Cummins12V98 wrote:
Bigfoot affair wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Bigfoot affair wrote:
Anymore updates on the new Ram? I have been thinking of getting into a 14... Or wait and see what the new GM twins look like.
You had me with the Ram then you went off the deep end with the GM twins! HA
The 14 RAM has air ride rear suspension, that is a BIGGIE!
I will be looking to trade my awesome 11.
Air ride INFO
How reliable does that look? I won't be their guinea pig, guess I will hold out for the GM!
Please tell what does not look okay with the air bag system? What would you be holding out for on the GM?
The fact that you guy’s have to ask what problems could come about with the air suspension is why I am telling you to remove your RAM glasses. I like the truck and was would consider one, but that new suspension looks like it could/would be troublesome.
It sounds like the primary suspension (springs) is going to be “soft” so you get the car like ride and the supplemental air system will carry the loads when the truck is loaded. Tell me, what happens when your loaded and any one of those components in the air system fails? How are the components going to last underneath the truck in tough conditions, cold weather, road salt, mud/gravel roads? Do they have a drier so that the system doesn’t freeze up in the winter? The radial variable differential transformer (RVDT) also looks like it would be a target for a lot of abuse; it looks to be right beside the wheels. When this fails the air suspension won’t be able to gauge where the suspension is. Then there is all the plumbing of the air system, sure wouldn’t want a leak!
Look at the 2500’s 5 link suspension, way more moving parts just to support the axel, same goes for the 3500, the suspension is more complex than conventional leaf springs.
Hey, if this system is rock solid good for Chrysler. I am sure it will be a hit with people who take a 1 ton out for a test drive and find it rides better than their car, but when or IF it does become a problem there will be a lot of negativity towards the Rams and their air suspensions.
I myself have no problem with the way my 3500 rides. It rides like a truck but not so bad that it will liquefy your guts. The biggest complaint I have with my current truck is the interior, which isn’t really that bad. When I bought it in 2012 to haul my truck camper the 2012 Rams payload wasn’t enough for me so I went with the GM, so far it has been a wonderful truck.
As for the 2013 Rams, yes the interior is very nice and so is the interior of the 2014 GM's, checked out a 1500 GMC last week.
Some more info on air suspension related type of failures, cut and pasted… but I am sure any one of you can google air suspension problems and failures.
Common air suspension problems Air bag or air strut failure is usually caused by wet rot, due to old age, or moisture within the air system that damages it from the inside. Air ride suspension parts may fail because rubber dries out. Punctures to the air bag may be caused from debris on the road. With custom applications, improper installation may cause the air bags to rub against the vehicle's frame or other surrounding parts, damaging it. The over-extension of an airspring which is not sufficiently constrained by other suspension components, such as a shock absorber, may also lead to the premature failure of an airspring through the tearing of the flexible layers. Failure of an airspring may also result in complete immobilization of the vehicle, since the vehicle will rub against the ground or be too high to move.
Air line failure is a failure of the tubing which connects the air bags or struts to the rest of the air system, and is typically DOT-approved nylon air brake line. This usually occurs when the air lines, which must be routed to the air bags through the chassis of the vehicle, rub against a sharp edge of a chassis member or a moving suspension component, causing a hole to form. This mode of failure will typically take some time to occur after the initial installation of the system, as the integrity of a section of air line is compromised to the point of failure due to the rubbing and resultant abrasion of the material. An air-line failure may also occur if a piece of road debris hits an air line and punctures or tears it, although this is unlikely to occur in normal road use. It does occur in harsh off-road conditions but it still not common if correctly installed.
Air fitting failure usually occurs when they are first fitted or very rarely in use. Cheap low quality components tend to be very unreliable. Air fittings are used to connect components such as bags, valves, and solenoids to the airline that transfers the air. They are screwed into the component and for the most part push-in or push-to-fit DOT line is then inserted into the fitting.
Compressor failure is primarily due to leaking air springs or air struts. The compressor will burn out trying to maintain the correct air pressure in a leaking air system. Compressor burnout may also be caused by moisture from within the air system coming into contact with its electronic parts. This is far more likely to occur with low specification compressors with insufficient duty cycle which are often purchased due to low cost. For redundancy in the system two compressors are often a better option.
Dryer failure the dryer, which functions to remove moisture from the air system, eventually becomes saturated and unable to perform that function. This causes moisture to build up in the system and can result in damaged air springs and/or a burned out compressor.
