# 2004 Dodge Dakota Axle repair? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [November 28, 2015, 11:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-dodge-dakota-axle-repair/91825 "2015-11-28T23:48:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sarahkate125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Sarahkate125](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sarahkate125)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2015, 11:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-dodge-dakota-axle-repair/91825/1 "2015-11-28T23:48:33Z")
This morning my husband lost control of my 2004 Dodge Dakota truck on ice and ran it into the ditch, subsequently hitting a culvert with the front end/undercarriage of the truck. He was able to get the truck out of the ditch with no sounds of engine trouble. While trying to turn the truck the steering wheel seized up and wouldn’t go past a certain point without a ton of force. I am trying to figure out how to post pictures but no luck yet. Any ideas at all with that little of information? ---
**Author:** ![Sarahkate125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Sarahkate125](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sarahkate125)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2015, 11:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-dodge-dakota-axle-repair/91825/2 "2015-11-28T23:49:43Z")
Also, the truck moves forward and backwards without any noise from the axle but when you try to turn it goes fine up until a certain point in both directions. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahkate125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Sarahkate125](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sarahkate125)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 12:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-dodge-dakota-axle-repair/91825/3 "2015-11-29T00:29:06Z")
Here is the first picture ---
**Author:** ![Sarahkate125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Sarahkate125](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sarahkate125)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 12:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-dodge-dakota-axle-repair/91825/4 "2015-11-29T00:31:49Z")
Bent it way back towards the axle ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 12:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-dodge-dakota-axle-repair/91825/5 "2015-11-29T00:42:25Z")
You have (obviously) major front end damage. Do not attempt to drive it. Get it towed to your mechanic’s. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahkate125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Sarahkate125](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sarahkate125)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 12:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-dodge-dakota-axle-repair/91825/6 "2015-11-29T00:52:56Z")
Yeah that’s the plan at some point, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 12:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-dodge-dakota-axle-repair/91825/7 "2015-11-29T00:58:51Z")
On the Dakota, is the front cradle bolt on, or is part of the frame itself? ---
**Author:** ![Sarahkate125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Sarahkate125](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sarahkate125)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 1:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-dodge-dakota-axle-repair/91825/8 "2015-11-29T01:16:28Z")
I’m not exactly sure of your question (I am not a huge car person) but the backwards C shaped bracket appears to be bolted to the truck frame. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 1:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-dodge-dakota-axle-repair/91825/9 "2015-11-29T01:21:21Z")
The stabilizer bar bracket is minor compared to the bent frame. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahkate125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Sarahkate125](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sarahkate125)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 1:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-dodge-dakota-axle-repair/91825/10 "2015-11-29T01:29:39Z")
Totally off the top, any estimation of price with such little information and bad pictures? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 2:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-dodge-dakota-axle-repair/91825/11 "2015-11-29T02:13:38Z")
No one can give an estimate with actually seeing the damage first hand. Anyone who would do so by pictures good or bad would be taking meaning less guesses. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahkate125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Sarahkate125](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sarahkate125)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 2:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-dodge-dakota-axle-repair/91825/12 "2015-11-29T02:18:12Z")
Good to know! Thanks for all of your input! However I really do wish it were an easy fix! ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 2:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-dodge-dakota-axle-repair/91825/13 "2015-11-29T02:22:57Z")
Do any of you regulars know if the cradle is bolt-on or part of the frame? If it’s bolt on, it clearly should be replaced If not, I think it’s going to get ugly and expensive I see a lot of rust in the picture . . . ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 2:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-dodge-dakota-axle-repair/91825/14 "2015-11-29T02:52:28Z")
The cross member under the engine is part of the frame. In the southwest those trucks are $3,000 to $5,000, quad cabs a little more. That would be the easy fix.