Suspension question

45Ricochet wrote:
You don't need shocks ( well maybe) your problem is the coils. That Cummins weight with added rear air just put you over their 10 year weight rating :W
How many miles? Any other front end work done in the last 10 years? At least you don't have 4WD :E

What do you mean by "10 year weight rating" New one on me. Slang or joke (that's ok, just what does it mean)

No never had any front end work done on it, about 90,000 miles. It's beginning got get up there miles wise. Last thought I had on front end was a steering stabilizer. But that changed as I thought air bags would help and they do, but still getting bang on some bumps.

I don't think I ever had a vehicle that the springs wore out.

You don't need shocks ( well maybe) your problem is the coils. That Cummins weight with added rear air just put you over their 10 year weight rating :W
How many miles? Any other front end work done in the last 10 years? At least you don't have 4WD :E

I put Bilstein 5100's on my F250. I also hang an 800lb plow on it in the winter, which lowered the front end by about an inch. Rather than put on heavier springs, I installed in-coil airbags bringing the front end back up to stock. They will definitely stiffen your front end when needed, deflate to 5-10psi when not needed.

OP here...Found old posting with numbers.

Is this 2001 Dodge Diesel?

What does front axle weigh (4800 +)??

Bottoming out is weak springs/broken springs.


Yes I'm going to inspect those rubber blocks to see if they have been rubbed or broke even if they are there


I did find actual old numbers. (Memory is going???)

Pick up (2001 Dodge 2500, 5.9 Cummins, 8 foot bed, 2 wheel drive and SWD)
Front 3820 (GAWR 4500)
Rear 2860 (GAWR 6084)
Total 6680 (GVWR 8800)

Pick up and Trailer (Arctic Fox 25W, 2013 model)
Front 3720 (lost 100 pds?)
Rear 3780 (added 920 pds)
TT 7880 (Tandem axle, tires & rims max 2830 pds @ 80psi)

Added tongue weight to pick-up of 920 pds or 11.5% percent.

-Eaz lift (elite) weight dist hitch system (spec’s from manufacture)
Max Tongue weight 1000 pds (I’m OK, but getting close)
Max gross Trailer weight 10,000 pds (I’m OK)

-Receiver mounted on pick-up (spec’s taken from label)
Max tongue weight 1,000…. (I’m OK, but getting close)
Max weight 10,000… (I’m OK)

Bilsteins are great shocks.......I replaced all OEMs with them.

BUT they are not for load carrying issues.

Is this 2001 Dodge Diesel?

What does front axle weigh (4800 +)??

Bottoming out is weak springs/broken springs.

X?? - Bilstien shocks. I put the 4600s on my 2010 Ram 3500 4x4 SRW megacab at 56k miles and a big difference for the better. You might have a missing shock mount rubber bushing or bent shock causing your noise?

thomasmnile wrote:
Just a thought, but Dodge HD trucks with the Cummins engine from that era (don't know all the model years or if 2500's were part of the TSB)) had a TSB on them for incorrectly sized front coil springs. When I had my Takata 'problem' addressed on my '05 3500, I discovered through the FCA recall website the front coils had been replaced on the truck early in its life. The website had a hyperlink that led to the TSB.

Might be worth researching.................

Thanks...I'm checking into that. I thought I had all TSB's solved by now.

To me it sounds like front end bottoming out and hitting something. Maybe coil spring is getting all the way compressed.

Going freeway speeds and coming off a bridge deck back onto regular road sometimes a bump at the same time TT is putting weight on front also.

Have you weighed your rig?

I should do that again. I lost my old scale numbers from about a year ago and haven't added any weight. But do remember my tongue weight came in at 12%. What did surprise me is the difference in front axle empty compared TT hooked up was only 100 pounds more placed on front axle.

It's a 2 wheel drive. TT is a 2013 Arctic Fox 25W.

Weight of TT is 6800 according to OEM. But many owners say OEM numbers are not good and weights are actually more. And that is before adding anything you need to bring along.

I also remember all my numbers were well within spec's.

Think I'll start with new shocks and go from their.

Just a thought, but Dodge HD trucks with the Cummins engine from that era (don't know all the model years or if 2500's were part of the TSB)) had a TSB on them for incorrectly sized front coil springs. When I had my Takata 'problem' addressed on my '05 3500, I discovered through the FCA recall website the front coils had been replaced on the truck early in its life. The website had a hyperlink that led to the TSB.

Might be worth researching.................

From doing a search, I was considering Bilsteins (5100) but wasn't sure if that was the right way to go or not. Thanks for input.

Since I put air bags on the back, pick up sits about 1 inch higher without TT with min (10 psi) in air bags. So was considering the 5100 because of 1 inch adjustment. But wasn't sure if they were OK for front end.

Thanks folks.