Very Rough Ride!!

[smoothee]

So you will surely have your work cut out for you! Though I see enough wrecked rams being parted out on FB market I don't think sourcing all the parts will be impossible.

I'll track down the thread and send you the link to a guy with an ecodiesel that was dealing with the same issues you are from his RC 4". It is interesting since things go from working perfect to ***** with no real reasoning behind it.

Once you try out and see if it is the struts giving you a fight, there's options to explore if it is in fact the issue. I believe ICON, Rough Country and Fox all make 4" extended struts.

Again no reason to overthink it till your back, and I have a feeling it's simply a funky combo somewhere with some witch-craft geometry acting funny. We're here to help, and spend your money while doing it!

I'm pretty attached to this truck now, not gonna lie. My first new vehicle purchase and had always wanted a single cab all the way back to the 2nd Gens. I may have a little more trouble sourcing parts where I'm at, but I'm sure it'll be manageable. A buddy of mine runs a fairly big Auto U Pick so that helps.

I was just looking at some of @JB1 threads. He was running the 6112's at max with the 5" spacer and his travel looked similar to mine. And he didn't complain about any ride issues. I see he's since gone from max to 0 on the struts and swapped out the 5" rear coils for 3", so running a pretty similar setup as me. @JB1 do you have any pics of your current setup, I did some searching but didn't see any.

Before going with the Bils I was heavily considering Fox and Icons. Couldn't justify Icons at the time and I was worried how the Fox would hold up in the salt and corrosion here. Btw I have no problem spending on my own money, let alone this forum twisting my arm lol.

 

[hodge-xj]

I'm pretty attached to this truck now, not gonna lie. My first new vehicle purchase and had always wanted a single cab all the way back to the 2nd Gens. I may have a little more trouble sourcing parts where I'm at, but I'm sure it'll be manageable. A buddy of mine runs a fairly big Auto U Pick so that helps.

I was just looking at some of @JB1 threads. He was running the 6112's at max with the 5" spacer and his travel looked similar to mine. And he didn't complain about any ride issues. I see he's since gone from max to 0 on the struts and swapped out the 5" rear coils for 3", so running a pretty similar setup as me. @JB1 do you have any pics of your current setup, I did some searching but didn't see any.

Before going with the Bils I was heavily considering Fox and Icons. Couldn't justify Icons at the time and I was worried how the Fox would hold up in the salt and corrosion here. Btw I have no problem spending on my own money, let alone this forum twisting my arm lol.

All the more reason throwing a bit of $ into it isn't a bad idea. This is why I continue to keep the truck and jeep even if it's a bit unreasonable at times. Sentiment wins.

I was looking at JBs posts and your setup and it's really boggling my mind. At this point nothing jumps out at me. Yes your have a bit less travel than some, but it shouldn't be such a detriment to ride like it is. To say I'm confused a bit is an understatement. Especially since you have what seems like all the proper parts on it.

 

[hodge-xj]

@Quick_Shifter got any ideas, I'm running low and don't have a drop bracket lift to reference

 

[smoothee]

All the more reason throwing a bit of $ into it isn't a bad idea. This is why I continue to keep the truck and jeep even if it's a bit unreasonable at times. Sentiment wins.

I was looking at JBs posts and your setup and it's really boggling my mind. At this point nothing jumps out at me. Yes your have a bit less travel than some, but it shouldn't be such a detriment to ride like it is. To say I'm confused a bit is an understatement. Especially since you have what seems like all the proper parts on it.

Yes exactly, and especially with such low miles. Truck hasn't given me any major issues *knock on wood* so I figure there's worse things I could be spending $ on.

I don't get it either man. With everything laid out on paper you'd figure it would ride damn near perfect.

 

[smoothee]

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Just uploaded a vid of the steering rack play, from the rack shaft. Does this look normal? Vid isn't the best I know.

 

[smoothee]

Does anyone with a pre electric rack have this same amount of play? Before I goes and shells out for a new one. Would be nice if you could just replace the input shaft section

 

[hodge-xj]

It doesn't look excessive, but I have nothing to compare it to for an apples to apples comparison. It did look like there's a bit of fluid around the seal where the stub shaft comes out of the rack seal, but the krown makes that a bit hard to tell for sure. I will say, grab your rack and check that as well for movement, it looked like there was a bit of play in the body of the rack. Again hard to tell with nothing to compare it to.

Even still, it's a static unit, so I'm really hard pressed to see that being a culprit for ride quality......

 

[hodge-xj]

Does anyone with a pre electric rack have this same amount of play? Before I goes and shells out for a new one. Would be nice if you could just replace the input shaft section

I just gave mine a quick wiggle and it actually has more slop in it than yours. Again not apples comparison.

 

[smoothee]

I appreciate it Hodge, thanks. And I agree that I don't believe it to be the culprit here, at least not the main one. I did notice the play in the rack itself too after watching it back so I will look into that. I will swap in the 2" spacers eventually for ***** and giggles, just still weird how the other couple of pics I've seen on here looked similar. I tried finding someone on the couple of Ram FB groups I'm on with a similar setup, but no dice there either.

 

[hodge-xj]

Ok I have an idea. Jack your truck up in the front so the tires are off the ground a bit and lower your floor jack as fast as it will go. You should be able to cycle the front end and simulate a bump in the road and see if you can notice anything........that or gotta get a friend with a go pro and stick it in the fender well.

 

[smoothee]

Ok I have an idea. Jack your truck up in the front so the tires are off the ground a bit and lower your floor jack as fast as it will go. You should be able to cycle the front end and simulate a bump in the road and see if you can notice anything........that or gotta get a friend with a go pro and stick it in the fender well.

Good idea!

 

[hodge-xj]

At this point we gotta throw **** at the wall and hope something sticks!

 

[smoothee]

Ain't that the truth!

 

[hodge-xj]

Any updates?

 

[Quick_Shifter]

@Quick_Shifter got any ideas, I'm running low and don't have a drop bracket lift to reference

Wow i didnt see this until today. Guess I'll have to read 6 pages

 

[Quick_Shifter]

@smoothee Ill give this a go. To be honest i skimmed the first page and clicked off when I saw it was rough country but @hodge-xj is asking to help you out.
In scrolling through It looks like you started with a RC 4" lift then did BDS strut top spacers in the front and a full BDS rear lift in the back. BDS 3" coils, UCA relocation and track bar relocation. (Ill scan through the pictures you have posted along the way)

Was there a defining moment when it got rough and you started replacing parts?

 

[Quick_Shifter]

Few more

In these Pictures the Drivers side CV angle is normal for the 6112's set at 2.8 but he Passengers side CV is Strait. Were these taken at the same time? Were you on flat ground?

 

[smoothee]

Any updates?

Hey Hodge, unfortunately not. Just back from work a few days ago. Between all the rain and a few projects around the house I haven't had a chance to dig into it any further. I have a new 2" level showing up today so I'm hoping to get some free time this weekend.
I've driven a few more times without the front sway bar and it definitely amplifies what I'm feeling. It's like I'm floating and every bump in the road will noticeably jerk the wheel left and right. Almost feels like bump steer but that shouldn't be the case. Steering feels nice and tight when I'm stopped so I need to inspect the rack bushings.

@smoothee Ill give this a go. To be honest i skimmed the first page and clicked off when I saw it was rough country but @hodge-xj is asking to help you out.
In scrolling through It looks like you started with a RC 4" lift then did BDS strut top spacers in the front and a full BDS rear lift in the back. BDS 3" coils, UCA relocation and track bar relocation. (Ill scan through the pictures you have posted along the way)

Was there a defining moment when it got rough and you started replacing parts?

I don't blame ya man, a lot have that feeling towards Rough Country. And that's correct on the changes I've made. Would certainly have gone a different route if I had known better back then. But definitely should not be like this, regardless.
It's hard to pin point an exact moment. But I would say when I had a washer fail on my old 5100's. And then shortly after the rear end started acting up, which is when I replaced upper and lower control arms with Core and added the BDS relocation brackets. Then was ok again until the steering shaft u joint failed. Honestly just seemed like one thing after another, I don't know if partly coincidence or ****** luck. And it sounds crazy I know but it seems to vary from day to day and seems worse with a passenger aboard.

In these Pictures the Drivers side CV angle is normal for the 6112's set at 2.8 but he Passengers side CV is Strait. Were these taken at the same time? Were you on flat ground?

I think that's just the angle of the pic, both sides look the same. Pics taken at same time on flat driveway. The 6112's are set at 1.2" if my memory serves me right.

 

[ram1500rsm]

If it's happening without the sway bar i'll look into the strut setting.
From the pics you posted it seems you're using the 4th notch so that should be 1.2"
How is the spacer situation setup in your case, Do you have a top spacer only ? or top spacer + preload spacer ? what's the size on the spacers ?
Have you done the droop test per post#9 ? Curious to see how much can you droop and what's the angle on your UCA's and CV axels when the wheels are in the air.

 

[Quick_Shifter]

Hey Hodge, unfortunately not. Just back from work a few days ago. Between all the rain and a few projects around the house I haven't had a chance to dig into it any further. I have a new 2" level showing up today so I'm hoping to get some free time this weekend.
I've driven a few more times without the front sway bar and it definitely amplifies what I'm feeling. It's like I'm floating and every bump in the road will noticeably jerk the wheel left and right. Almost feels like bump steer but that shouldn't be the case. Steering feels nice and tight when I'm stopped so I need to inspect the rack bushings.

I don't blame ya man, a lot have that feeling towards Rough Country. And that's correct on the changes I've made. Would certainly have gone a different route if I had known better back then. But definitely should not be like this, regardless.
It's hard to pin point an exact moment. But I would say when I had a washer fail on my old 5100's. And then shortly after the rear end started acting up, which is when I replaced upper and lower control arms with Core and added the BDS relocation brackets. Then was ok again until the steering shaft u joint failed. Honestly just seemed like one thing after another, I don't know if partly coincidence or ****** luck. And it sounds crazy I know but it seems to vary from day to day and seems worse with a passenger aboard.

I think that's just the angle of the pic, both sides look the same. Pics taken at same time on flat driveway. The 6112's are set at 1.2" if my memory serves me right.

I second the droop test to see what you got. The BDS 4” kits want the struts to be turned 180 degrees not the case on the 6” so with the 4” there is not much wiggle room with the geometry. The problem is it’s an older kit and really has to be diagnosed one part at a time. Is it not bad on big bumps but small bumps feel like you have a solid suspension?(meaning small bumps feel exaggerated and like someone kit the front bumper with a bat)