1500 rear suspension question.....

[corneileous]

Just curious about upgrading my rear shocks only... I have air ride so, changing the front ones is kind of outta the question unless somebody that I don’t know of, that makes strut upgrades that the factory front bags will work with but, has anybody ever replaced just the back shocks with anything better, whether it’s on an air ride truck or spring ride?

Even with my air ride, the back shocks still feel kinda bumpy like the original shocks did on my old 08. I replaced those all with Rancho RS5000’s but, I wasn’t pleased with them. I don’t know if it was just because those were better geared for off-road or what, but I wasn’t happy with them. Ideas?


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[savage_46]

Subbed. I've been thinking about doing the same

 

[corneileous]

Any thoughts guys?


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[ThunderMug95]

I decided to match my fronts and put Bilstein 5100’s on the rear. Im coil sprung though. Bit stiffer ride and much better onroad performance, feels absolutely planted.
I was just amazed when I was holding the oem shock in one hand and 5100 in the other. Bilstein felt 4x heavier and solid. The oem felt like I could snap it over my knee. I am overall very pleased with the upgrade. Thats my 2 cents.

 

[corneileous]

Sad thing is, I looked on auto anything and they all said “without air suspension” even for the rear shocks. I can’t imagine Ram using a different shock between the air and spring ride trucks but then again, maybe my shocks are different because I can change my ride height at the press of a button. I can go from almost sitting on the bump-stops for easy entry and exit, to 2 inches of lift for max clearance.


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[ThunderMug95]

Still, the travel should be the same. Im on stock coils with a spacer. 5100’s are 0-1” longer travel than stock, but I have yet to load anything in the bed to compress it down to the bump stops.
I would think that the length if travel would be main factor in either setup for fitment at least.

 

[corneileous]

Still, the travel should be the same. Im on stock coils with a spacer. 5100’s are 0-1” longer travel than stock, but I have yet to load anything in the bed to compress it down to the bump stops.
I would think that the length if travel would be main factor in either setup for fitment at least.

Makes sense. I wouldn’t think there’d be a difference in travel just because I can lift mine.


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[Arth]

Sad thing is, I looked on auto anything and they all said “without air suspension” even for the rear shocks. I can’t imagine Ram using a different shock between the air and spring ride trucks but then again, maybe my shocks are different because I can change my ride height at the press of a button. I can go from almost sitting on the bump-stops for easy entry and exit, to 2 inches of lift for max clearance.


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There is a different part number for rear shocks. Set for air suspension and set without. Also different ones for 2wd vs 4wd.

 

[Arth]

Also here you go.

https://parts.allmoparparts.com/aut...gine/rear-suspension-cat/rear-suspension-scat

 

[corneileous]

According to this, the shocks aren’t the same, so I dunno.

Top one’s for air suspension, bottom one’s for spring ride.







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[corneileous]

Sorry @Arth, didn’t see your post...lol


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[BWL]

The mounts and travel look the same so maybe its just different valving. Maybe try some rancho rs9000 as they have adjustable valving from soft to stiff. I've know a couple guys who ran them years ago and the ride difference between settings was very noticeable.

 

[corneileous]

The mounts and travel look the same so maybe its just different valving. Maybe try some rancho rs9000 as they have adjustable valving from soft to stiff. I've know a couple guys who ran them years ago and the ride difference between settings was very noticeable.

You could be right. Even at stock height, I’m sure spring rebound rate is probably a bit different between a coil spring and an air bag.

But whether it’s coil spring or air spring, what’s my ride probably gonna be like if I just change the back two since I can’t really change the front two?


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[BWL]

Just changing rear shocks should be quite noticeable. Better or worse is subjective. That's why I suggested the rs9000. They claim 1-3 is oem type ride, 3-6 is rs5000 type ride and 7-9 is stiff performance ride so you have a better chance of getting the ride you want with 9 settings. I know from your tire choices and past posts you want a soft ride so I'd guess you'd be in the 1-3 range. I think the bils ride similar to the rs5000, which you said you found too stiff.

 

[corneileous]

Just changing rear shocks should be quite noticeable. Better or worse is subjective. That's why I suggested the rs9000. They claim 1-3 is oem type ride, 3-6 is rs5000 type ride and 7-9 is stiff performance ride so you have a better chance of getting the ride you want with 9 settings. I know from your tire choices and past posts you want a soft ride so I'd guess you'd be in the 1-3 range. I think the bils ride similar to the rs5000, which you said you found too stiff.

Even Rancho’s say the same, w/o air suspension. Guess I’ll have to call them Monday and ask them.





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[BWL]

It seems like hardly anybody does anything for the air suspension, but as long as it has the correct travel and ends it should work fine. The air suspension shocks are still just shocks. I think companies just don't want to get involved with the air suspension and trying to help customers troubleshoot because they say their parts are compatible.

 

[BWL]

Guys on the rebel forum say the spacers not for air work for air to give lift and the bags can be swapped for coilovers easily. They just buy a regular suspension lift kit with coils and swap them out.

 

[corneileous]

That just bugs me why they’re different, tho. Manufacturers aren’t gonna put time and effort into making a different shock for the same truck just because of an air bag in place of a spring unless there’s a significant enough of a reason to do it.


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[corneileous]

Guys on the rebel forum say the spacers not for air work for air to give lift and the bags can be swapped for coilovers easily. They just buy a regular suspension lift kit with coils and swap them out.

That makes sense, swapping for coils but, spring rebound rate from an air bag’s rebound rate is probably different. Although I don’t use the aero mode, I’m sure the non-air ride shocks will work.


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[corneileous]

Just an update the thread about those that mentioned the shock travel possibly being the same between factory air suspension rear shocks and factory non air suspension trucks, I don’t think the travel is the same because I found out today that if you go to Monroe’s website and search for shocks for a 2017 ram 1500, you’ll see that they do have a rear shock for those trucks with air ride.

When you click on the part numbers for each shocks – the one for air ride, and the one for without, and then click on the technical specs for each one of those two shocks, you’ll see down on the bottom of the page that even though the fully compressed length of both shocks is like 16 1/2 inches but the fully extended lengths between those two shocks is a difference of 2 inches meaning that their air ride shock is about 2 inches shorter fully extended than the shock that would go on the non-air ride truck.

Unless I’m not seeing it, I would think that the air ride shocks would be longer, not shorter.


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