Before
Stance is a major piece of the overall custom-truck package. When building a simple daily driver, getting back to basics is a good thing, especially when talking about dependability, reliability and driveability. Sometimes the more technical we make things, there is a greater risk of error.
In the next few issues of Truckin', we are going to be transforming an '00 Dodge Dakota Sport V-8 Magnum 5.9L with a gear-grabbin' ZF 6S-850 six-speed manual transmission into a Red Ripper. From suspension, body mods, and interior this will make the Bow Tie and Blue Oval folks jealous of the Dodge Boys.
After
In this first tech article, we will visit Pro Design Hot Rods in Santa Ana, California. Owner Mike Fillion assigned the team's installation specialist, Dave Gomez, to work his magic and install a DJM 3/5 static-drop kit. The DJM 3/5 drop kit consists of lowering the front with 3-inch dropped lower control arms, and shocks. Because the Dakota's rear end is already flipped atop the leaf springs, the front leaf spring hangers and rear shackles will be removed, then replaced with adjusted hangers and shackles, thereby creating a 5-inch drop in the rear, giving us a 3/5 inch lower, level stance. If you want to obtain a 4-inch drop in the front, shorter front coil springs can be installed, PNCA2397L-2 and PNCS2398-3. To obtain a 6-inch drop in the rear, 1-inch lowering blocks, PNSB23973, can be installed between the rear-end axle housings and leaf spring packs. New, longer U-bolts will also need to be installed. If you want to achieve a 6-inch drop in the rear, it is suggested to C-notch the framerails using PNFK2397-C. To achieve that lowered not slammed stance, we decided it was time to get back to basics.
Pro Design has been making hot-rod dreams become realities since 1983.
The DJM '00 Dodge Dakota Club Cab lowering kit will drop the Dakota 3 inches up front, and 5 inches in the rear. It can be dropped another inch front and rear by adding a shorter coil spring between the upper and lower control arms. The rear end would be lowered by inserting a 1-inch lowering block between the rear-end axle housings and leaf spring packs. | 
After removing the wheels and tires, Dave removed the cotter pin, then used an air gun and socket to remove the castle nut from the tie rod. |  |