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Old 01-20-2022, 04:56 PM   #1
Ram Montana High Country
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TV Shocks

I have a 2022 Ram 3500 DRW LB with Auto Air Level (Ram Air Suspension in the rear) - after traveling the last two days in Louisiana on the un-improved concrete roads, the truck was porpoiseing.

Open to opinions on the possibility of new shocks limiting this. I think a higher dampening rate would help.

Has anyone one gotten improved ride from a shock change?
 
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Old 01-21-2022, 03:14 AM   #2
RMcNeal
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I have heard that the roads were bad there, but 2 days seems awfully quick to wear out your brand new shocks. Rancho's and Billstein's are both really good choices if you want to replace them though.
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Old 01-21-2022, 07:32 AM   #3
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2016 F350 dually. I had death wobble (look up on YouTube) at 36,750 miles. Truck was 3 years old at that time. The shop I took it to changed all the shocks and steering dampener to heavy duty ones.
Two years later same thing. I took the steering dampener off and tested it. Absolutely NO resistance!!! It was worn out. I did the same to the front shocks. Very little resistance.
After some research I bought Bilstien heavy duty steering dampener and shocks.
MUCH BETTER RIDE and cured the Death Wobble.
Easy job, you can do it yourself. For mine I did not have to jack up the truck to do it.
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Old 01-21-2022, 09:08 AM   #4
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I've used Bilstein in the past and will go to them again once my factory Ranchos wear out. I follow on the Chevy/GM diesel forums and the Bilsteins are always at the top of everyone's choices for replacement factory shocks.
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Old 01-21-2022, 10:51 AM   #5
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I switched to Bilstein's about 120K miles ago. They were a bit expensive but really improved the ride over the OEM shocks. The rears wore out last summer. Bilstein's lifetime warranty is for real. I had to buy the new shocks, replace the worn ones, and sent them back to Geno's garage. Once they received them credited me for the original purchase price. Love a company that stands behind their product.
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Old 01-21-2022, 12:41 PM   #6
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The Bilstein come in two types 4600 and 5200. They are made for both leaf springs and air lift. You need to know which best suits you needs. Like most have said they are most probably the best.
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Old 01-24-2022, 06:31 PM   #7
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Thanks for the feedback - think I'll go with Bilstein. IMHO, the OEM shocks are made for average use and running nearly full load on truck and see-sawing on LA freeways they just don't cut the mustard. SO off to order land I go, will let you know. 2022, has potential nearly 18,000 more miles planned. Think also the MPG might improve with less bouncing.
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Old 01-24-2022, 08:03 PM   #8
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Bilstein said NO GO for my truck ... waiting on Rancho
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Old 01-25-2022, 09:50 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ram Montana High Country View Post
Bilstein said NO GO for my truck ... waiting on Rancho

I thought they made a shock for every kind of truck out there.........weird to hear that.
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Old 01-30-2022, 01:13 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daryles View Post
2016 F350 dually. I had death wobble (look up on YouTube) at 36,750 miles. Truck was 3 years old at that time. The shop I took it to changed all the shocks and steering dampener to heavy duty ones.
Two years later same thing. I took the steering dampener off and tested it. Absolutely NO resistance!!! It was worn out. I did the same to the front shocks. Very little resistance.
After some research I bought Bilstien heavy duty steering dampener and shocks.
MUCH BETTER RIDE and cured the Death Wobble.
Easy job, you can do it yourself. For mine I did not have to jack up the truck to do it.
Daryles, I experienced the death wobble on northern Michigan roads a couple of years ago. I took back to dealer and they replaced the steering damper, and have not experienced it again, but have to admit that I haven't been on many bad roads since then. Do you remember the model damper and shocks you bought?

Thanks in advance
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Old 01-30-2022, 02:11 PM   #11
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Hi,

I have a '17 RAM SRW shortbed 3500 with the RAM auto air suspension in the rear. I've wanted to switch the factory shocks to Bilstein's but when I looked up the correct Bilstein shocks for the rear it said something like - not for rear auto air suspension. I found the same thing with Rancho's. I would be interested in what shocks you finally went with in the rear and did you have any issue with Bilstein or Rancho's if you went with one of those brands? Thanks, sac_colorado
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Old 01-30-2022, 03:36 PM   #12
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I have a 2021 3500 4x4 swr with the ram air suspension. My factory shocks were leaking oil at 10k miles. I switch to Fox 2.0 all around including the steering stabilizer. They made the ride a lot better.
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Old 01-30-2022, 03:51 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Baldicon View Post
Daryles, I experienced the death wobble on northern Michigan roads a couple of years ago. I took back to dealer and they replaced the steering damper, and have not experienced it again, but have to admit that I haven't been on many bad roads since then. Do you remember the model damper and shocks you bought?

Thanks in advance

F350 Super Duty Lariate dually.
Standard suspension (not lifted, no air bags)

Bilstein (24-186025) 5100 Series Shock Absorber https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BYNJ7OW...ing=UTF8&psc=1

Bilstein 24-196284 B8 5100 Steering Damper Front B8 5100 Steering Damper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009FU6WTO...ing=UTF8&psc=1
You may need to swap the conical adapter with your existing dampener.

When I got home from that road trip, I took it to my local dealership to have the front end inspected. They changed the outer tie rods and track bar and track bar ball joint.
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Old 01-30-2022, 04:29 PM   #14
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JCulver, I'm assuming that you haven't had any issues with the FOX 2.0 shocks and your factory auto air suspension in the rear? I don't know why but many shocks makers state that their shocks will NOT work with the RAM auto air suspension in the rear. Front fine - rear NOT fine. Thank you! sac_colorado
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Old 01-30-2022, 08:29 PM   #15
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I have Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks set on max.
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Old 01-30-2022, 09:13 PM   #16
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Check your tongue weight, if it’s too low compared to the rest of your trailer, it will porpoise.
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Old 01-31-2022, 07:59 PM   #17
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20% tongue weight
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Old 01-31-2022, 09:32 PM   #18
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Might need to bump it up to 23-25%. It looks like your trailer fully loaded should have @ 20% 3,200lbs pin weight. @ 25% it will have 4,000 lbs. Usually not having enough pin weight will unload your rear axle when going over a bump and cause porpoising.
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Old 02-01-2022, 10:57 AM   #19
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Would the unloading be less true with IS Suspension? Louisiana and the old-style short concrete road sections are tough - got to do 45mph to get below the ouch movement
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Old 02-01-2022, 12:01 PM   #20
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If he weighs his rig on Cat scales, he'll know if it's too light at the hitch. Montana probably don't have that issue because they have huge basement storage up front by doing a little math.
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