Undoing low-rider BS

[Carmine]

I suppose this has applications for any leaf-sprung Mopar, so pretty much everything we like. Yes, this is a cut/past from FB. I expect better answers here...
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Question for my truck'n friends... finally had some time to get underneath this Dak R/T. Sure enough, these are new (chinese-looking aftermarket) springs. They ride like garbage and the thing sits stupid low. It looks like 3 leaves are being taken up with spacers above the spring pack. If I reversed this (spacers below) I could expect the same lousy ride, but gain height? Or... should I take the pack to a spring shop and have 3 new leaves added? And recommendations for a local shop. I got a quote from John R that included labor... and that ain't happenen'. Remember the point of this truck is just winter-hooptie, drywall-hauler, so not looking to fall in love.

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*I might put the drivetrain in a C-body once the rest of this Dakota rusts away.

 

[68PK21 440.6bbl]

I can't figure out what year the truck is but why not order a *NEW* set from a dealer for a like *NEW* ride?
Other than that if your a cheap bastard... boneyard, boneyard, boneyard.
Why add on to junk chinesium springs? The crystal ball sez those leaves will have a broken future.

 

[Mr C]

I'm thinking the quickest/ easiest solution is to pull a complete stock set up at a wrecker.

 

[CBODY67]

HOPEFULLY you bought it cheap enough to allow for some "fixing up" expenses?

What about the front ride height? NAPA still has replacement front coil springs in their catalog, fwiw.

Salvage yard, Espy, or Eaton. Maybe even rockauto? Take your pick. Or even some Firestone air assist springs to get it level again?

CBODY67

 

[HWYCRZR]

I think what you are asking is if you pull the the spacers from the top of the leaves and put them below will it raise the truck. Yes it will. However I would throw them away and get new regular length U-bolts. By putting it back where they belong, you likely will not need the pinion angle wedge either. It actually may ride better at stock height. Could be low enough it is bottoming out.

 

[CBODY67]

From a few of the lowered stock vehicles I've seen, the owners/drivers only care about the look rather than "the ride" (usually jiggly, from the way it looks) and don't seem to mind almost stopping to go over railroad tracks (no matter how fast traffic is approaching them from behind!), for example. Much less turning into businesses with steep aproach aprons. They can tend to be "the center of attention" as everybody has to stop/almost stop for them to "profile".

And with C-bodies, that rear body overhang can be even more trouble to deal with!

Just my observations,
CBODY67

 

[Carmine]

I can't figure out what year the truck is but why not order a *NEW* set from a dealer for a like *NEW* ride?
Other than that if your a cheap bastard... boneyard, boneyard, boneyard.
Why add on to junk chinesium springs? The crystal ball sez those leaves will have a broken future.

That angle hides a lot of rust. This is a drivetrain that will tote around light building materials.

Junkyard is a likely option, but springs are fun to pull in the typical ice-rain-snow we have this time o' year.

And yes, I did get the truck fairly cheap because of the stupid mods. It also has a 1-chamber 3" Flowmaster that turns down ahead of the axle. And a shitbox radio designed for Asian hands to tune.

 

[1970FuryConv]

I disagree with using those spacers below. Look unstable/unsafe.

Michigan winters are super cold from my memories of 1989-1991. U-bolts and spring eye bolts would be a ***** in that weather. I remember 0°F some days.
The cheapest safe way out would be to be to pull the leaf springs, look up a local spring shop on the internet, and have 3 leaves added. If you don't care about ride height, you could save money by not re-arching.

 

[C-Sick]

It's spring under so removing those shims will increase ride height. Shims and/or blocks should never be stacked. Too easy to spit one out, then the rest follow quickly. Not fun times!

Rather than freezing junkyard, hit up the local 4x4 shop and buy an add-a-leaf, a pair of new center pins and some new U-bolts. Still cheap, and should get it back closer to stock height...but without the pain of a junkyard at this time of year. Pulling used leaf packs out is a bad enough job in warm weather.

 

[C-Sick]

Closer look at that pic and it appears two of the "shims" are cut down leafs...

 

[65sporty]

I googled it and from the pic's I see your missing the bottom leaf. Replace them with new of used.
They should be a 3/1 (4 leaf) or 4/1 (5 leaf), your missing the 1

Shop 1986 - 2011 Dodge Dakota Leaf Springs | Dakota Leaf Spring Replacement

 

[68PK21 440.6bbl]

Michigan winters are super cold from my memories of 1989-1991. U-bolts and spring eye bolts would be a ***** in that weather. I remember 0°F some days.

BURN BABY BURN! (why beat yourself up) Better yet if there is snow on the ground, no worries 'bout setting the whole yard ablaze.
LET THE SPARKS FLY!

.

 

[Carmine]

Just as an update, after looking at the general crappiness of the spring set up, I found a guy selling used stock 4x4 springs on FB about 70 miles away. I figure 20 years should have them down to stock 2WD height. Or if not, that's fine as well. $50 for the set. Best part? No junkyards on my back at 30 degrees.

 

[1970FuryConv]

Just as an update, after looking at the general crappiness of the spring set up, I found a guy selling used stock 4x4 springs on FB about 70 miles away. I figure 20 years should have them down to stock 2WD height. Or if not, that's fine as well. $50 for the set. Best part? No junkyards on my back at 30 degrees.

30°F. Michigan must be having a heat wave.

 

[68PK21 440.6bbl]

Best part? No junkyards on my back at 30 degrees.

I don't know what kind of rapport you have with your yard but it shouldn't take the yard monkey more than 15 minutes with a torch if the truck is up in the air.

 

[Carmine]

I don't know what kind of rapport you have with your yard but it shouldn't take the yard monkey more than 15 minutes with a torch if the truck is up in the air.

You haven't been to a junkyard in a while, huh?

Imagine the same people who work at Burger King, behind plexiglass. You drag whatever crap you dismantled past them, they match it with a picture on their screen and click a mouse. Then they tell you what to pay.

Torches in a yard? hahahahahaha

 

[tallhair]

Have you looked on ebag or craigslist?

no rolling in snow