Floating Air Suspension

[acolic]

Hi

it’s my first time owning a truck with air suspension.

I’ve been driving it a few weeks on the highway and in aero mode, the truck seems to be floating.

Doesn’t feel that it’s firmly on the ground.

Is this normal for air suspension?

Thanks.

Alex

 

[LouM]

I had never noticed that feeling with ny 2019.

 

[mrack]

Well, you are riding on air lol. What was your previous vehicle? Are you used to HD trucks with firm suspension perhaps?

 

[acolic]

Hi

Previous ride was a 2006 ram 1500.

Just does not feel like a solid drive.

More body roll then I’m used to.

Just wondering if that’s normal for air suspension.

 

[jr27236]

"floating" as in soft bouncing? Or like a boat floating in soft waves? The only thing that would cause that is bad shocks. Check the rear shocks and see if they are good. What year/model?

 

[acolic]

Hi 2014 Ram 1500 sport.

Not really front to back more like side to side.

Maybe it’s something I just need to get used to.

Just doesn’t feel like a truck is planted firmly on the road.

 

[mrack]

Your coming from a leaf sprung rear suspension to air ride so that may be part of it. Check your sway bars, possible a previous owner removed the front sway bar. May as well replace the sway bar bushings and links front and rear, it’s cheap and easy

 

[acolic]

Thanks I’ll do that.

I love the concept of air suspension with the ability to raise and lower the truck.

The gas mileage I’m getting is amazing compared to my last truck.

I’m not sure how reliable the system is but at 175K miles it seems to be doing well.

 

[Jeepwalker]

It could be normal as some have said. Or at your tk's mileage the air shocks are not cutting it. Not the "air bladder" part (which supports the weight), but the actual dampening portion of the shock absorber. Hard to say w/o being there.

Maybe it would be worthwhile to find another tk with air ride and lower miles (dealer, etc) and test drive to compare to yours.

New struts are expensive, but aftermarket ones I've seen for ~$400 a pr for the front. Maybe even cheaper on ebay...IDK.

I've owned cars with air suspension. They do have a somewhat 'floaty' and disconnected suspension. That's just baked into the air-type technology. I personally like air-ride. A lot. Esp in larger cars. Won't be as choppy and fatiguing over long drives. But definitely different than normal spring suspension. You can't get better than 'air' as some have said... LOL

 

[Edward Hands]

I recently put Bilstein 4600 on the rear of my 80,000 mile Ram and they greatly improved the ride quality. But what vastly removed that floating feeling that you are talking about was addition of a Hellwig anti-sway bar. Even in it's middle setting it controls that unnecessary and uneasy feeling. I would start with the shocks but then don't underestimate the benefit that the adjustable anti-sway bar will provide.
Restored "better than new" ride quality, remember when you got in a new truck and you were amazed that you were at highway speeds and it felt so controlled and stable? Well that's these two updates did for me.

 

[Edward Hands]

I just added Bilstein's on the front too. And yes, I put new shocks inside the original air-bags.
Still has all 5 factory ride heights. No float just smooth control !

2020 Laramie Longhorn

 

[acolic]

Hi

Not getting this:

“And yes, I put new shocks inside the original air-bags.”

Thanks

Alex

 

[Edward Hands]

Everything and everyone was saying that the entire assembly had to be changed out all at once, like a MacPherson strut.
But the parts are available and I was able to replace just the shock with a new Bilstein unit from the Rebel. I removed the old original shock from the factory air bag. And installed new Mopar shock inside the original airbag.