Shock Absorber Recommendation - "04 Ram 2500 4 x 4

Posted By: 74Charger

Shock Absorber Recommendation - "04 Ram 2500 4 x 4 - 03/24/13 03:06 PM

It's probably past time I replaced the OEMs on my truck. Most miles are highway miles, with little to no off-roading. Towing and heavy loads are seldom occurrences. Truck now has 138K miles,and I want to replace shocks before I get new tires. Anyone care to make a recommendation?

yeah, I here the register ringing...

Posted By: JohnRR

Re: Shock Absorber Recommendation - "04 Ram 2500 4 x 4 - 03/24/13 03:42 PM

Bilstein

Posted By: Locomotion

Re: Shock Absorber Recommendation - "04 Ram 2500 4 x 4 - 03/24/13 03:54 PM

I just replaced mine on a '04 Dodge dually with Bilsteins after 112,000 miles. Researched some opinions on Dodge truck sites and got mine from here:

Shock Warehouse - Florida

But it never hurts to shop around, like Summit, etc.

Posted By: pnypwr

Re: Shock Absorber Recommendation - "04 Ram 2500 4 x 4 - 03/24/13 04:23 PM

bilsteins are the best hands down

Posted By: ahy

Re: Shock Absorber Recommendation - "04 Ram 2500 4 x 4 - 03/24/13 10:39 PM

If you liked the OE shocks, you might check your Dodge dealer. I was in a similar situation with a Durango at 100k. The factory replacement shocks were a bit more costly than generic replacements but less than the high end speciality shocks. I liked the OE and they lasted 100k so that's what I used for replacement.

Posted By: 451Mopar

Re: Shock Absorber Recommendation - "04 Ram 2500 4 x 4 - 03/25/13 05:20 AM

I replaced the shocks on my 2005 Ram 3500 with the yellow Bilsteins (4600 Series.) They seemed a bit softer (ride) than the stock shocks?

Posted By: 74Charger

Re: Shock Absorber Recommendation - "04 Ram 2500 4 x 4 - 03/27/13 02:07 AM

if you were doing it over, would you go the same route?

Posted By: 451Mopar

Re: Shock Absorber Recommendation - "04 Ram 2500 4 x 4 - 03/28/13 06:04 AM

Quote:

if you were doing it over, would you go the same route?

I'm happy with the Bilsteins. I just noticed they seemed a bit softer than the stock shocks. That is fine with me as most of my driving is on-road with some towing.
The stock ride would sort of bounce over bumps without much suspension movement, and the Bilsteins seem to absorb the bumps with more suspension travel.
I think the Bilsteins I have (the yellow ones) give a smoother ride, but I'm not sure how they would be off-road. On washboard dirt roads they seem to work fine too.
The reason I changed the stock shocks was the rear axle would bounce around more than usual when driving down a bumpy road. The new shocks seem to handle that road just fine.

I hope that helps? Anyhow, I would say that I would use the Bilsteins shocks for my application again.
I think if I was looking for a stiffer, more off-road shock, I would look at the adjustable Rancho (I think 9000) shocks. A friend has them on his 2002 Ram.

Posted By: srt

Re: Shock Absorber Recommendation - "04 Ram 2500 4 x 4 - 03/29/13 02:55 PM

Bilsteins here too.
The stock shocks are valved differently and result in a harsh ride. The bilsteins can't be considered soft yet the ride is much nicer with no loss of handling (brobably better) during driving the twisties or towing.
I bought through eshocks.com. If your truck is lifted you will need the silver ones, otherwise the yellow for stock ht.