Shock Absorbers

[HEMIMANN]

Bilsteins supposedly are built well enough to "last a lifetime", whatever that means. They are precision-extruded cases, and high quality seals, but still.

 

[HEMIMANN]

you can always go this route. It will make a huge difference in your ride.
https://www.thurenfabrication.com/thuren-ram-1500-kings.html

Thanks but I have a 2500. Doesn't seem they have active ride suspension for HD trucks.

 

[ram1500rsm]

I change my shocks every 50-60k miles, or service (if i have the type) more or less by that time or as needed depending on use vs miles. a fresh set of shocks will make a difference if you're driving your vehicle in something other than just flat/smooth roads. You can push more than 50k miles of course, typically with conventional shocks and again depending on what type of driving conditions they've seen you can drive 100k with them so as long as they're not leaking and you still feel you're getting a comfortable ride i see no reason to switch them.

If you're happy with the stock ride feel and longevity, hit the Mopar vendor here and i'd think you can get a set of factory struts and shocks at a decent price. If you want something a little cheaper and some report same/better ride, KYB Monomax, Monroe Reflex or Gabriel Ultra are highly regarded most of the times for those looking for best stock replacements. Again i think sometimes the perception of a better ride is because people might be replacing worned out shocks for something fresh. In my Jeeps a fresh set of any shocks has always made a really noticeable difference, again i switch them every 50-60k miles. We replaced drivetrain/motor fluids on a certain schedule, we replace pads/rotors on a schedule, plugs, etc etc, your shocks should also have a changing schedule as they do wear out though sometimes you're so used to the feeling you don't think you need to.

Have fun.

 

[ram1500rsm]

Thanks but I have a 2500. Doesn't seem they have active ride suspension for HD trucks.

https://www.thurenfabrication.com/p...500-2013-18-3500.html/suspension-systems.html

 

[pacofortacos]

I didn't care for the 5100's on the front of my truck, the stock Outdoorsman was a much better ride and handling vs. the 5100's.
OEM was much heavier built also - at least the shaft was significantly thicker.

Rear, I still have and like the OEM extra HD rear shocks and at 41k miles they seem about the same as they were new.

 

[EdGs]

Guess I will be taking a look at them soon.

Fortunately, the roads are decent here, and I try to be careful.....

 

[HEMIMANN]

https://www.thurenfabrication.com/p...500-2013-18-3500.html/suspension-systems.html

Yep - looked at that......none are active load response systems.

 

[ram1500rsm]

Yep - looked at that......none are active load response systems.

Sorry i thought you were looking for their performance shocks. But since you mentioned it twice alreadt What's active load response for HD trucks?. Is that a feature you currently have and are affraid to lose or you want to have it ?

 

[CoZo6]

90k on oem shocks, lol? way over due, I think most guys say 25k on oem.

Just trashed my OEM shocks at 36000, and they were shot. Got a set of Bilsteins off a 2021 Ram 2500 for $100. Nice change for sure.

 

[HEMIMANN]

Sorry i thought you were looking for their performance shocks. But since you mentioned it twice alreadt What's active load response for HD trucks?. Is that a feature you currently have and are affraid to lose or you want to have it ?

Already have Bilstein 4600 HD. They're fine, what is not is the ride unloaded. That requires variable damping rate or / and variable spring rate. I don't want to hijack the thread any further. Started another under air bags.

 

[kurek]

Shocks are another topic where everyone has what they like and everyone else is wrong, so if you want to know less about shocks just ask on a forum.

I keep buying bilsteins for every car or truck i drive and they keep not letting me down. That's just my experience someone else is gonna let you know they suck.

 

[theblackduck87]

Thanks everyone. This has been..................helpful. lol. I've got enough information to narrow my search.
I guess at the start I should've stated that The truck only does about 40 miles per day...if that on smooth roads so 90K was a gradual journey to the point where I realized they needed to be swapped.
That being said, Thanks again.

 

[RJL1]

I've run Bilsteins in many vehicles, my 96 F-250, a 2000 Durango, my current motor home, to name a few. Great shock.

I put a small Rancho lift on our 2010 JKUR a few springs ago and run their 9000 series adjustable shocks. Not sure how they would perform on our heavier vehicles but I'm more than happy with how they're performing on the Jeep.

They have 9 adjustments from very soft to very firm. They ride awesome.

 

[Ram Wagon]

Thanks but I have a 2500. Doesn't seem they have active ride suspension for HD trucks.

my bad, somehow i was thinking you guys were talking about the 1500's.
Correct about thuren not having active ride suspension components, however it might be worth giving thuren a call and ask them what they would recommend. They have always been very helpful to me, they don't try to push their products if it isn't the right fit.

 

[bigred90gt]

Is your truck 2wd or 4wd? Some recommendations arent available for for both, and the set-up is different depending on which you have.

I have 2wd and replaced my factory shocks at around 70k with KYB Excel G shocks. They are an incredible improvement over the worn out stockers, and were quite inexpensive.

 

[boblonben]

Anybody have any preferences as to what shocks they like for an OEM upgrade?
It's time to replace 'em. No height adjustments--I like it right where it is.

Bilstein 4600s, no need to do the 5100s.

 

[Pttrader]

I agree that everyone has their preference. On my 2003 Ram SC 4WD I decided to change the factory shocks out cause they were wore out. I ordered up the Bilstein 4600HD's.
The truck rode rough, very rough, and they never broke in! Even worse when I hooked up my travel trailer and towed it. I would have been better off keeping my worn out shocks. Maybe I like a smoother ride. Probably should have ordered the 5100's?

 

[kurek]

For all the off-the-shelf shocks Bilstein sells their signature ride characteristic is being digressive on compression. That means they feel firm on low speed bumps (road texture, setting into the corner when you steer) and then quickly reach their maximum damping rate so fast or major bumps feel softer.

That's all a personal preference and even the customer service people at Bilstein don't like to talk about ride quality because it's all just subjective expectations and opinions the manufacturer has no control over.

Some people prefer linear or progressive shock profiles, and if you have money you can get bypass shocks or active ones that offer more than a one dimensional profile. The new Bilsteins that are going to be in the upcoming Bronco have a trick that lets them have two different profiles without bypasses or electronics.

The disappointing part of all this is there's no real way to try before you buy on shocks, you pretty much have to buy them, pay for (or perform) installation, an alignment... then go see if you like them or not. Better hope you like them!

If you like crisp/sporty feel then you'll probably like Bilsteins and wonder wtf people are talking about when they call them too stiff. If your other ride is a literal cloud you might prefer one of the progressive valved shocks like ProComp Prorunner

 

[HEMIMANN]

For all the off-the-shelf shocks Bilstein sells their signature ride characteristic is being digressive on compression. That means they feel firm on low speed bumps (road texture, setting into the corner when you steer) and then quickly reach their maximum damping rate so fast or major bumps feel softer.

That's all a personal preference and even the customer service people at Bilstein don't like to talk about ride quality because it's all just subjective expectations and opinions the manufacturer has no control over.

Some people prefer linear or progressive shock profiles, and if you have money you can get bypass shocks or active ones that offer more than a one dimensional profile. The new Bilsteins that are going to be in the upcoming Bronco have a trick that lets them have two different profiles without bypasses or electronics.

The disappointing part of all this is there's no real way to try before you buy on shocks, you pretty much have to buy them, pay for (or perform) installation, an alignment... then go see if you like them or not. Better hope you like them!

If you like crisp/sporty feel then you'll probably like Bilsteins and wonder wtf people are talking about when they call them too stiff. If your other ride is a literal cloud you might prefer one of the progressive valved shocks like ProComp Prorunner

Bingo.
I've always run Bilstein 4600 HD on my bigger vehicles - trucks, 20,000 lb GVWR motorhome, etc. These vehicles would wallow around curves and large swales, but ride smooth over cracks and bumps. For a progressive valve shock with one profile, the 4600 HD reverses this - the large vehicles handle firmly in turns and swales, but pound you in potholes and cracks.

For one profile shocks, the offroaders go with softer damping that does the opposite - like Jeep Wrangler rock climbers. But these are poor for trailering control on highways.

If you can find a friend or colleague with them you could go for a ride.

 

[Yarek]

Pretty much any new shock is going to be better than a worn out shock. When I bought my truck last year it still had original shocks on it from the year 2000. 130k miles on them. I put 4600 Bilsteins on and it started feeling like a new truck. Add new tires...

What you pay for in quality is mostly how much life you're gonna get out of them. Cheap-o's will work great, but not for very long. It's not a big job to replace the shocks, but you still don't save anything by going cheap and doing the job 3 or 4 times. I would only recommend going cheap if you're only replacing the shocks because you're about to sell the truck and you want it to feel good, without spending much.