My 2016 2500 is a daily driver and i have lowered the tire air pressure to 40 pounds front and rear.It is my daily driver and I only tow 8,000 pound 5th wheel about 4 times per year.I know it'll never ride like a 1500, but I'm trying to figure out how to make it more comfortable. I've read hundreds of reviews on bilstiens shocks but every opinion seems different. A few folks have said they are firmer but better, some say stiffer, and a guy on YouTube posted a video saying that his 2500 duramax rides at least as good as any 1500 with only the shock change (certainly I dint believe that one). I looked at soft ride springs, but they all raise the truck....it's too high already for my 5th wheel and barely fits in the garage now. Help....can I get an honest review on bilsteins (or something else) that will help this wonderful truck ride at least somewhat better...Thanks in advance....

Honest Review:Bilsteins on my truck. Really like them for daily driver and towing.But, it is still a truck. Our Subaru still rides better.

At 40 psi don't expect your tires to last long, but it is a way to smooth out the ride.

We just put Bilstein shocks on 2008 3500 in sig and really smoothed out the ride, the caveat is that the OEM were shot so anything would have been better.

I put Bilstiens on my 3500 with the overload spring removed so essentially a 2500. The stock shocks (62k miles) had softer initial compliance and were more comfortable than the Bilstiens from a ride harshness standpoint. The Bilstiens are more comfortable from a ride quality and control standpoint especially when towing.

Bilsteins on my 2007 3500 major improvement in handling/ride quality but it is a TRUCKTires....55 front (towing or not)45 rears (80 towing)They wear GREAT....even across thread, no issuesWhat is your 2500.gasser/diesel?40 is too low especially in front if diesel

Bilsteins on a Ram 3/4 ton????????? | Good Sam Community

Herzog
Explorer
Mar 02, 2017
Durb wrote:
Check out sulastic.com

They make a replacement spring shackle that is supposed to soften the ride without compromising performance. Very interesting concept. $400

They don't have anything available for the newer ram 3/4 ton with coil springs
Durb
Explorer
Mar 02, 2017
Check out sulastic.com

They make a replacement spring shackle that is supposed to soften the ride without compromising performance. Very interesting concept. $400
burningman
Explorer II
Mar 02, 2017
There IS a solution and shocks aren't it.
It's called Kelderman Air Ride. That's what you need.
FishOnOne
Nomad
Mar 02, 2017
Greene728 wrote:
Herzog wrote:
Greene728 wrote:
If the tires are at 40 psi and your still not happy, Bilsteins aren't gonna help you. They will make a difference sure, but not that much. Mostly towing and handling with some better ride compliance. But, sounds to me you are expecting to much out of a truck that was built to work with the ride coming in a distant second. And don't expect your tires to last too long at that pressure. As already asked, is the truck gas or diesel?

Thanks for the replies.....it is a 6.4 gasser 4x4.

So far, the tires are wearing very well and evenly.

No problem! The 6.4 Hemi is actually part of your problem. It's much lighter than the diesel so the front end suspension isn't as compressed with the light weight of the Hemi up front. My opinion is save your money. Yes, the Bilstein is a great shock and superior to the OEM shocks. But, its not really going to effect the ride to any noticeable difference.

The trucks have different front springs for a hemi vs. a cummins.
Greene728
Explorer
Mar 01, 2017
Herzog wrote:
Greene728 wrote:
If the tires are at 40 psi and your still not happy, Bilsteins aren't gonna help you. They will make a difference sure, but not that much. Mostly towing and handling with some better ride compliance. But, sounds to me you are expecting to much out of a truck that was built to work with the ride coming in a distant second. And don't expect your tires to last too long at that pressure. As already asked, is the truck gas or diesel?

Thanks for the replies.....it is a 6.4 gasser 4x4.

So far, the tires are wearing very well and evenly.

No problem! The 6.4 Hemi is actually part of your problem. It's much lighter than the diesel so the front end suspension isn't as compressed with the light weight of the Hemi up front. My opinion is save your money. Yes, the Bilstein is a great shock and superior to the OEM shocks. But, its not really going to effect the ride to any noticeable difference.
eichacsj
Explorer
Mar 01, 2017
I put Bilstien on my 2001 2500HD (new) when I only had about 1000 miles on it. Stock was to bouncy so I put the Bilstien's on. It smoothed out when TT was attached and made the ride empty even stiffer, but I wanted truck and expected it to ride like one.
408f150
Explorer
Mar 01, 2017
If you really want to smooth out your ride on a newer Ram 2500 look into getting some Thuren or Carli springs and Fox 2.0 shocks. I upgraded to those on my 2016 2500 CTD and it's a huge improvement.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Mar 01, 2017
goducks10 wrote:
Problem with the new Ram 2500's IIRC the TPMS won't allow you to air down to 45 PSI. With my 12 Ram 2500 CTD the front weighs 4800 lbs. Door sticker says 65psi. Rear weighs around 28-2900lb. Door sticker says 45 psi. I have upgraded the tires to a larger tire with a higher load rating. I still run what the door sticker says. 65F, 45R. Last time I went to Discount for a rotate they said they were wearing perfect.
You don't need big psi in the rear. It weighs almost 2000lbs less than the front.
But if you can't lower the psi in the rear then what do you do? I doubt shocks
will help all that much if you can't run a lower psi in the rear.

You can, you just get the tire light on.
Dealer software can't re program thresholds anymore but there is one aftermarket product that will now but it's spendy.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Mar 01, 2017
FishOnOne wrote:
At 40 psi don't expect your tires to last long, but it is a way to smooth out the ride.

That's low for the front unless you have really wide tires. 285 tires at 50psi are fine holding up the diesel though.
40 in the rear empty on stock tires is fine.
Bilstens will help the bounce/rebound but will not offer a "softer ride". You have about the best riiding combo with the rear coils. Any softer and you need to get a half ton. Imo
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Mar 01, 2017
Bilstien 4600's, well worth the $$$. 5100's are the exact same shock but designed for stock and up to 2" lift.

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Bilsteins on a Ram 3/4 ton?????????

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