frontier. My '03 Sport the way it is equiped is rated just a few hundred pounds less for towing than many full size trucks. And you know, after ten years or so I hear owners of competitive makes recounting their repairs, too. I think Frontier owners replace various engine sensors and brakes on a routine basis, Ranger folks seem to have the full gamut of issues as Dakota owners, I know of two Tacomas that the frames rusted through rendering the trucks unsafe to drive, and Canyons...well, I just won't go there! Unless my requirements for hauling and towing change, I'd buy another Dakota without reservation. If I didn't need as much truck as a Dakota, I'd probably look at a Ranger or a Frontier. Since our last Toyota was not a stellar vehicle, I think I'd pass on a Tacoma. Regards, Dusty |
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Just purchased a '95 dakota with 137,000 mi and there is play in the steering. Feels like it is kinda floating but hard to describe. Mechanic checked the suspension parts and they all seem tight, so he tightened the steering box but this just made turning the wheel tighter but didn't correct the floating feel so it actually made it worse as far as correction steering so I had him back it off. Any ideas what would cause this? He thinks maybe a front end alignment might help but truck alignment as far as tire wear and lack of drifting on road seems ok.
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Replying to: kegler12 (Mar 20, 2009 12:25 pm) Regards, Dusty
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Replying to: dustyk (Mar 22, 2009 10:52 am) However, it would be best to troubleshoot and isolate what the problem is..... losing your steeing is NOT somthing you want to happen. Lift BOTH front wheels off the ground and use your hands to try and 'wiggle' each wheel in all directions. Check all steering-linkages, tie-rod-ends and other steering components. Any play HAS to be isolated and fixed. |
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Replying to: bpeebles (Mar 22, 2009 2:30 pm) He didn't state in his mail note, but I've seen this problem before. I'm betting he's got a two-wheel drive. Best regards, Dusty |
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Replying to: dustyk (Mar 26, 2009 2:10 pm) Here in Vermont... a 2-wheel drive truck is nearly unheard of so I assume all trucks are 4X4.
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Replying to: dustyk (Mar 26, 2009 2:10 pm)
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Replying to: kegler12 (Mar 26, 2009 9:14 pm) Regards, Dusty |
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Replying to: bpeebles (Mar 26, 2009 5:17 pm) I'm pretty sure the 2-wheel drive Dakota was introduced with rack-and-pinion steering. I know the '91s had em. My son put two in his during the seven or eight years he owned it. Bests, Dusty |
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