How long do the OEM shocks last

[Pit Bull]

I have 37,000 on my truck and the stock OEM shocks that came on the truck still seem to be working. It is a stiff ride but no bounce like you would get with bad shocks (and the tire wear is even). I was just trying to get a feel from the group about how many miles they got out of their original shocks before they wore out?

Thanks

Denny

 

[illflem]

I have 163k on my 2500 stock shocks, 88k on the 3500. Seem to be working the same as when new.

 

[DennyDay]

Shock Life

Load factor and road conditions will dictate the life of shocks. You are sbout 30k miles beyond the life I gotten used to for OEM shocks. Makes little difference the thruck mfg.

Denny



This was supposed to be an answer to D Latimer question about shock life. The site would't allow me to clear and put it in the right location for some reason.

 

[DarrellB]

I got 57,000 on my 99 2500 4x4 and the back ones are shot and the fronts aren't much better. I have a brand new set of Bilsteins in the pole barn just have to get big enough metric wrenches to put them on.



Why can't they decide on one or the other metric or standard. Oh well just gives me an excuse to go use the sears card, Time to BOMB the tool box



Big D

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by illflem

I have 163k on my 2500 stock shocks, 88k on the 3500. Seem to be working the same as when new.

Thanks for the information Illflem

I thought they felt stout. Since I don't haul much mine should last 150K miles. Also the roads around here are nice and smooth and I don't take mine off road.

 

[Iceman1]

I had one front shock go bad at 42,000. Of course the tire started to cup before I caught it. I put on the Rancho's 9000 and haven't had a problem since with 84,000 on the truck now... The wife wasn't overly enthused about the need of some new Michelin's either...

 

[SOOT]

I have 135,000+ on my 97 and 120,000+ on my 99, and still have the OEM shocks. I haul lots of weight regularly and go off road often. they feel fine so far.

 

[JohnE]

OEM shocks last from the time they are installed until the day you remove them from the truck toss them in the trash can.



97 2wd here. I pulled mine around 60K or so and replaced with KYB Gas-a-Just. What a difference.



I don't recall any complaints from any friend that has replaced the factory slops, uh shocks, with XXX brand.



My 2 reale (bits)

-John

 

[Big Sur]

LOL

Originally posted by DarrellB

Time to BOMB the tool box



Big D

 

[RustyJC]

On our 6x4, we changed the factory shocks out with less than 2000 miles on them. From day 1, the front end had insufficient rebound damping and bounced up and down and up and down and up and (well, you get the idea) every time we hit a bump. When towing the 5th wheel, the constant bouncing of the rear was enough to make anyone carsick. Maybe it's only a 2WD or a 2002 thing, but the factory shocks were JUNK for our application!



Rusty

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by RustyJC

On our 6x4, we changed the factory shocks out with less than 2000 miles on them. From day 1, the front end had insufficient rebound damping and bounced up and down and up and down and up and (well, you get the idea) every time we hit a bump. When towing the 5th wheel, the constant bouncing of the rear was enough to make anyone carsick. Maybe it's only a 2WD or a 2002 thing, but the factory shocks were JUNK for our application!



Rusty

I had a Tundra 1/2 ton before I bought the Dodge, it wallowed until I put Bilsteins on it and then it was great, tight and stiff. My 2000 one ton 4x4 with 37,000 miles is tight and stiff, its a good hard ride. I was just wondering how long this might last? The responses are all over the place. From yours at 2,000 miles to illflem with 167,000 miles and still working well. I've had a lot of sports cars in my life, so I like a solid ride, I guess when the stock ones start bouncing I will put on some heavy duty Bilsteins. Thanks for the responses and your individual experences everyone.

Denny

 

[Straight6Jeff]

I changed out my factory shocks with about 100 miles on it. I've always used rancho's so I went with the 9000's. Just for giggles, I put the factory fronts back on after the reunel bumper install, just to feel the difference. It was hard to control the front under hard braking.

 

[barrfishe1]

My stock shocks were "junk" when I bought the truck used with 56,000 miles on it. The previous owner did some towing of a 24' enclosed trailer full of hot rod garden tractors (about three of them). The front end would bounce and the rear end would hit

the heavy camper leaf with a light load and small bumps. I was not sure how bad they were until I operated them by hand after removal and replaced them with Bilsteins. What a difference!

 

[Diesel Dan]

The factory shocks are not worth their weight in scrap steal. with all due respect to the people that have suffered thru 25k+ miles on their stock junks. YOU DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER!! Most of the time in life performance of any thing deteriorates slowly and and our perception of its performance doesn't change. in fact if you illflem were to change them out even with new ones you would not believe it that you bounced around like that like you did. do yourself a favor and change them with some rancho's or any decenty HD shock. your responce to this post would be significantly different. I am not any expert but very knowledgable in the suspension arena and used to work for chevrolet running a remote pitstop for chev's class 8 race trucks in the desert.



Ilflem i would send you ny orig's with less than 500 miles on them but they are not worth the shiping cost to send them.



Again i am not trying to desrespect any one just lending a hand in a area that i know very well.



Best regards



DD

 

[NVR FNSH]

Anybody that's wants a set of factory shocks for a '00 2500 4wd can have them for the cost of shipping. I think they might have 10k on them. I replaced them with the Edelbrock IAS's off the '96 2500 gasser before selling it.



Diesel Dan - were you with McPherson? I worked for Light Racing back in '93. Met some really nice folks from Big Mac & Little Mac.



Brian

 

[LSMITH]

Diesel Dan is absolutely right. Brand new OEM shocks are garbage!!!! I went through 4 sets in 60K miles trying to get some that would last, none did. The roads around here are really rough, but I do not offroad. I turned down another FREE set of OEM shocks and bought some that actually work. Try a decent shock, you will not be sorry.

 

[illflem]

I guess I come from a different school than many here, I use my trucks as trucks not a daily ride. If I want a smooth ride or don't need to haul something I go in a passenger car. I have enough rigs to maintain already without fixing something that isn't broke, and believe me I know when a shock is broke. My Ram with 163k shock shocks still rides a heck of a lot better than my dump truck.

 

[BCFAST]

How Long?

... . about 4 miles. When you get home from the dealership with your new delivery, change them out immediately!

 

[time1]

I have a set with 1300 miles on them. They are for a 99 4X4 Quad Cab Long bed if it makes a difference. Get them for the cost of shipping, I would like to get them out of the barn! I had one rear Rancho 9000 go bad and replaced the rear shocks with the OEMs while Rancho replaced the bad shock(s). Only had the OEMs on for a few days and what a difference. Glad I never had to load the truck while waiting for the replacements.

 

['956Wheel]

Boat ride

Mine would let the front rebound over and over after ANY bump in the road... . felt like a boat! Lets face it shocks do wear out and they do it slowly so one may not notice till you change them. I put Bilsteins (lifetime warrenty) and no more boat rides for me! 50 bucks a corner.



Mike