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Dodge Dakota (R1). Manual - part 193

SPRING AND SHOCK ABSORBER

CONDITION

POSSIBLE CAUSES

CORRECTION

SPRING SAGS

1. Broken leaf.

1. Replace spring.

2. Spring fatigue.

2. Replace spring.

SPRING NOISE

1. Loose spring clamp bolts.

1. Tighten to specification.

2. Worn bushings.

2. Replace bushings.

3. Worn or missing spring tip inserts.

3. Replace spring tip inserts.

SHOCK NOISE

1. Loose mounting fastener.

1. Tighten to specification.

2. Worn bushings.

2. Replace shock.

3. Leaking shock.

3. Replace shock.

SPECIFICATIONS

TORQUE CHART

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

DESCRIPTION

N·m

Ft. Lbs.

In. Lbs.

Shock Absorber

Lower Bolt

—

Shock Absorber

Upper Bolt

—

Stabilizer Bar

Frame Bracket Nuts

—

Stabilizer Bar

Link Nuts

—

Stabilizer Bar

Retainer Bolts

—

Spring U-Bolt Nuts

2WD

149

110

—

Spring U-Bolt Nuts

4WD

149

110

—

Spring

Eye Nut

163

120

—

Spring

Shackle Nuts

163

120

—

Jounce Bumper

Bolts

—

SHOCK

DESCRIPTION

The top of the shock absorbers are bolted to the

body crossmember. The bottom of the shocks are
bolted to the axle brackets. The axle brackets are
staggered one ahead of the axle and one befind.

OPERATION

Ride control is accomplished through the use of

dual-action shock absorbers. The shocks dampen the
jounce and rebound as the vehicle travels over vari-
ous road conditions.

2 - 26

REAR

REAR (Continued)

REMOVAL

(1) Raise vehicle and support rear axle.
(2) Remove shock absorber lower nut and bolt from

the axle bracket (Fig. 1).

(3) Remove shock absorber upper nut and bolt

from the frame bracket and remove the shock
absorber.

INSTALLATION

(1) Install shock absorber and upper mounting bolt

and nut. Tighten nut to 95 N·m (70 ft. lbs.).

(2) Install shock absorber into the axle bracket.

Install the bolt and nut and tighten nut to 95 N·m
(70 ft. lbs.).

(3) Remove axle support and lower vehicle.

SPRING

DESCRIPTION

The 4x2 rear suspension system uses a 4-leaf two

stage or 5-leaf single stage springs and a solid drive
axle. The 4x4 rear suspension system uses only a
4-leaf two stage spring and solid drive axle. The for-
ward end of the springs are mounted to the body rail
hangers through rubber bushings. The rearward end
of the springs are attached to the body by the use of
shackles. The spring and shackles use rubber bush-
ings. The bushing help to isolate road noise.

OPERATION

The springs control ride quality and maintain vehi-

cle ride height. The shackles allow the springs to
change their length as the vehicle moves over various
road conditions.

REMOVAL

CAUTION: The rear of the vehicle must be lifted
only with a jack or hoist. The lift must be placed
under the frame rail crossmember located aft of the
rear axle. Use care to avoid bending the side rail
flange.

(1) Raise the vehicle at the frame.
(2) Use a hydraulic jack to relieve the axle weight.
(3) Remove the wheel and tire assemblies.
(4) Remove the nuts, the U-bolts and spring plate

from the axle (Fig. 2) and (Fig. 3) .

(5) Remove the nut and bolt from the spring front

eye.

(6) Remove the nut and bolt that attaches the

spring shackle to the rear frame bracket.

(7) Remove the spring from the vehicle.
(8) Remove the shackle from the spring.

Fig. 1 Shock Absorber

1 - SHOCK ABSORBER
2 - MOUNTING BOLT
3 - MOUNTING BOLT

Fig. 2 Leaf Spring - 4x2

1 - JOUNCE BUMPER
2 - SHACKLE
3 - PLATE
4 - LEAF SPRING

REAR

2 - 27

SHOCK (Continued)

INSTALLATION

CAUTION: The rear of the vehicle must be lifted only
with a jack or hoist. The lift must be placed under the
frame rail crossmember located aft of the rear axle.
Use care to avoid bending the side rail flange.

(1) Install the spring shackle on the spring finger

tight.

(2) Position the spring on the rear axle pad. Make sure

the spring center bolt is inserted in the pad locating hole.

(3) Align front spring eye with the bolt hole in the

front frame bracket. Install the spring eye bolt and
nut and tighten the spring eye nut finger-tight.

(4) Align spring shackle eye with the bolt hole in

the rear frame bracket. Install the bolt and nut and
tighten the spring shackle eye nut finger-tight.

(5) Install the spring seat (4x4 only), U-bolts,

spring plate and nuts.

(6) Tighten the U-bolt nuts to 149 N·m (110 ft. lbs.).
(7) Install the wheel and tire assemblies. (Refer to

22 - TIRES/WHEELS/WHEELS - STANDARD PRO-
CEDURE).

(8) Remove the support stands from under the

frame rails. Lower the vehicle until the springs are
supporting the weight of the vehicle.

(9) Tighten the spring eye pivot bolt nut and all

shackle nuts to 163 N·m (120 ft. lbs.).

STABILIZER BAR

DESCRIPTION

The stabilizer bar (optional) extends across the

underside of the vehicle and is bolted to the top of
the axle. Links at the end of the bar are bolted to
frame brackets.

OPERATION

The stabilizer bar is used to minimize vehicle body

roll. The spring steel bar helps to control the vehicle
body in relationship to the suspension.

REMOVAL

(1) Raise and support vehicle.
(2) Remove nuts and bolts from the links at the

stabilizer bar.

(3) Remove stabilizer bar retainer bolts and retain-

ers (Fig. 4).

(4) Remove

stabilizer

bar

and

replace

worn,

cracked or distorted bushings.

(5) Remove links upper mounting nuts and bolts

and remove links.

INSTALLATION

(1) Install the stabilizer bar and center it with

equal spacing on both sides. Install stabilizer bar
retainers and tighten bolts to 54 N·m (40 ft. lbs.).

(2) Install link into frame brackets and the stabi-

lizer bar. Install mounting nuts and bolts.

(3) Remove support and lower vehicle.
(4) Tighten stabilizer link nuts to 54 N·m (40 ft. lbs.).

Fig. 3 Leaf Spring - 4x4

1 - SHACKLE
2 - JOUNCE BUMPER
3 - SEAT
4 - PLATE
5 - LEAF SPRING

Fig. 4 Stabilizer Bar Mounting

1 - STABILIZER BAR
2 - LINK
3 - RETAINER

2 - 28

REAR

SPRING (Continued)

SUSPENSION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

page

WHEEL ALIGNMENT

DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
SPECIFICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

FRONT - 2WD

SPECIFICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

HUB / BEARING

REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

KNUCKLE

REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

LOWER CONTROL ARM

REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

UPPER CONTROL ARM

REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

SHOCK

REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

TORSION BAR

REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

STABILIZER BAR

REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

WHEEL ALIGNMENT

DESCRIPTION - R1 WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Wheel alignment involves the correct positioning of

the wheels in relation to the vehicle. The positioning
is accomplished through suspension and steering
linkage adjustments. An alignment is considered

essential for efficient steering, good directional stabil-
ity and to minimize tire wear.

Due to the different frame and front suspension

components used on the R1 Dakota, refer to the
Wheel Alignment Specification Table at the end of
this group for R1 Dakota alignment specifications.

SPECIFICATIONS

SPECIFICATIONS - R1 ALIGNMENT

VEHICLE

WHEEL BASE

CASTER (± 1.00°)

CAMBER (± 0.50°)

TOTAL TOE

(± 0.06°)

4x2

111.9

3.16°

+0.38°

+0.15°

130.9

3.27°

+0.38°

+0.15°

MAXIMUM RT to LT DIFFERENCE

0.50°

0.06

SUSPENSION

2a - 1

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