Dakota Suspension

[Russ Knight]

Who makes the best front and rear suspension kit for the Dakota? I'd like to lower it just a tad.

Thanks!

 

[niceolddart]

I used a Hotchkis kit consisting of front & rear springs & Bilstein shocks on my 2000 Dakota. They have been on there for about 20 years now & have had no problems except, on the lower control arms, the factory bump stops are in a metal cup riveted to the lower control arm & they would bottom out. I installed a modest 2"-3" drop, so I removed the metal cups & installed universal poly/urethane bump stops from Energy Suspension. It handles & rides very good. I would probably go with the dropped spindles instead of the springs next time if I had the cash.

 

[Russ Knight]

I used a Hotchkis kit consisting of front & rear springs & Bilstein shocks on my 2000 Dakota. They have been on there for about 20 years now & have had no problems except, on the lower control arms, the factory bump stops are in a metal cup riveted to the lower control arm & they would bottom out. I installed a modest 2"-3" drop, so I removed the metal cups & installed universal poly/urethane bump stops from Energy Suspension. It handles & rides very good. I would probably go with the dropped spindles instead of the springs next time if I had the cash.

Apparently Hotchkis no longer makes components for the Dakota.

 

[niceolddart]

I can understand that. They were a popular vehicle back in the day but not many people still mess with them. I'm lucky, I still have a real nice one.