Rear Shocks 3500 with Air Suspension

[AH64ID]

My desire has been to improve ride quality especially unloaded and lift the truck slightly while maintaining most of the loaded capacity. Short of a full Kelderman system, I think I'm on to the best compromise.

Is the main goal front springs?

By partially reaching the rear springs you will likely decrease ride quality. One of the reasons they ride so we’ll stock is their lack of a big arch.

Load will be interesting. A lot of weight will reside on the airbags since it doesn’t look like your doing anything with the lower springs. You will also likely encounter more axle wrap from this.

 

[Blackbrush]

Goal is overall.

Re-arch in rear of spring on the primaries only which will make initial unloaded movement more compliant. This won't affect wrap much as that's primarily controlled by front of spring pack. Traction bars always a consideration.

 

[AH64ID]

Goal is overall.

Re-arch in rear of spring on the primaries only which will make initial unloaded movement more compliant. This won't affect wrap much as that's primarily controlled by front of spring pack. Traction bars always a consideration.

No the re-arch itself wont have much effect on wrap, but potentially being further from the lower spring in norm and alt might, as that lower spring does a lot for preventing wrap when loaded.

 

[Minnow101]

It is hard to understand why the aftermarket has not made specific shock replacements for 3500's with the air suspension. The factory air bags have been out for what 6 years now? Would seem there would be a nice sized aftermarket.

 

[JPM]

I have been following this thread , so what is the consensus of a 3500 factory rear air suspension working well with a slide in camper?

 

[Tunnel Vision]

I have been following this thread , so what is the consensus of a 3500 factory rear air suspension working well with a slide in camper?

I have it and carry an 11’-6” Arctic Fox, it carries the load better than F450, however the shocks are below subpar. Even if they are made in the USA, they don’t do the job. Even with my 40’ 5th wheel the rear bounce’s bad going down the I5 expansion joints.

 

[lpennock]

I have been following this thread , so what is the consensus of a 3500 factory rear air suspension working well with a slide in camper?

I like it with my Northern lite and the Eagle Cap I had before that. I do get some rocking horse ride on expansion joints at times but I had the same problem with my 06 and Bilstein shocks. There are times the wheel base on a Long bed Crew Cab is just aligned correctly with the expansion joints so one end is up when the other is down.

 

[NonFord]

I have been following this thread , so what is the consensus of a 3500 factory rear air suspension working well with a slide in camper?

I'm impressed with mine. Carry a Lance 855S in the back and she rides really nice.

 

[Wiredawg]

I have been following this thread , so what is the consensus of a 3500 factory rear air suspension working well with a slide in camper?

I'm guessing not a big enough market AND custom multivavling, but could be wrong.

I'm kinda thinking for those who are really unhappy with the ride, measure the current ones, then find Bilstein or the real high end, and put those on... couldn't be worse, could it?

 

[AEdelheit]

We currently have a 2017 3500 factory air ride truck on the lift so I did some investigating, Extended shock length is 26" , collapsed 20" but as suspected the leaf springs also stop the down travel. With the shocks out there was about 3/16" more down travel, pushing down on the tire could get about 3/8" more down travel then with the shock in place so even if a shock has about 28" extended the leaf's wont let it happen. Fully extended the air bags were still plyable and were not overextended so I still have not seen any issues installing a longer then factory shock on an air ride setup. The leaf's are flexible so could technically droop a little more in certain situations but I dont see it being much as they are still very thick stiff leaf's.

I know many people wont feel comfortable doing so and thats understandable but wanted to put the information out there.

 

[AH64ID]

We currently have a 2017 3500 factory air ride truck on the lift so I did some investigating, Extended shock length is 26" , collapsed 20" but as suspected the leaf springs also stop the down travel. With the shocks out there was about 3/16" more down travel, pushing down on the tire could get about 3/8" more down travel then with the shock in place so even if a shock has about 28" extended the leaf's wont let it happen. Fully extended the air bags were still plyable and were not overextended so I still have not seen any issues installing a longer then factory shock on an air ride setup. The leaf's are flexible so could technically droop a little more in certain situations but I dont see it being much as they are still very thick stiff leaf's.

I know many people wont feel comfortable doing so and thats understandable but wanted to put the information out there.

Was this with both sides of the axle extended equally? Or was it with one stuffed and one drooped?

 

[AEdelheit]

Was this with both sides of the axle extended equally? Or was it with one stuffed and one drooped?

Equally but tires on so full weight. With how far inboard the bags are and how still the leaf's are I don't see articulation being an issue. Someone could always put Daystar air bag cradles on , or really just unbolt the bags and put a piece of rubber on the axle pad to keep the bag from moving around, then there would be no way to pull on the bags at all.

 

[DonRam240]

The KYB's #5550006 are installed. Compressed and extended lengths, C to C, are exactly the same as factory shocks on my rear air suspension 2018 truck, 19-3/8 compressed and 25-7/8 inches extended OC respectively. Fit is without interference. Test drive without load in bed tomorrow. Their unloaded damping is noticeably firmer, actual use to follow. Installation was easier than the last set if KYB's I remember, thanks to damping and very slow extension when untethered. Not hard to push the lower shock bolt into place when length was reached.

 

[Minnow101]

https://www.shockwarehouse.com/site...0-Pickup-w-Rear-Air-spring-(Exc.-Cab-Chassis)

 

[DonRam240]

Test drive 60 miles or so county roads and freeways, no load in bed. Surprisingly comfortable with KYBs. Firmer, but actually less harshness because poorly damped “jiggle” of all that DRW unsprung weight after bumps is now gone, completely damped. Firm but not jolting ride. Got home with less backache than usual for same drive before. Truck and its stock shocks have less than 12,000 miles on them, shows how fast OEM shocks lose their edge in stressed application like DRW with high bed loads. Will be some time before next drive with camper in bed, but report will follow that. Optimistic.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I lace driven many 12+ hour days towing and I have never had a backache. Maybe it’s the superior leather seats in the LongHorn.

 

[DonRam240]

Seats ain't the problem. Afraid you have a superior back. Happy for you
Stock shocks would not keep rear axle off the bump stops on many low speed bumps. Those with long term back problems, many of you, will recognize the situation. So far, optimistic the KYB's will do it.
Don

 

[Cummins12V98]

Looking forward to more info on these.

 

[EZeis]

Seats ain't the problem. Afraid you have a superior back. Happy for you
Stock shocks would not keep rear axle off the bump stops on many low speed bumps. Those with long term back problems, many of you, will recognize the situation. So far, optimistic the KYB's will do it.
Don

Any fresh updates on how they perform? Especially loaded?

Earl

 

[DonRam240]

Any fresh updates on how they perform? Especially loaded?

Earl

Not yet. Haven't loaded camper for the season quite yet, but will report ASAP after the first loaded drive.
Don