The front springs will settle in time with wear and mileage put on them,
this will drop the heighth a little more.
----- Original Message -----
From: Stephen Cecil <scecil@npc.net>
To: Dakota List <dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 1:09 PM
Subject: DML: Front Ball Joints and Eibach Springs
>
> While installing a pair of Eibach lowered springs this weekend, I noticed
both
> upper ball joints were shot @ 32K miles. After surfing around, I found
the Moog
> part number of the replacement ones that bolt in on the Dodge Dakotas
site. You
> have to grind off the rivets on the old ones, but 2 minutes with a 4"
angle
> grinder made short work of them.
>
> I got mine from CarQuest (part# K7242 upper ball joint) for $55 each. Ask
for
> the one's for a 97 or 98 Dakota. They have a zerk fitting for greasing,
unlike
> the stockers, and the rubber boot is MUCH stronger. I wouldn't get a new
A-arm
> assembly unless it was under warrenty. You'll just have to replace them
in
> another ~30K miles.
>
> Now to the fun part - the Eibach springs (part# 2847.520) kick major ass!
I had
> to cut the bump stops in half to regain some wheel travel, but they have
almost
> eliminated brake dive and they soak up the bumps and curves much better.
They
> are progressively wound, unlike the Hotchkis. I got them from
Autocarparts.com,
> who is a great vendor that actually emails you when the part is
backordered and
> doesn't charge your card until it ships, unlike CyberAuto.com.
>
> It only dropped the front ~1.75", but I have a 4.7L which is closer to the
V6's
> weight. They seem to work well with my Edelbrock IAS shocks, but I'll
probably
> replace those with Bilsteins later on as funds allow. I needed a spring
> compressor to get the stockers out, but the Eibachs slipped right in
without it.
>
> I'm getting some 275/60R15 Toyo Proxes S/Ts tomorrow and an alignment
done. It
> pulls to the right now when braking and while in a straight line. AutoX,
here I
> come!
>
> Steve
> 00 CC Sport+, 4.7L, Auto, 3.55, 9.25" LSD, 2"/3" drop, IAS shocks, Eibach
coils,
> Gibson Dual Sport exhaust, Grinning driver
>
>
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