Long post.... Part 1We replaced the original shocks on our 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 CTD quad cab short bed 4x4 with Bilstein 5100's. Prior to this we had hauled a 1989 Sunline TC to TN, SC, and NC for a Thanksgiving vacation in 2012. Even with the OEM shocks (about 73,000 miles on them) it handled just fine.Fast forward to this year and we ordered a brand new TC for our 6,000 mile western trip. Picked it up in Syracuse and came home on the NY State Thruway. Hardly even knew we had a TC back there (1,500 wet weight). Very happy. Took the truck to the dealer for service and had them install Bilstein 5100's. We decided to do this b/c the OEM shocks had 83,000 miles and I wanted to upgrade for our "Big trip". DH argued that the OEM ones were doing fine and didn't want to spend the money. I prevailed and we spent $400 + on all four shocks. DH had expected the truck to ride slightly stiffer and told me to not be surprised if I felt a difference from the spongy OEM shocks. It was just like stock - no difference with no load in truck.

Part 2:We took it out for a test ride tonight and I knew something was wrong when we turned around in the yard. It rocks violently from side to side. And keeps rocking. Drove down our road and I was grabbing onto the door handle in fear. It was really bad. Just like we had no rear shocks at all! I normally drive a lot when we travel and I don't even want to take this out of the driveway. Has anyone ever got a bad set of Bilstein's?If you have installed them on a Dodge did you notice it was any stiffer than the OEM ones when there was no weight in the bed?DH parked it and "rocked" it from side to side by pushing near the rear wheel on the driver's side. When he stopped the darn thing sat there and rocked side-to-side for 5+ seconds, i.e., back & forth for a count of 5. It looked like some swaying kiddie ride at the mall (like those little boats). I am not kidding it undulated like a boat in the water.??? Any ideas what in the heck is going on?

Lots of talk about shock absorbers. The problem is shocks are NOT springs. Shocks do not carry any weight. They are there strictly to dampen the spring actions to offer a smoother ride. If they are not doing their job, then there is a shock failure. If your truck is overloaded there is no shock in the world that can he that. Same if a spring is overloaded or broken. Socks are only one small part of the entire suspension package.

Oh, and to make things worse DH usually services/installs all the parts on our truck. But he was swamped at work and we had the Bilstein's sitting in the shop for 4 weeks. So I asked the dealer if they would install them. So now I am out the cost of the shocks and the labor. I was hesitant to have the dealer install customer furnished parts for just this reason.... I am kicking myself for insisting on Bilstein's right about now. And if DH had installed them at least we would have the OEM shocks sitting in our shop so he could swap them back. Ugh - I am so mad at myself. Plus we are leaving in 2 days... DH wants to kill me right about now.

We are at 2,200 lbs. with all our gear. Well within the weight for a 2500 diesel, even the short bed. Plus we have hauled a heavier TC made for a long bed all last year, so the old center of gravity was 5" BEHIND the rear axle. And it handled perfectly on the highway. We just wanted to have a new one with the correct center of gravity for a short bed for the longer trip.Plus when we brought the new TC home 2 weeks ago we were fine at 60 mph on the interstate. The only thing we changed was the shocks. We hardly even need the airbags inflated with this one. We only have them for when we tow the equipment trailer.

I'd start out by assuming that either the shocks failed or they were installed wrong. If they are bad, take them back to where you bought them.

Bilsteins vs. OEM Dodge shocks | Good Sam Community

Stars101
Explorer
Jun 17, 2013
Part 2:

We took it out for a test ride tonight and I knew something was wrong when we turned around in the yard. It rocks violently from side to side. And keeps rocking. Drove down our road and I was grabbing onto the door handle in fear. It was really bad. Just like we had no rear shocks at all! I normally drive a lot when we travel and I don't even want to take this out of the driveway.

Has anyone ever got a bad set of Bilstein's?

If you have installed them on a Dodge did you notice it was any stiffer than the OEM ones when there was no weight in the bed?

DH parked it and "rocked" it from side to side by pushing near the rear wheel on the driver's side. When he stopped the darn thing sat there and rocked side-to-side for 5+ seconds, i.e., back & forth for a count of 5. It looked like some swaying kiddie ride at the mall (like those little boats). I am not kidding it undulated like a boat in the water.

??? Any ideas what in the heck is going on?
donn0128
Explorer II
Jun 17, 2013
Lots of talk about shock absorbers. The problem is shocks are NOT springs. Shocks do not carry any weight. They are there strictly to dampen the spring actions to offer a smoother ride. If they are not doing their job, then there is a shock failure. If your truck is overloaded there is no shock in the world that can he that. Same if a spring is overloaded or broken. Socks are only one small part of the entire suspension package.
Stars101
Explorer
Jun 17, 2013
Oh, and to make things worse DH usually services/installs all the parts on our truck. But he was swamped at work and we had the Bilstein's sitting in the shop for 4 weeks. So I asked the dealer if they would install them. So now I am out the cost of the shocks and the labor. I was hesitant to have the dealer install customer furnished parts for just this reason.... I am kicking myself for insisting on Bilstein's right about now. And if DH had installed them at least we would have the OEM shocks sitting in our shop so he could swap them back. Ugh - I am so mad at myself. Plus we are leaving in 2 days... DH wants to kill me right about now.
Stars101
Explorer
Jun 17, 2013
We are at 2,200 lbs. with all our gear. Well within the weight for a 2500 diesel, even the short bed. Plus we have hauled a heavier TC made for a long bed all last year, so the old center of gravity was 5" BEHIND the rear axle. And it handled perfectly on the highway. We just wanted to have a new one with the correct center of gravity for a short bed for the longer trip.

Plus when we brought the new TC home 2 weeks ago we were fine at 60 mph on the interstate. The only thing we changed was the shocks. We hardly even need the airbags inflated with this one. We only have them for when we tow the equipment trailer.
Michael_in_MN
Explorer
Jun 17, 2013
I'd start out by assuming that either the shocks failed or they were installed wrong. If they are bad, take them back to where you bought them.
Raften
Explorer
Jun 17, 2013
So do you have the air bags pumped now? Too much air pressure will give the effect you describe.
Stars101
Explorer
Jun 17, 2013
We had 20 lbs. in them and then deflated them. I think they say run with 15 lbs minimum which is what they have now. We only need them when we tow a heavy equipment trailer. The 1,500 lb. TC doesn't even make the truck squat at all.

It got a smidgen better, but not back to like it was before we replaced the shocks.
cewillis
Explorer
Jun 17, 2013
Your description sounds like the rear shocks aren't installed, or not connected at one end at all. Can you verify that they are actually cycling when the truck is rocking?
pronstar
Explorer
Jun 17, 2013
Really...it's nearly impossible to install shocks wrong.

Not installed, maybe.
But it's just two bolts...two bolts that hold it in place, and without either bolt the shock would flop around and you'd hear it for sure.

Crawl under and simply grab a shock with your hand and see if you can move it.
If either bolt is missing, it will move around easily.
If it won't budge, it's bolted in.

Bilsteins have a lifetime warranty.
They don't take long to remove/replace, especially the back ones.
Why not pull them out and get them checked out?

Or...perhaps they didn't install the correct shock?
Mello_Mike
Explorer
Jun 17, 2013
Something isn't right with the installation or the shocks. Bilsteins are perhaps the best shock on the market. Are you sure the shocks they installed were brand new and were properly installed? I've owned severals sets of Bilsteins on various rigs and could never do what you described.

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