Shock Replacement

[wyosteve]

Just a query to see if any of you have replaced your shocks on a 4th Gen. truck, and, if so, at what mileage? If you did replace them, were the original shocks shot? On my 04.5 I replaced the factory shocks with Bilsteins at 22k and found the oem's were done. I have just over 26k on this 2012 and wondering if I should assume the oem's are toast and replace. Thanks in advance.

 

[TimothyLong]

IMHO, it depends on what you are looking for from your shocks. If you prefer a stiffer ride and a bit better performance in the turns, then go with Bilstein 5100's. If you like the OEM ride but prefer better stability with towing and/or hauling then go with the Bilstein HD's (yellow and blue ones). If neither is a concern then as long as your factory shocks aren't showing signs of damage or excessive rust, they're not leaking, your ride is still decent, and you don't bounce back and forth like a hobby horse when you stop, I'd say you're good to go with what you have for a while.

 

[JR]

I didn't think there was any difference in performance between the 5100 and the B6? (Other than travel)

 

[TSielski]

I replaced the stock shocks on my 2011 at about 20,000 miles with Bilstein yellow and blue units. The factory shocks were very weak; I could easily compress them, whereas the Bilsteins are a bear to compress. Expecting a harsher ride, I actually got the opposite - a much smoother ride than with the factory shocks. I got the harsher ride after installing a set of air bags on the rear, even with air pressure set to 10psi and running 1 gallon ping tanks for each side.

tim

 

[TimothyLong]

I didn't think there was any difference in performance between the 5100 and the B6? (Other than travel)

As I understand it, the 5100 is more of an off road shock than the B6.

 

[wyosteve]

Thanks for the thoughts. Think I'll replace them since it can't hurt anything. I had the silver Bilsteins on my 04.5 and will go with them again. Was very satisfied with their performance.

 

[Oil Stain]

I replaced my factory shocks with the Bilsteins 5100 silver and the steering damper at 5k miles. The ride was a little stiffer not by much, the wife didn't even notice until I spilled the beans. Rebound was much less too. If you do any towing like I do (16k lbs fifth wheel) it makes a big difference on how the truck performs in handling and braking. I'm sold on them.

Scott

 

[Tryingit]

I replaced my shocks at 30K. They were pretty much shot on the front of the truck. The rear shocks were still ok, probably because of the air bags that are installed. The only difference between the Bilstein 5100 and the 4600 reportedly is that the 4600 is for stock height trucks and the 5100 is for stock to 2 inches of lift. I have the 5100s on the front of my truck.

 

[lawdog1]

I just put on 5100's at 25K miles. I do not think the OEM stocks were shot but I added a leveling kit and did the shocks at the same time. I am fine with the ride of the 5100's and feel good that they will last long term and perform well.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I replaced mine with Bilstiens Blue and Yellow ones from Geno's with less then 10K on them and one of the front shocks were leaking.

IMHO factory shocks are junk right out of the box. Same goes for the General tires that come on the Dually's.

 

[tmothy89]

How about Monroe reflex? Does anyone have this kind of shocks? I've heard from others that it provides better ride and handling.

 

[Tryingit]

How about Monroe reflex? Does anyone have this kind of shocks? I've heard from others that it provides better ride and handling.

I have the Monroe reflexes on the rear of my truck. But with the airbags and roadmaster active suspension installed I can't feel the difference between the stock and aftermarket, since the modifications take some of the weight off of the shocks. The price was better than the Bilsteins I installed in the front and I believe they have a lifetime warranty, although I'm not sure now. If the stock shocks have any where near the 25K mark they are probably worn. My front shocks were shot at around 30K. The backs were still ok, probably because of the afrementioned modifications.

 

[SOLER]

Rancho 9000's on mine when truck was brand new. OEMs IMHO are junk. I've had Rancho's on the last 4 Rams I've owned. I keep the front on 7 all the time, the rears are on 1, unless I'm towing or loaded, and then I turn them up to 9.

 

[KYOUNG]

I replaced my factory shocks around 45k with Bilstein yellow and have been real happy with them. My truck was porpoising with the fifth wheel on before. I have had both silver and yellow Bilstein shocks, the silver are actually brushed aluminum bodies and after driving in icy snowy conditions the Deicing agents made them look really bad. My yellow shocks have survived and still look great

 

[orhusky]

I hated my factory shocks from the first time I pull our fifth wheel. Great for a nice ride to the store for groceries but not up the task of controlling a large load. I replaced mine with less than 10K on the truck with the yellow and blue Bilstein's like we had on our last 2 trucks. What an improvement!

 

[Dave Zuber]

+1 on the Rancho 9000's.

I do a lot of suspension work on motorcycles. I've found you need to adjust the damping (not dampening) rate for conditions and load. I've had these on my last two Rams (1st gen, 2nd gen) and they worked great. I run empty, half empty and fully loaded. The stock shocks on my 4th gen are just plain weak, the load was un-controlled. With the 9000's, I could just dial it up a little and it would handle like there was no extra weight. I'm shopping now at 800 miles.

I once carried a 2700 lb, wooden, cab-over camper in my 1st gen. It was way over loaded, but I was only going 20 miles to move it. The truck would bob and weave, limiting it to about 35 mph. I turned up the 9000's to half way and I could drive 55 with no seat puckers.

 

[KYOUNG]

I had Rancho 9000 on my 94 Dodge 4x4, there quality control was so bad that after the 4th FREE set, I changed to an Edelbrock shock that read good on paper but performed horribly in the real world for me. I pulled them off and went back to my old Ranchos. That truck had over 338k on it when I sold.
My 98.5 12 valve had baja kit with silver Bilsteins that worked fabulously, as well as a Carli street package I had 3 years ago on my09 truck, the Bilsteins have been very consistant.

 

[lksmitty]

I hated my factory shocks from the first time I pull our fifth wheel. Great for a nice ride to the store for groceries but not up the task of controlling a large load. I replaced mine with less than 10K on the truck with the yellow and blue Bilstein's like we had on our last 2 trucks. What an improvement!

+1 on replacing the factory shocks. Also installed the yellow and blue Bilstein's at 21K.....the factory front shocks were so weak they could be compressed with one finger pushing down on the shock. Very noticeable improvement in the ride and when towing.