I just got back from having the new shocks installed and the wheels aligned. They are just the 4600s because I wanted to stay at stock height (I know, I know, y'all were probably hoping to see her leveled). I wanted to do it myself at the auto hobby shop on base, but I've never done anything like this and the IFS had a lot of components to disconnect before you get to the shocks. Plus, I'd still have to do an alignment so this was just easier.
Man do these things ride nice! Much less body roll, and the truck feels much more planted. Going over bumps in the road such as the seams between asphalt and a bridge there is no more up and down movement, all of a sudden you are up on the bridge, and then you're back on asphalt. You can still feel it, but it is sooo much smoother-not rough at all. Kind of hard to explain until you take a ride for yourself. At the very least, if your original shocks are getting worn out, I would strongly encourage you all to look at these.
I also have a question regarding the wheel well liners. When they were reinstalled after the shocks were put in, i noticed there were these little metal clips exposed (pic below). What are they, and is it detrimental that they are exposed? Would it be worth my time to tuck them back in?
The clips are what the screws, screw into to hold the liners in. You could probably move them a little to try to hide them but I don't think it will cause any harm with them exposed
These are next on my list as I desperately need some improvement in the handling - I think mine are well shot with 133K miles now. Mind me asking where you ordered them from? Also, am I correct in that you don't order the entire front strut - just the shock portion - and you reuse the spring, correct? I was going to attempt myself, as I have access to a lift, but I'm not entirely comfortable dropping the control arm and what not in the front so I'm going to take them to be installed and do the alignment at the same time. I'm like you - didn't want it leveled - just want better handling.
You will definitely get an improvement in handling, I did and my original shocks had only about 24,400 miles on them, and it sounds like yours are past due for replacement. My dad has been looking at new shocks for his 2009 Ram and said that the Bilsteins are actually cheaper than replacement Mopar ones, so it should be an easy choice.
I ordered them from Shock Warehouse, they had the best price that I could find. It was a little under $350 shipped for all 4, and if you have a 2wd I think its around $315. The other places I looked at wanted around $400 for all 4. I had no trouble with my order other than the apparently dyslexic FedEx guy leaving my package at my neighbor's house at the other end of the street (same numbers in her address, but in a different order).
The rears are pretty straightforward and I probably could have done them myself. You just take out the bottom and top bolts and bolt in the new shock after taking off the wheel well liner and wheel. I figured though that I may as well get them done at the shop since I was going to be having the front shock install and an alignment done there anyway.
You are correct, when you order them you will only receive the front shock. When you remove the old one you will have to strip the old coil assembly off of it and put it on the new shock to complete the strut assembly-this requires a spring compressor. This was part of why I was intimidated by the front shocks. In addition, I watched some youtube tutorials and they showed that you have to remove the wheel, wheel well liner, brake caliper, and disconnect the sway bar, ball joint, and tie rods. That's a lot of stuff for a novice like myself to do without somebody experienced helping me, and I didn't want to be on the hook if something went wrong. This way the work is warrantied, and there was no way I was going to try and do an alignment.
There is a litany of reasons I kept the stock height, but the improvement in ride quality is well worth upgrading to the Bilsteins. They are heavier duty than the stock shocks and also have a lifetime warranty unlike the 5100s.
Awesome and thanks for the info. Yes I was also a little nervous about all the disassembly on the front end. I am going to pull the trigger on these as soon as the holidays are over. Yes I think my fronts are shot without question.
Btw I would just loosen those screws and turn those screw retainers in - I am pretty OCD and it would bother me to have the retainers sticking out
I'm on the toss up between these and the 5100's. I'm thinking I MIGHT want to level out, but then not 100% sure. I have time to decide before I do it. I do like the fact that these have a better warranty on them. Especially if not leveling.
If you do decide on the 5100s then you can still keep them at stock height too, you just won't get the warranty. They list the 5100s as "off road" shocks and the 4600s as "heavy duty shocks, but I'm not sure if there is really a difference in ride or durability besides the 5100s being adjustable.
Looks good. I just put my 5100 front and rears on yesterday. Set @ 2.1". Needless to say all the clunks in my front end are gone. I also upgraded to a longer aftermarket sway link as well. It wasn't bad at all. Took it to the dealer this morning and had them install the tires, align, and correct the speedo.
Looks good! I'll be doing the same this coming spring, 5100's in the front and 1" rear spacer. May I ask what tires you have mounted, profile specs too? I was looking at Nitto's, and KO2's, which seem to be on back order everywhere I check.
I have the 4600s on my truck and the change was insane moving from 149000 mile factory shocks to these......no body roll and the truck feels planted constantly, plus it remains in control without bouncing around over rough surfaces
I'd do the shocks first so they have time to settle, and you don't cause any irregular wear on the new tires. That's what I did when I got new shocks/tires.
Thanks for the pics and the review of the shock install. Imo Bilstein is the best shock. My rear liner clips were installed like that at the factory, but I've never bothered to turn them.
Thanks for the pics and the review of the shock install. Imo Bilstein is the best shock. My rear liner clips were installed like that at the factory, but I've never bothered to turn them.
T horse. Those are on my list in the next year or so. I would like to stiffen up the truck just a little. My fronts were replaced under warranty about 36k so they aren't quite ready yet but it does have 101k on it now. Thanks for the info that will help when I get ready to pull the trigger. Only services left to do are shocks and coolant flush.
Nice looking Truck TH!Reading through your mods I like it functional and tasteful. I'm hoping to get the kryptek seat covers before Christmas. [ dogs and kids play hell on upholstery. ]
I recently looked into the 5100 Ride Height Adjustable. Really leaning towards those right now. Only thing is if I decide to lift it later, then bam those go to waste.
The yellow throws me off a bit, just stands out in a strange way. Other than the color which is a very minor set back, I'm liking the reviews on the Bilstein's, and the price is good too. I found a place that has them on sale right now for $103 for the adjustables. I might have to miss out on it because I think its this weekend only, but hey, maybe I'll get em before midnight!
I have 2.5" motofab coil spacers on with stock tires and rims, it looks better than the like 2" gap between the front fender and tire when i bought it. But now I am looking to put 35s on it and level it with better hardware. So im thinking 5100s, but id really like to buy new coil over shocks that raise the front 2.5". I'm not a huge novice on the front end as I installed the coil spaces myself, put it up on jackstands in my driveway, bought some coil compressors, that helped alot. But taking apart the tie rods, sway bar, etc was pretty straightforward. So any advice, part numbers or website someone could point me to that they have used?
Not that I've used, but Ranch quicklifts are a preloaded coilover ( I assume that's what you mean since 4wd Rams are a coilover you just have to build it during the install), Fox 2.0s are also one though they are $430/shock, and their 2.5s have a remote reservoir-but $1800+ for a pair. king also makes some that Truck Trend reviewed several years ago and they liked them, and they are cheaper than Foxes, but still $1300 for a pair.
IMHO Bilstein is better than Rancho; Fox and King are both very good and I don't think you can go wrong with them, but I could put put 4 sets of Bilsteins on all four corners of my truck for the cost of just the front two Kings-and Foxes cost even more. I am sure they are good, but I am not paying that much for shocks when Bils are as good as they are at their price point.
After my last post in here, and doing some research and looking at other stuff for a while, then coming back to this, the RHA's are the ones for me. But what I didn't know was that you can use these with a lift?
Yes, most people who lift their trucks want the front to be level with the rear, and that's what these are designed to do. Otherwise you would have the same rake from back to front, just a few inches higher with the lift. A few people like that, but the 5100s are designed to either level you if you are stock height, or be used in addition to your lift kit to level it along with the raised height of the lift. If you have a lift with spacers that level the front you could use 5100s instead of the spacers and it would be better for the truck.
After my last post in here, and doing some research and looking at other stuff for a while, then coming back to this, the RHA's are the ones for me. But what I didn't know was that you can use these with a lift?
Depends on your skill level. You need a spring compressor and I wouldn't use an auto parts store rental and the good ones are like $700. 2wd you don't need one so Id do that in the driveway
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
DODGE RAM FORUM
2.2M posts
201.9K members
Since 2008
We’re the ultimate Dodge RAM forum to talk about the RAM 1500, 2500 and 3500 including the Cummins powered models.