oem shocks - when are they done?

[crispyboy]

This is a question for those who have driven these trucks for awhile.

How long will the OEM shock last on a 2500 truck?

The truck has 39k miles and I have owned it for the past 29k miles. The truck has always seemed "heavy" in the front. Tire pressure is at 65f/50r. Over the weekend I drove 90 miles one way on the interstate and it seemed like the suspension would bottom out on bridge abutments and a pothole seemed to make the suspension dribble. On a normal car I would think these shocks are worn out but they only have 39k miles on them. Seems premature that they would already be worn out.



What do you think?

 

[BIGNASTY]

Not trying to be a smart A** but mine didn't last very long at all IMO. I replaced them at about 10K if I remember right, truck drove better as soon as I did.

 

[Wayne M.]

I bought mine new and it went into a rough commute in NYC. The BQE is murder on any vehicle. I felt a deterioration at around 35k. I swore I'd keep with this truck so I put the bilstien fronts in from genos. I felt a big difference. I believe they're still good at 98 k. I think OE shocks are junk unless they're part of a special package.

 

[S.Morris]

I changed mine for the first time at 190K miles. They all still were gas filled and would open up on there own. The rears seemed to be getting a bit weak on rough roads with the 5th wheel but they all were much better than I expected to find.

 

[cerberusiam]

It will somewhat depend on what tires you have and use, but, anywhere from 40k to 90k is about all and they start to have issues. You maybe won't notice the issues so much unless you drive one with good shocks so it is deceptive. Biggest thing I noticed when going from worn to new shocks is the lack of oscillating movement from side to side on rebound dampening. They alwasy seemed to work good on straight even bumps but angled joints produce consistently more rebounding until they settled.

The damping on the Bilstien 5100's is much better tuned for these front end heavy trucks and the loads they carry. That what makes a good shock.

 

[crispyboy]

I guess this truck just has me a bit befuddled since the engine is so heavy I wasn't sure what to expect.
From searching the forum am I correct to assume that bilstein yellow and blue would give the truck the best ride on the highway? My only off roading is pulling hay wagons or checking cows.
Thanks for your opinions.

 

[HBarlow]

Mine have been worn out at 60k on the trucks I've owned - mostly highway driving. Ordinary blue and yellow Bilsteins seem to last forever.

 

[cerberusiam]

The Yellow\Blue shocks are for stock ride height only and are as good or better than can be had anywhere. The Silver\Black ones are a little heavier duty and will fit stock height to the leveling kit height. Either one should work fine unless you want to do a suspension system and a remote reservior style. Looks and works great but don't think the cows will notice.

 

[Wayne M.]

I've used lots of brands. Bilstien is top notch, like Koni. The other off road specialty mfr's are great too. Don't look past KYB, excellent car stuff and I recently saw a discussion about them here on the TDR.

 

[crispyboy]

Any idea of who actually manufactures the OEM shock? Why is it such a crummy shock absorber? What is different between the OEM and the quality aftermarket design?
Seems like I read on the forum somewhere that the Bilstein silver/black models have a stiffer ride so that's why I was thinking about the yellow/blue.
Last year I put a set of Bilsteins on our 2002 Grand Cherokee. You can feel the abrupt bumps a little more but the body roll/suspension seems much more controlled now. It was a good compromise.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Any idea of who actually manufactures the OEM shock? Why is it such a crummy shock absorber? What is different between the OEM and the quality aftermarket design?
Seems like I read on the forum somewhere that the Bilstein silver/black models have a stiffer ride so that's why I was thinking about the yellow/blue.
Last year I put a set of Bilsteins on our 2002 Grand Cherokee. You can feel the abrupt bumps a little more but the body roll/suspension seems much more controlled now. It was a good compromise.

Cost!!! cost is everything to Dodge thats why crummy parts like shocks,brakes imo, are used it has to have them so put on the bare min. Same as the trans 48 RE almost good enough for the stock motor I would have paid to have something put in like a DTT from the factory and NOT MESS WITH IT AGAIN but its the COST FACTOR and bring it back to Dodge for the labor cost.

I use Rancho Shocks so far so good

 

[Bob4x4]

I don't agree that the stock shocks are junk. The limited travel with the heavy weight has more to do with the ride quality. You can only do so much with a production shock that has to please everybody-from the soccer mom who wants to feel nothing to the farmer who overloads his truck.
The ideal solution is to have a suspension system that is designed for your driving style. I have done this with both my Rams and am very satisfied with the results. You will not be able to be 100% satisfied with just a shock change. A shock will only improve the ride so much with the limited travel available with the stock spring

 

[Wertles]

+1 on Bilstein blue/yellow. I changed my rears out at 60,000 and my fronts out at 85,000. I too had that "heavy" feeling on the front. These definitely improved the ride and those stupid parking lot speed bumps. I don't think you can go wrong for the money.

 

[Wayne M.]

Any idea of who actually manufactures the OEM shock? Why is it such a crummy shock absorber? What is different between the OEM and the quality aftermarket design?

Seems like I read on the forum somewhere that the Bilstein silver/black models have a stiffer ride so that's why I was thinking about the yellow/blue.

Last year I put a set of Bilsteins on our 2002 Grand Cherokee. You can feel the abrupt bumps a little more but the body roll/suspension seems much more controlled now. It was a good compromise.

I don't exactly know who the original mfr was for our shocks. I'd guess Bosch, Sachs, or tenneco. I do know DCX and that point on weren't too kind to their vendors. There's no doubt in my mind that while making a compromise for ride quality, there's a compromise on parts quality too.



I am changing rear shocks (original) in a ford escape that has 30k miles and while they're still charged well, the rebound valving is GONE. They expand like a pogo stick.

 

[BIGNASTY]

I don't agree that the stock shocks are junk. The limited travel with the heavy weight has more to do with the ride quality. You can only do so much with a production shock that has to please everybody-from the soccer mom who wants to feel nothing to the farmer who overloads his truck.

The ideal solution is to have a suspension system that is designed for your driving style. I have done this with both my Rams and am very satisfied with the results. You will not be able to be 100% satisfied with just a shock change. A shock will only improve the ride so much with the limited travel available with the stock spring

So let me get this right A SOCCER MOM and a redneck FARMER THAT OVERLOADS THINGS

Have you seen the size of some of these kids today!!!! thats one in the same.



Sorry Bob I just took my Smart A** pill for today and its kicked in sooner than anticipated



BIG

 

[Bob4x4]

So let me get this right A SOCCER MOM and a redneck FARMER THAT OVERLOADS THINGS
Have you seen the size of some of these kids today!!!! thats one in the same.

Sorry Bob I just took my Smart A** pill for today and its kicked in sooner than anticipated

BIG

Big... ... ... . Yea,I have 3 Boys they are all much bigger than me lol. My Granddaughter was hitting softballs out of the park when she was 12.
So yea shocks take a beating

 

[jeepit]

I changed over to Rancho 9000's and they were ok for 50,000 miles. Now the adjust dials are junk. Two shocks only turn part way. Looking for something else this year.

 

[AH64ID]

I am at 85K and can feel the rears starting to lose damping ability on certain roads. I will be putting 5100's in this spring.

 

[GCP]

Replaced my '07's shocks with the legendary Bilstein shocks as soon as I got her home. I purchased them from Geno's and bolted them on rather easily. Great upgrade. My '09 has a few more miles to go with the stock shocks, but eventually I'll go with another set of Bilstein shocks.

 

[Wingate]

Wonder if the red shocks that came on my TRX4 are any better, or just red paint engineering... ???