How to Relocate Spring Perches

I've been working on an axle swap and disc brake conversion for a 2001 Dodge Dakota and one of the things I need to do is relocate to spring perches. There is only a 1inch difference between the Dakota and Durango other than Dakota 4x4 are spring over the axle. The axle came from a 2000 Dodge Durango R/T equipped with 3.92 gears and a Trak-Lok.
NOTE: when doing this as I did with a rear axle from a 4x4 Durango that is going into a 01 Dakota 4x4 you need to add 6 degrees to the perches to keep the pinion angle correct.
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[@joelrugg]

Omg the drill bit to mark the location of perch is exactly what I was looking for ❤❤

[@timothywilliams2021]

Funny i just typed in weld on spring perches. First video that popped up. I'm looking to weld on spring perches for a Dakota. So this was perfect. I knew Dakota 2wd and 4wd were different but did not know the Durango was different from the Dakota. Already know what I'm doing. Just like to see how others do things. Always nice to see another person's perspective on how to do things.

[@michaellord3571]

I've watched all if not most of your videos. Even when you go to yard searching for goodies. I have a 04 4.0 Laredo so you bring great information. Great projects. You really are the beast of jeep building. Your fab work is like going to school. Just appreciate you and your work 💪👍 Cheers 🍾🥂

[@martinbuilt]

That is awesome, I really appreciate hear that. 😁

[@05glisedan]

Awesome video as always. I'll be following along, when working on our XJ. Thanks for posting. Looking forward to the next episode.

[@danhambrick6331]

Nice job Martin.Cant wait to see it under the Dakota..💪👍👍

[@martinbuilt]

You and me both! 😁

[@gilliland426]

looks great my friend!

[@user-nf3ys9vg3k]

Martin you literally saved me here! Thank you so much

[@martinbuilt]

yeah, how did I do that? 🤔

[@user-nf3ys9vg3k]

@@martinbuilt I’m going to attempt something like this for the Jeep.

[@mako757]

yeah mon, cant wait to see it installed, Bravo!

[@martinbuilt]

Coming soon!

[@susu-mi7kx]

I wish I could be your apprentice, and be there hands on.

[@s.b5412]

I RESPECT YOURE WORK ALLWAYS MARTIN I WISH YOU ALL BEST

[@martinbuilt]

Thank you, much appreciated. 😊

[@ChrisHampton-xv1cx]

But a fairly educational video for someone who hasn't ever worked on shit that doesn't interchange

[@truthsayers8725]

i looked for a flip kit from the usual suspects for my 04 4x4 Dakota but to no avail. looks like im going to have to do this if i want to lower the truck... its beyond my capabilities (no welder, no lift, no table/stand... no understanding wife!!! lol nice IBEW and FOA decals on your tool box by the way! UAW electrician and FOA certified tech but i havent done any fiber in about a decade now! i actually maintained the swaging machine that reduced the diameter of the outer of the tubes and the Nachi robots that welded the perches on the axle tubes too (at Detroit Axle Plant).

[@martinbuilt]

Hello Brother, I love working with fiber. I did several thousand strands at the Ceasars Convention Center in 2019-2020 and getting ready to do some more.

[@joequixotic3039]

Looks good but I would do one side at a time so I could use a level to match the pinion angle from the old perch to the new perch, then new perch to new perch. Those perches are going to be pretty close to identical but not perfect so error could sneak in if you aren't careful. Chrysler probably used a jig to weld the perches so the old perch is probably a good reference unless you are intentionally changing the angles. Any way, that's another method.

[@martinbuilt]

turns out the Dakota 4x4 and the Durango have not much in common when it comes to back end. Ended up changing the spring perch location by 10 degrees to get the driveline angle correct.

[@joequixotic3039]

@@martinbuilt ouch, that's a bummer. With that said, I don't know if you have one but a little square digital angle finder level on an existing perch and a bubble level on the new would let you set your new angle easy (if you know what it needs to be).

[@ConSeann3ry]

Great tips here, thanks!

[@martinbuilt]

Thank you, I'm glad you liked it and found it helpful.

[@johnkozero6842]

Nice job

[@mjo326]

Nice video - thanks!

[@martinbuilt]

I'm glad you liked it and found it helpful. Thank you for watching.

[@clydestanley4740]

Great tips

[@martinbuilt]

I'm glad you found it helpful.

[@erniehenshaw4066]

Nice Work!!

[@martinbuilt]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@GforGarbage]

SmithRacecraft sales 3.5" Perch's

[@susu-mi7kx]

When I removed the radiator, that 7/8 nut was so hard to remove, even with w-d 40 over night so the radiator was removed with them on, and unfortunately, they still would not come off, the bolt and washer that it attatches to came off with it. I also accidently kinked a slight twist in the upper line about... literally 1 inch from the nut. I have made my own break line for the the jeep.( proud of my self). can I email you a pic some how? of that kink..maybe i can cut that? and also..

[@thisoldjeepcj5]

You make it look easy! What welder settings did you use? Thanks for another great video.

[@martinbuilt]

Thank you, I'm using a Miller 211 with .030 wire set on automatic, with heat set at 7.5

[@scottb.innovations4386]

i thought you were flipping the axle so why did you weld pads in same location and not on opposite side

[@martinbuilt]

This is actually an axle flip. I took the axle from a Durango. Were the Springs go under the axle. And I'm installing this in my 4w drive.. Dakota, where the Springs go over the axle. Thank you for watching.

[@davestewart9146]

Awesome job Martin, I’d really like to know your welder setup and how you set yours up for this project 👍😁

[@martinbuilt]

I'm using a Miller 211 with .030 wire set automatic, with heat set at 7.5

[@davestewart9146]

@@martinbuilt thanks for the reply Martin 👍😁

[@Haithamz]

Can I weld it with stick welder?

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[@andrewsapp856]

I could use one for my Jeep. I have 3500 tik tok followers lol

[@billwelter4101]

Great video, but dont you think its better to just order new perches? They're pretty cheap

[@martinbuilt]

thank you I'm glad you liked it and found it helpful. Yes that would be much less labor intensive. I'm just big into recycle and or reuse.

[@amarildooliver]

Hello buddy, how are you? Can you help me please? I have error code P D700 and 532 in my Grand Cherokee 2004 here in Brazil. Do you know how I should solve this? Grateful

[@martinbuilt]

The P0700 code indicate something is wrong with the TCM is your transmission operating as it should? And the other code is got something to do with your air conditioning.

[@amarildooliver]

@@martinbuilt I was really having trouble gaining speed, I was kind of tied up, I'll check that out. Thank you very much

[@susu-mi7kx]

Martin I recently removed the radiator from 2001 grand cherokee laredo 4.0 6 cyl. I did not take note which hose to hook the transmission cooler lines back on to. Can you help.? chick here doing this herself.

[@martinbuilt]

the transmission line that is closest to the front of the transmission goes to the bottom of the radiator.

[@susu-mi7kx]

@@martinbuilt Thank you, soooo much Mr. Martin, I will take a look... and get back to you.

[@susu-mi7kx]

@@martinbuilt Martin Built.. I want to make sure that I said the right thing. I did not take note of which hose the lines on the radiator go to. the top line from the radiator ..is a long line and bottom the short. those were removed from shinny rubber hoses, so that I was able to remove the radiator. is it still as you told me? the closest to front attatches to bottom? thank you again

[@susu-mi7kx]

@@martinbuilt So there is not one line closest than the other, to the front of the transmission. there are 2 lines one on top of the other, both attach to skinny hoses that the trans line from radiator, then attaches to. so I learned the name... one of the lines that has a (CHECK VALVE),..with a skinny hose. other does not. would the top(LONG)trans oil line from radiator attach to that line? I don't want to attach them backwards. can I email you a photo. i don't know how to upload a pic in reply.

[@martinbuilt]

@@susu-mi7kx contact me at Facebook facebook.com/Martinbuilt-2351766611763181

[@reason7256]

I have a 2000 dodge dakota 4.7 with 162000 Miles is it worthe the time to change timing chains rockers and lifters or should I overhaul it?

[@martinbuilt]

If it's not using oil I would go ahead and replace the timing chain, lifters and upgrade the rockers.

[@reason7256]

@@martinbuilt thank you for that and keep the videos coming there awesome

[@reason7256]

@@martinbuilt do you have your own shop?

[@martinbuilt]

@@reason7256 no, just a 2 stall garage. Working on buying a home with a much larger garage.

[@reason7256]

@@martinbuilt you have great knowledge I wished I could learn from you

[@ChrisHampton-xv1cx]

You can tell this guy hasn't fabricated much of anything in his life. Why someone would cut a couple of rear ends and waist so much time doing so is beyond my knowledge but he could have simply modified the perches by welding a tab on the end and drilling a hole in it !

[@thomaspollock4274]

Curious about procedure when welding the perches on. I see you jumped around, side to side. Was there any distortion effect on the axle or damage to bearings and seals?

[@martinbuilt]

You don't have to worry about that much heat making it to the bearing or seal. The axle tube will dissipate the heat. I like to jump around to prevent any distortion but is very unlikely to happen.

[@thomaspollock4274]

Great thanks for the info. Enjoyed your video.

[@martinbuilt]

@@thomaspollock4274 I'm glad you like and find them helpful. 😎👍