Upgrading Truck Suspension, on a budget

[Steve300xcw]

$400 for all that? No way that isnt just a box of crap.

Easy pass

 

[Doc Holliday]

$400 for all that? No way that isnt just a box of crap.

Easy pass

Ram is not known for having quality front ends regardless, so new crap is still significantly better than 11 year old crap. At 180K miles, I guarantee you his front end is worn out worse than a whore on an aircraft carrier.

 

[TheCougar]

Ram is not known for having quality front ends regardless, so new crap is still significantly better than 11 year old crap. At 180K miles, I guarantee you his front end is worn out worse than a whore on an aircraft carrier.

Okay… nice visual! I don’t plan on doing a leveling or lift kit. Just R&R the shocks. Still think this is necessary? Also, wow. What a bull in your avatar.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Okay… nice visual! I don’t plan on doing a leveling or lift kit. Just R&R the shocks. Still think this is necessary? Also, wow. What a bull in your avatar.

Yes, if you still have original upper and lower control arms and ball joints, I guarantee you your ball joints are not happy. If the ball joint on either side of your lower control arms is toast, any bump you go over will be painful. Doesn't matter what kind of shocks you have or how new they are. From a labor/installation standpoint, it's more efficient and cost effective to get a new whole control arm assembly since it already has the ball joint included. Do you have grease zerks on all of your arms/ball joints, and if so, when is the last time/how often do you grease them? Have you replaced any of your ball joints lately, and if so, which ones?

 

[Steve300xcw]

Ram is not known for having quality front ends regardless, so new crap is still significantly better than 11 year old crap.

Hell of a way to look at things.

I am not up to date on the dodge stuff. That said last set of decent ball joints I bought for an IFS truck were a bit over $300.

There just isnt a way that you can get a full set of control arms and tie rods for that kinda money without it being complete trash.

Those are kinda important parts. I'd cheap out elsewhere..

 

[TheCougar]

Yes, if you still have original upper and lower control arms and ball joints, I guarantee you your ball joints are not happy. If the ball joint on either side of your lower control arms is toast, any bump you go over will be painful. Doesn't matter what kind of shocks you have or how new they are. From a labor/installation standpoint, it's more efficient and cost effective to get a new whole control arm assembly since it already has the ball joint included. Do you have grease zerks on all of your arms/ball joints, and if so, when is the last time/how often do you grease them? Have you replaced any of your ball joints lately, and if so, which ones?

all original, down to the wheel bearings.
- no grease zerks on the entire front end. Ram sealed everything and made it a “drive to failure” part. Even the transmission pan doesn’t have a removable filter and can’t be serviced. It sucks, but a lot of newer trucks are like this.

To sum up: it’s more like an un-lubed whore on an aircraft carrier.

I don’t mind replacing it, but it’s doubling the cost at this point, and I’m trying to keep it reasonable.

 

[Doc Holliday]

all original, down to the wheel bearings.
- no grease zerks on the entire front end. Ram sealed everything and made it a “drive to failure” part. Even the transmission pan doesn’t have a removable filter and can’t be serviced. It sucks, but a lot of newer trucks are like this.

To sum up: it’s more like an un-lubed whore on an aircraft carrier.

I don’t mind replacing it, but it’s doubling the cost at this point, and I’m trying to keep it reasonable.

Yeah if you want to keep the truck and get the ride fixed, you 100% need a new front end. You should be able to find someone to install that kit (or similar) for $700-$1,000.

 

[TheCougar]

Yeah if you want to keep the truck and get the ride fixed, you 100% need a new front end. You should be able to find someone to install that kit (or similar) for $700-$1,000.

If you’re talking about the part link you sent me, is there a reason why I wouldn’t do it myself? Not complicated and I’ll have half of it removed or disconnected anyway to replace the shocks.

 

[Tahoe1305]

Cougar, most mil auto hobby shops have a spring compressor. I’ve used some locally for this project in CO. NCR appears to have some if you don’t mind the drive.

I like doing more complex projects at the shops, the folks working are good to bounce questions off and help.

I did the entire front end on my Tahoe last year. Kit was $500 (not including struts/springs). Took 4 hours. Shop charged $50.

 

[Steve300xcw]

all original, down to the wheel bearings.
- no grease zerks on the entire front end. Ram sealed everything and made it a “drive to failure” part.

Flip side to that. Sealed non serviceable parts sure seem to last a lot longer. It's an easy thing to hate on though.