The Dodge Dakota gets some upgrades! (Leveling kit)

Instagram- misplaced_garage
In this episode of Misplaced garage I rebuild the front suspension and add a leveling kit to my 2005 Dodge Dakota. Enjoy!

[@mick5740]

Cool to see some Dakota work. After having leveling kit and then leveling struts on my f150. I’d never do it agin. Wears all joints out fast. Hard to align. Etc.

[@Jman116Films]

Tomorrow I’m driving to check out and purchase an 06 4x4 Dakota… 160k miles, no rust, driven by a grandpa in a small town. Same paint as yours! Super excited!

[@RobbinBanksInc]

how did it go

[@Jman116Films]

@@RobbinBanksInc Not too great, it wasn't in horrible condition. Grandpa was a working man it seems, towed a trailer with it quite a bit. Transmission had every code in the universe but I believe that was due to it being serviced before we went and looked at it b.c. the codes cleared and it ran fine. It had one other oddity in the engine bay with a structural member being missing and I think the radiator was zip-tied. Ended up purchasing a brand-new 2022 Chevy Colorado Z71 in January of 2023. I love the thing!

[@RobbinBanksInc]

@@Jman116Filmsglad it worked out in the end for you

[@mattknierim9276]

That’s a pretty huge difference in a truck😂

[@berserkerusmc7613]

Great job!

[@mick5740]

Im doing a front end rebuild in a 2005. Man a lot of tight spaces for bolts. Almost everything is seized ! Or was seized. Have to chop out lower control arm bolts. Header heat shields falling off and really what is the point of them , It also has transmission codes. But we’ll see. Cool little trucks I always liked them

[@mick5740]

Always drive for awhile if possible before the alignment. At least with new springs that need to settle like RC struts. Pita!

[@misplacedgarage]

After installing the lift spacers I quickly removed them as they were causing more problems than I gained. The 3rd generation is not the truck to lift! But I no longer own that one.

[@mick5740]

@@misplacedgarage I hear that. My 06 f150 with lift is a constant PItA. Wearing tires , alignment issues. Was gonna go back to stovk but Rough country sent me free replacement shocks so I said ok but regret it. It ain’t worth wearing tires and alignment issues and then wearing out new ball joints faster. Subbed. Well see if you got anymore cool truck vids

[@misplacedgarage]

I will be doing some work on my 00’ f250 when the weather gets a little nicer! Thanks for following!

[@richardhlavaty3112]

Hey i love to see it! Any way you could comment or send me the links to parts for this job? I would love to do this on my Dakota!

[@misplacedgarage]

Its been awhile since I did this now. But I highly recommend not adding a leveling kit to your 3rd gen unless its a 2wd. mine immediately started to have issues so I removed it.

[@isaactm9805]

dope video bro!

[@ryan-zq8mg]

Yea I did a 3” leveling kit on my 03 Durango and man it looks like that should just be the stock height🤦🏻 it’s dumb

[@Meche697]

Torque specs? Hard to find.

[@noahtw96]

Rain bird controller! Are you also a fellow irrigation installer? 🤣

[@mattdaniel2395]

Not just dodge that dies the ball joint in the control arm. Very common

[@germancommer628]

looks great! what size are the tires?

[@loganmickelson7008]

SUPER!

[@Meche697]

Actual part name/part numbers would have been nice. Any update?

[@albertoguerra1514]

Do a video on replacing the rear brakes.

[@misplacedgarage]

When my rears get low I’ll most definitely make a video about it!

[@sambomoto3]

What brand is your camper topper?

[@misplacedgarage]

I believe it’s an ARE.

[@kennethmower2557]

How big of a leveling kit did you use and what’s the name because I’m trying to find one for my 2006 dodge Dakota

[@misplacedgarage]

I used a 1.5in. It ended up putting too much stress on the suspension and broke. These are not good trucks to lift.

[@kennethmower2557]

@@misplacedgarage really?? Dang been trying to find something for a lift but there aren’t any that I can find

[@PierresWildAdventure]

I got 3.5 inch spacers in the front and back plus a 3 inch body lift in my 08 Dakota for 6 years now with no issues. You can fit 35's on it but you're gonna have to trim the fenders

[@maryanndizon6238]

@@PierresWildAdventure do you mind sharing where you get your lift kits and spacers?

[@franka8522]

What broke after the level?

[@sergeantc4073]

You need a breaker bar

[@jordanmercredi3740]

What size spacer?

[@misplacedgarage]

1.5in

[@kenhennessey4285]

@@misplacedgarage way to much without a diff drop

[@jimmycecil1287]

​@kenhennessey4285 you don't need to do anything to the front diff. I leveled my 05 dakota with 2" spacers in front, and 1.5" blocks in the rear, also added a 3" body lift. I installed them when the truck had less than 100k miles on it, it currently has 191k. Only issues I've had, my ball joints wear faster.

[@jordanmercredi3740]

@jimmycecil1287 good to know only now am I planning on putting them in haha good timing

[@chuertas003]

How do you like your lift so far??

[@misplacedgarage]

It’s alright. I get more weird front end sounds. Plus I’m also going to have to add limiting straps if I want to take my truck off-road.