Soften the ride

[Grinder1]

Just bought a 2007 2500 QC Laramie 4x4 with the 5. 9

PO installed Bilstein 5100 series shocks on all 4 corners at some point. The ride is pretty darn harsh, would like to tone it down a notch or two, without it getting mushy. I think the 4600 HD Bilsteins will do the trick, but I'm wondering what others have done. I will be towing a travel trailer and doing some off roading, nothing radical though. Truck is stock height from what I can tell. I installed the 4600s on the front of my '95 years ago, seemed to work fairly well.



Ideas anyone?

 

[HBarlow]

Changing shock absorbers probably won't do much for you. They soften shock and reduce rebound but the basic hard ride is created by the suspension and tire inflation.

 

[DennyDay]

Suggest you drop the tires 5lb at a time - - - do both fronts together, then do rears and see what the ride is like. I've had Bilstiend for over 100k miles and wouldn't consider changing them. I would weigh the truck first to see how much weight is on each wheel. then play with the air pressure - - - don't think you will find the shocks will make a difference.

 

[Grinder1]

Denny, which Bilsteins do you have? The silver with black boot (5100)or yellow with blue boot (4600)? Other folks including Genos have told me the 5100s are a stiffer shock than the 4600s. I ask my fellow TDR gearheads because you guys have the real world, road trials expertise. Truck has new BFGR Rugged Trails, OEM specs, with 50 psi all around. I was hoping that the dealer had pumped 65psi into them. Would've been easy to fix that.

 

[Mark31]

Grinder, if I run less than 55 psi in my tires, it is as though the suspension fights with itself because of tire sidewall flex and the suspension feels harsher. Some of the real sharp guys on here with a lot of experience run even up to 65 lbs. If you can stand a raid on your treasury, Carli says they can make it ride like a "boo-lee-vard" queen! Mark

 

[Hoefler]

On my dually, I run 40 psi in the rears when not towing the fifth wheel and 85 psi in the fronts all the time. The ride is exceptional in my mind for a big truck, and I have had comments from others on well it does. With rotation and tire pressure, I get very even wear out of all 6 tires.

 

[AH64ID]

As others have suggested start messing with tire pressure. The stock tires with a lot of air make for an incredibly harsh ride.

 

[HDR]

I bought the KORE HP series leveling kit. I replaces the front coils and the rear overload spring. I think the overload spring made a huge difference.

 

[Bob4x4]

Grinder. as mentioned you can play with tire pressure to improve your ride but if yo want to make a significant improvement it will require changing suspension parts. Carli has more kits than Carter has pills-something to fit everyones
desired need or want. the latest is his commuter pkg for the guys who just use their truck as their daily driver on our poorly maintained highways. On the other end of the spectrem is the Dominator kits using up to 3. 5" King racing shocks with triple by-pass tubes,custom springs front and rear

 

[DennyDay]

Denny, which Bilsteins do you have?

I have Black and Siver (5100s) I keep 50# in the rear and 65# in front when I'm not towing (27' bumper pull travel trailer w/ Hensley Htch) and 65# front and 70# rear when I'm towing. Seems to ride well both empty and loaded. I carry an aircompressor and check the pressure every AM when we travel when tires are cool.

 

[Grinder1]

As others have suggested start messing with tire pressure. The stock tires with a lot of air make for an incredibly harsh ride.

Yup, that's why I was hoping that the new tires the selling dealer had installed were pumped to 65psi, they were not. At 50psi ride is better IMHO, which is what they were at.

 

[DennyDay]

Grinder1 - - - Forgot one important item on my truck - - - when i encountered a ride problem I added air bags to the rear -- - -took care of everything. When I'm unloaded, I put up to 10lbs. of air in the bags, loaded i use 70 lbs. ride great both ways

 

[RDeFayette]

Sulastic shackles help

https://www.sulastic.com/Default.aspx

 

[Mark31]

Grinder, I thought about you tonite when I made a 40 mile run. A section of the road "needed repaving", but I didn't consider the ride any where near harsh. I will assure you that I am more persnickity about ride, drive, handle characteristics than 98% of the people on here. I wonder if your truck might have snow plow prep front springs? Maybe put in a Luke's Link track bar bushing? How are your sway bar end links? Empty, I run 55 psi front/46 rear and 60/70 when pulling a loaded gooseneck (just under 24k combined). I got 103k out of my OEM Michelin ATs. Hope you can find a solution. Mark

 

[Adubya]

I just put the Bilstein 5160's with the remote reservoirs on and Thuren fabrication springs on the front. They made a huge difference. It rides great even with 35" tires.

 

[Grinder1]

Thanks for all your input guys. I'm going to do a few simple things, then get back with the results.

 

[S.Morris]

On my dually, I run 40 psi in the rears when not towing the fifth wheel and 85 psi in the fronts all the time. The ride is exceptional in my mind for a big truck, and I have had comments from others on well it does. With rotation and tire pressure, I get very even wear out of all 6 tires.

I am same as Hoefler but use 80 in front. Raising from door sticker 65 front to 80 completely eliminated tire wear on front end.