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Torsion Bars Sag or Shock Weakness on a Dodge Dakota 4x4


biggman100

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Here is one I'm not sure how to figure out which is the issue. On my 1995 Dakota, we decided to put the plow on it, and once the plow frame was bolted up, and I let the jack down, the front end dropped quite a bit, which, I expected some drop, but not that much. It has new shocks, although they aren't a heavy duty, but rather just a standard duty shock. My question is, since the 1991 to 1996 Dakota has torsion bars instead of coil or leaf springs, is there any way to check to see if the bars are weak, or is it just a matter of the shocks not being heavy enough?

 

Would air shocks solve this problem?

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The torsion bars could be worn, but they are weight rated in any case.  The plow might be too much even for new torsion bars.  In either case, you may be able to adjust the torsion bars/ride height, this is often a part of alignment (ride height) on torsion bar vehicles.  You would be adjusting for a plow that might only be temporary.  When the plow comes off, the front end height would "leap" up, and you'd be resetting ride height.

 

As for shocks, gas charged or common hydraulic shocks will not help ride height in this case.  Air shocks would, but I'm not trusting of air shocks for maintaining the height of a vehicle as you describe it.  If the front end height is dependent on air shocks and a shock fails, this could be a safety hazard on the highway...

 

How much did the front end droop?

 

Moses

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Moses, another detail i neglected to mention. The plow was originally on my 1991 Dakota, for almost 5 years, and although i got around a 2 and a 1/2 inch drop on that truck, it still had plenty of front end clearance. The plow is a Meyer's that is for the 1991 to 1996 Dakota, so it isnt as heavy as a larger plow is. The one major difference between the 1991 and the 1995 though, is the 1991 was a 3.9 v-6 truck, whereas the 1995 has a 5.9 v-8, in place of the original 5.2. i dont know if the extra weight of the v-8 versus the v-6 between the 2 trucks would make that much of a difference though, as Meyer said the plow is supposed to only be used on v-8 Dakotas. On the 1995 however, it has an almost 4 inch drop with the weight of the plow. The torsion bars are set 1/2 inch shy of full height, and have been that way since the truck was put together this summer. I dont want to turn the bars all the way to full height, unless i absolutely have to, due to that causing issues in the 1991, namely excessive front end compoinent wear i seemed to encounter on that truck, although that may have been due more to other issues, such as having larger, 16 inch, instead of 15 inch, tires and wheels on it. And, lastly, an issue i only just now thought to consider, and would like to see if you could look into for me, since i cant seem to get a straight answer on, is, are there different part numbers, and even weight handling capabilities, in the torsion bars for the v-6 versus v-8 trucks. The reason this may be a concern is because when i got the new frame for the 1995, i just used the bars that were already on that frame, but im not sure if that frame was set up for a v-6 or a v-8. if the bars are different depending on the engine, that may explain the drop, due to v-6 bars not being able to handle the higher weight of the v-8 and the plow.

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Biggman100...Think I've found the issue here.  There are two torsion bar ratings available:  1450 and 2000 pound.  All V-8s, whether heavy duty suspension or standard suspension, use the 2000# rated torsion bars.  The V-6 models with standard suspension rate 1450# torsion bars.  There is a heavy duty V-6 suspension option torsion bar, and that bar's rating is 2000 pounds like the V-8 type.

 

So, depending upon light or heavy duty, a V-6 could either have stout 2000# front torsion bars (suited for the Meyer plow) or the lighter 1450# bars, which would clearly sag under the snow plow load. 

 

Sounds like even though you have a V-8 in the 1995 model, your frame and torsion bars, if they came together, were light duty suspension V-6.  At least the torsion bars are light duty V-6 type...   

 

You should be able to install either V-8 or heavy duty V-6 torsion bars and solve the extreme sag.  (You'll only have "normal" sag with the Meyer plow installed.)  This would meet Meyer's expectation that you need to have "V-8" suspension.  Meyer may or may not know that there was a 3.9L V-6 heavy duty suspension option that also uses 2000# rated torsion bars.

 

Here are the Mopar parts listings for a 1995 Dodge Dakota 4x4 N5 front end and torsion bars:

 

1995 Dodge Dakota 4x4 N5 Front Suspension.pdf

 

Here is the listing for a 1991 Dakota 4x4 N5 front end and torsion bars.  This is an additional reference and comparison:

 

1991 Dodge Dakota 4x4 N5 Front Suspension and Torsion Bars.pdf

 

This should demystify your front end sag with the Meyer plow installed.  You need the 2000# rated torsion bars. 

 

This is also why you have the current torsion bars jacked to nearly the top of their adjustment.  Likely the 1450# bars are having a hard enough time just supporting the 5.9L engine (likely the same weight as a 5.2L V-8).  Changing bars should make a world of difference, and the telling sign will be the need to lower the current adjustment to establish a normal ride height.

 

Moses

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