Suspension Systems

[MRoberts]

I'm looking at going with an aftermarket suspension system, I'm not four wheeling my truck, but occasionally run around on fire roads etc.

I've been looking at the Thuren and Carli kits, NOT the leveling kits, full suspension. I've eliminated the $4K kits, don't plan on bombing around Baja!

Hoping to hear from folks that have experience with these, not the friend of a friends third cousins brother.....lol.

 

[Task125]

looking into the same 3" and 35s

 

[Task125]

my other problem is the rear air bag system, guessing by now someone has a kit for it.

 

[KPear]

Carli and Thuren are the big names I hear thrown around when it comes to aftermarket suspensions for Ram 2500/3500's.

I have also heard of AEV's kit; it takes a different approach where instead of putting in all new springs, it reuses the factory springs with brackets (spacers), bilstein shocks, and some fabricated pieces to recenter the axle with a 3" or so lift. Supposedly this allows the truck to retain all of the factory tow and payload ratings, though I don't know how well a Ram on 37's can really tow and haul.

Those are the 3 big options for Ram aftermarket suspensions.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

I’ve got 35” tires on stock rims with Thuren coils on the front and Carli full spring packs on the back. Mismatched, I know, but there’s a reason. I also have Thurens Overland shocks all around. I will soon be switching to Fox 2.0 with remote reservoirs. With what I have now, the ride quality is 100x’s better than stock.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

If you’re happy with the poor factory ride quality and just want the appearance of a lift, then stick with the factory springs and just go with spacers. If you want a huge ride quality improvement with a little lift, spend a little more and go with Carli or Thuren.
If you have a long bed, Carli offers rear spring packs, Thuren does not. With my stock rims, the 35’s rub at full lock which I can live with. If you can’t, you can go with a different rim or new control arms or both.

 

[CMB]

Many will disagree but I'm liking the fox 2.0 shocks. I'm running the 3 inch coil over kit. The big thing I noticed was the off road handling charistics became...... how should I describe it...... predictable- traveling at a modest rate through fields, dirt roads or gravel roads- prior to the install when I hit a rough area the steering would feel sloppy, not uncontrollable just sloppy, now it feels more controllable. I'm sure this will (or should) hold true with any suspension upgrade that allows custom valving that considers off- road use. I'm still running the stock stabilizer but did add the steering box brace also helps neutralize some of the slop as well.

I'm happy with the decision to install this kit. I don't feel it has hurt the towing I do, 16' tandem axle dump trailer. I've hauled 7 yards of milling, normal squat.

I'm certainly not saying BDS is the one and only, in fact there are better "kits" out there but they do offer a life time warranty on their parts and always answer the phone when I call. I will say after market suspensions can make off road driving more enjoyable and less stressful.

Which ever decide remember to check the U- bolt, rear shocks bolt - torque to specified ft/lb every once in a while.

I believe the kit I went with is the 690F.

http://bds-suspension.com/product?ma=2&mo=17&ty=1&yr=2003-2013&kid=690F

Hope this helped in some way.

If I may ask, What are you trying to achieve?

Cheers

 

[CMB]

Double post... erased

 

[GrantP]

If I may ask, What are you trying to achieve?

Very appropriate question. Some are looking for better performance, some are just going for looks. The price and approach varies drastically.

 

[EDankievitch]

The Factory ride is not bad just the Factory Shocks are. Bilsteins and it'll be a very different truck.

 

[AEdelheit]

I think its important to note that in 2013 the 3500+ and 2014 the 2500+ trucks changed to the radius arm setup are are very different then the previous 4 link setup in most aspects so experience with one platform may not cross to the other.

 

[CMB]

That's a very good point.

Cheers,

 

[MRoberts]

Interesting that BDS came up, I asked around the area I live for a good 4wd/suspension shop and the most recommended place is BDS dealer.

I’m was leaning towards the Thuren system, primarily because I have heard their name for years and because of the info and tech on their website. It’s not as flashy as Kore or Carli, but that’s not what I’m into. I don’t have the space or equipment to do the install, so I’ll need to pay to have it installed. The local shop said they would install the Thuren, but are really pushing the BDS.

To nail it down, I want performance and looks, in that order. I occasionally go off road, nothing wild, mostly old fire roads, some that are pretty rutted out. The factory suspension is almost embarrassing! On some of the washboards I’ve come across, anything more then 5 mph is scary.

The AEV kit uses spacers, not a fan of that set up. But that bumper they make is drool worthy!

Why the Carli/Thuren hybrid set up?

Thanks for the comments!

 

[MRoberts]

I think its important to note that in 2013 the 3500+ and 2014 the 2500+ trucks changed to the radius arm setup are are very different then the previous 4 link setup in most aspects so experience with one platform may not cross to the other.

One of the BDS kits eliminates the radius arms and converts to the four link.

Thoughts? Good idea or bad?

 

[Regcabguy]

Thuren's got the 4th gen down.
Aaron or Don won't steer you wrong or oversell you.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

I don’t have the space or equipment to do the install, so I’ll need to pay to have it installed. Why the Carli/Thuren hybrid set up?

Are you going with a full blown kit or just springs and shocks? I don’t know your equipment/space situation, but you really don’t need much of either.

It really didn’t matter to me whether I went with Thuren or Carli cause I feel they are equal in quality. When I was ready to purchase, my wife called Carli and I called Thuren both at the same time. Thuren answered first, that’s how I chose. I ordered front coils and four shocks from Thuren. At the time, neither place had rear leaf packs available. Carli made them available so I recently purchased from them.

I’ve ridden in BDS equipped trucks and they’re OK, but I wasn’t looking for OK. I know my setup is mismatched, but it works great together. I feel you can’t go wrong with either Thuren or Carli. Customer service has been outstanding from both places.

 

[AEdelheit]

One of the BDS kits eliminates the radius arms and converts to the four link.

Thoughts? Good idea or bad?

Good if done right, pointless if done for looks which IMO is what BDS is, also good to note they are owned by Sport trucks USA who also owns Fox and Zone so of course all the shops push it as they likely have the highest profit margins and easiest to get as its all mass produced parts. Aside from the 4 Link vs Radius arm the coils are smaller on the new trucks and , shocks mount different and a few other changes so still wont be the same as the 03-13 4 link trucks.

Carli rear leafs have a higher spring rate then Thuren so are a better option for people that want softer then stock but still tow and haul while the Thuren leafs which are in the works for 2013+ 3500's are softer then Carlis providing a better unloaded ride but would need air bags sooner when hauling.

 

[KPear]

Interesting that BDS came up, I asked around the area I live for a good 4wd/suspension shop and the most recommended place is BDS dealer.

I’m was leaning towards the Thuren system, primarily because I have heard their name for years and because of the info and tech on their website. It’s not as flashy as Kore or Carli, but that’s not what I’m into. I don’t have the space or equipment to do the install, so I’ll need to pay to have it installed. The local shop said they would install the Thuren, but are really pushing the BDS.

To nail it down, I want performance and looks, in that order. I occasionally go off road, nothing wild, mostly old fire roads, some that are pretty rutted out. The factory suspension is almost embarrassing! On some of the washboards I’ve come across, anything more then 5 mph is scary.

The AEV kit uses spacers, not a fan of that set up. But that bumper they make is drool worthy!

Why the Carli/Thuren hybrid set up?

Thanks for the comments!

I'm not a sales rep for AEV, but watching and reading the reviews, I think there is more to their kit then a simple spacer lift. Their kit recenters the front axle and uses brackets to help keep drive line close to stock, or as close as is possible. I think they have some piece that reinforces the steering components. They utilize Bilstein shocks, and yes they do reuse the factory springs (with the addition of spacers, that look pretty HD). All of this adds up to a kit that can accommodate up to 40" tires with a minimal lift and supposedly retains factory tow/payload ratings (though I don't know who would want to tow heavy with 40" tires).

I don't have any personal experience with their product, so I can't tell you if it is better or worse than comparable products from Carli and Thuren. But to call it a spacer lift is oversimplifying things a bit.

The factory suspension is meant to carry heavy loads for the truck's working life. If you want a suspension that is more compliant and comfortable going fast on forest roads, you'll need need a suspension that is set up for that sort of driving, but it will be compromising its payload/towing capabilities over the long term. Both Carli and Thuren have medium-level kits, that supposedly help dampen the ride offroad while supposedly retaining most of the factory capabilities. It remains to be seen if those kits have the same long term payload/towing capabilities as the factory setup, but they do seem to offer a good compromise.

 

[MRoberts]

Are you going with a full blown kit or just springs and shocks? I don’t know your equipment/space situation, but you really don’t need much of either.

It really didn’t matter to me whether I went with Thuren or Carli cause I feel they are equal in quality. When I was ready to purchase, my wife called Carli and I called Thuren both at the same time. Thuren answered first, that’s how I chose. I ordered front coils and four shocks from Thuren. At the time, neither place had rear leaf packs available. Carli made them available so I recently purchased from them.

I’ve ridden in BDS equipped trucks and they’re OK, but I wasn’t looking for OK. I know my setup is mismatched, but it works great together. I feel you can’t go wrong with either Thuren or Carli. Customer service has been outstanding from both places.

Full kit, I want it to be right. Like you, I'm not looking for OK, performance counts!

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Full kit, I want it to be right. Like you, I'm not looking for OK, performance counts!

I understand!!