Replaced OEM shocks on my 3500 at 100,018 miles with Bilstein 4600's..not impressed!!

[gsbrockman]

On Monday evening, I finally got around to replacing the OEM shocks on my '14 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW that had accrued 100,018 miles. I ordered them from 4wheelparts.com and got a smoking hot deal on them over the Father's Day weekend.

Since my truck had over 100k.....and I tow alot, I simply knew that my OEM shocks would have been almost TOAST.

About an hour before I started, I sprayed everything down with a few squirts of PB Blaster.....great stuff. I started on the fronts, as I knew they would be more challenging than the rears. Upon removing the L/F shock, I thought I'd compare the resistance of the worn shock to the new Bilstein. There was little, if any, difference between the two.....if anything, the OEM one *might* have been a little tighter. I removed & replaced the R/F with similar results.

As far as the rears are concerned, the OEM's seemed a tad worn as the Bilsteins appeared to have a little more resistance to them.

In any event......the 4600's are on there. I've only driven about 60 miles total since the installation, so maybe I'll be able to make a more informed decision after some extra seat time on a longer trip.

My OEM front shock part numbers were 68111508AA....the Bilstein 4600 front numbers are 24-238526.

My OEM rear shock part numbers were 05168905AA....the Bilstein 4600 rear numbers are 24-238533.

Before I decided to replace my shocks, and yet again before I decided to post this thread, I searched the 2013 forum regarding Bilstein shocks. Seems as if lots were saying what crap the OEM shocks were, even when replaced at mileages as low as 1,000 or less. Most of the ride improvements I noted were on 2500 series trucks.

Is it possible that on the 3500's....particularly with DRW and 14,000 GVWR....that these shocks don't wear as much??? Maybe the springs are so strong that the shocks are not wearing much??? Has MOPAR outsourced shocks from different suppliers beginning in 2013....and they're better quality???

I'm not dogging Bilstein by any means......just sharing my findings. I jokingly told ChrisJ208 the other night that I might put the OEM's back on....and re-install the Bilstein's at the 200k mile mark.

Any input from 2013 & up 3500 DRW owners as well as 2013 & up 2500 owners is much appreciated.

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[wyosteve]

I replaced the OEM's on my 3500 SRW at 23k and the fronts were shot. No resistance at all. The rears were still ok, but not nearly as good as the Bilsteins. Fwiw, I put the 'silver' Bilsteins on. Not sure that makes any difference compared to the 4600's.

 

[Cummins12V98]

There is a huge difference between the 12 shocks and the 13 and newer. The 10-12 are Brazilian made and the 13 up are US made. I figured the shocks on my 15 dually would be great but I did not like when I hit a bump it had shockwaves that could be felt after the bump. After replacing my fronts that has improved a lot. Not perfect but the front ends on these trucks are REALLY HD. Rears are not available and I don't think I will replace them since the rear rides great loaded or unloaded.

Op give the Bil's a chance I am sure they will show you an improvement. My wife even noticed the better ride.

 

[jacknife]

it is all in the valving . i changed to 4300 bilstein on my 14 3500 SRW and the ride was a little softer and the rebound dampening seemed better.

 

[Kry226]

Not a 4th-genner, but after two sets of the 5100s (silver ones mentioned above) on my 04, that's where it's at. Much better shock.

 

[TFucili]

While you can certainly tell a shock has completely given up if there is no resistance when working it by hand, comparing the resistance of two working shocks working them by hand is pointless. How they work on the truck on the road is the point of reference, unless you own a shock dyno. The beauty of high quality shocks is that superior valving will give a controlled ride without being unnecessarily harsh. When I was doing motorcycle track days my 748 had Showa forks and shock, and on rough or rippled sections of track it would get unsettled. After installing big $$$$ Ohlins components I could literally keep it pinned over those same areas. It was the seemingly impossible combination of less harsh ride quality, but with enormously better control of wheel movement for lap after lap.

 

[gsbrockman]

While you can certainly tell a shock has completely given up if there is no resistance when working it by hand, comparing the resistance of two working shocks working them by hand is pointless. How they work on the truck on the road is the point of reference, unless you own a shock dyno.

I guess my point was----my OEM shocks are either NOT that inferior or not very much worn, as I have concluded from my "seat of the pants test" and simply compressing them by hand. If my 100k mile OEM shocks feel the same as NEW 4600's.....I'd say the OEM's are pretty good shocks.

 

[B.G. Smith]

While you can certainly tell a shock has completely given up if there is no resistance when working it by hand, comparing the resistance of two working shocks working them by hand is pointless. How they work on the truck on the road is the point of reference, unless you own a shock dyno. Good point, the shocks do most of their work on the rebound. Basically what you are feeling with the compressing is the nitrogen charge in the shocks. bg

 

[HorseMan-AR]

Brockman: towed any heavy loads with the new 4600 shocks installed? Curious what you think.