Upgrading Truck Suspension, on a budget

[TheCougar]

I’ve got a Ram 1500 with 160k miles. The ride was never great, but it is worse now. I’m saving now to replace the truck in 4-5 years. I don’t like the truck, but I have to admit that other than replacing the Torque Converter, it has been exceptionally reliable. I’d like to improve the ride - it is currently all factory. I’m not against a small lift (2”), but I don’t care all that much. I do some towing/hauling, so keeping some of the rake is desirable. I rode in a buddy’s Rebel and the ride difference was night and day. I didn’t feel every bump in the road and it felt more in contact with the dirt road. I’m considering replacing the suspension to improve the ride until my son takes the truck or I sell it. It’s mostly highway/city, some towing/hauling, and some off road periodically. Any recommendations on a shocks/struts/springs?

 

[swavescatter]

Bilstein 4600's and air down offroad.

 

[TheCougar]

Bilstein 4600's and air down offroad.

Why the 4600 over the 5100? Smoother daily driver ride? Would you recommend replacing the springs?

 

[entropicitis]

I've had good luck with 4600s, I reused the OEM springs

 

[Pescetism]

4600 over 5100 unless you're hauling/towing significant weight or off road a lot. In the models I looked at Bilstein only recommended 5100s for lifted vehicles. 4600s on my personal vehicle are night and day better than OEM but it still rides like a truck.

Despite my objections, work replaced our already rough riding work truck OEMs with 5100s in the rear. It's used empty a lot and 70/30 paved/gravel. Properly inflated air bags help but it's WAY rougher without at least 50% of the recommended payload in the bed.

 

[CB4]

I have a F150 with 120k miles and just replaced my OEM shocks with Bilstein 5100s and am very happy. Did the same on my wife's expedition and the ride in both is so much better.

Its not hard to do just time consuming if you do it yourself. A electric impact wrench and some rented tools for the parts store make it even better.

 

[matthewmt]

Just put 5100s on my 1st gen tundra yesterday. Not much time behind the wheel yet.
5100 are ride height adjustable and overall were not much more than oe replacement.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[swavescatter]

Why the 4600 over the 5100? Smoother daily driver ride? Would you recommend replacing the springs?

You said budget setup and 5100’s just add shiny body. Depending on model, the 5100’s are optimized for a slight lift over the 4600’s (Ford Superduty).

Bilstein will tell you the 4600’s are effectively the same in terms of valving and damping.

 

[TheCougar]

You said budget setup and 5100’s just add shiny body. Depending on model, the 5100’s are optimized for a slight lift over the 4600’s (Ford Superduty).

Bilstein will tell you the 4600’s are effectively the same in terms of valving and damping.

Yeah, that’s what the video I watched said. Thanks

 

[TheCougar]

I have a F150 with 120k miles and just replaced my OEM shocks with Bilstein 5100s and am very happy. Did the same on my wife's expedition and the ride in both is so much better.

Its not hard to do just time consuming if you do it yourself. A electric impact wrench and some rented tools for the parts store make it even better.

I’ve done a couple of sets before on other vehicles. Not complicated, but yes - time consuming.

 

[Beendare]

I have the Ram1500 with the air ride....no need to modify anything, great ride in that truck.

I did mod my older Tundra that drove like a tank until I put Icons all around, Coilovers in the front, regular shocks in the back. HUGE difference.

 

[SloppyJ]

Bilsteins are going to be your best bang for the buck. There are plenty of options out there though. Are you going to be swapping the strut out yourself?

 

[JFK]

If/when you swap out the suspension, do yourself a favor and have a shop with a big wall mounted hydraulic coil compressor do that part. I’ve done it once with some rented coil compressors and it was the most Mickey Mouse, dangerous POS I’ve ever seen. I replaced coils on my Tundra at the same time so I just brought them all the parts and they assembled the front struts in like 30 minutes at shop rate, then I installed. Big time saver and money well spent.

 

[wyosteve]

Not sure what your 'budget' is, but on my Ram 2500 I have the Thuren 2" leveling kit with Fox shocks and it rides wonderfully. About $1200 if I remember correctly.

 

[rideold]

I put Bilstein 4600's on my Sequoia at 200k and with 308k I'm ready for a new set. They did everything I needed them to do over the last 12 years.

 

[180ls1]

Bilsteins are valved firmer than factory, generally speaking. Interesting to see everyone suggest them. I would have said a cheaper OE type replacement if you are getting rid of it in a few years.

FYI the 2019+ Rams are the best riding trucks on the road, odds are you wont touch them if your truck is older or different.

 

[5MilesBack]

I put Bilstein 4600's on my Sequoia at 200k and with 308k I'm ready for a new set. They did everything I needed them to do over the last 12 years.

Do they still have a lifetime warranty? I've replaced the Bilsteins on my '89 Toyota twice under their lifetime warranty. I just buy a new set, send the old ones back, and they've refunded what I paid for the new ones each time.

 

[TheCougar]

Y

Bilsteins are going to be your best bang for the buck. There are plenty of options out there though. Are you going to be swapping the strut out yourself?

Yes. And popping the springs off and reusing them.

 

[TheCougar]

If/when you swap out the suspension, do yourself a favor and have a shop with a big wall mounted hydraulic coil compressor do that part. I’ve done it once with some rented coil compressors and it was the most Mickey Mouse, dangerous POS I’ve ever seen. I replaced coils on my Tundra at the same time so I just brought them all the parts and they assembled the front struts in like 30 minutes at shop rate, then I installed. Big time saver and money well spent.

I’ve used the coil compressors before, the kind you get for free at an auto parts store. I’ve done dumber stuff.

 

[TheCougar]

Mine is a 2014

Bilsteins are valved firmer than factory, generally speaking. Interesting to see everyone suggest them. I would have said a cheaper OE type replacement if you are getting rid of it in a few years.

FYI the 2019+ Rams are the best riding trucks on the road, odds are you wont touch them if your truck is older or different.