ckolloff

My '98 12v 4x4 QC long bed is just shy of 200k and it's time to go through the suspension/steering. At minimum I'm going to replace all TRE's, all 4 shocks, inspect (replace if needed) ball joints, and do something about the track bar.

The truck is a tow rig (usually 10k lb bumper pull/rarely 10-15k lb gooseneck), load hauler, & family trip rig. It currently sits on E rated 285/75/R16 BFG A/Ts and I have no desire to go bigger. I've been considering the KORE HP suspension kit but don't want to get any taller and at nearly $700 bucks it a bit pricey. Really I just want a smooth comfortable ride and predictable handling and don't want to sacrifice towing ability.

Looking for suggestions on suspension, steering, and track bar solutions from folks with actual experience.

Thanks in Advance

West Coast

Upgraded 2003 and newer track bar and mount...

http://www.sourceautomotive.biz/shop...Kit-54-20.html

Here is all Source Automotive upgrades for your suspension.....
http://www.sourceautomotive.biz/shop...ades-20-1.html'

Bilstien shocks make a nice improvement for the ride quality....

larrybartlett

on my 01' w/200k I got "alot" of good replacing sway bar bushing front and rear and end links. I also have and like a DSS steering stabilizer, I have a moog heavy duty track bar and like it although some other's don't, if you're on a budget look into the luke's link fix.

http://www.lukeslink.com/

I run the yellow/blue bilstein shock and love them, had Monroe's for a short period and went back to the bilsteins, I've read some negatives about moog ball joints on 3rd gens, don't know what options besides them and OEM's are out there for 2nd gens, another inexpensive part is the "rock solid steering bushing"

http://www.rocksolidramtrucksteering.com/

I had my rear springs rearched and put new front OEM springs on but I went up in the tension number, usually you put one number higher on the driver's side due to the weight of the fuel

ckolloff

Good info folks. I was considering getting a Borgeson steering shaft until I learned about that RockSolidRam steering-thanks!

Please keep it coming.

J.Suplanski

Carli Suspension www.thecarlisuspension.com 714-532-2798

ellerman

Go with Carli Suspension over KORE. Get a 3rd gen. track bar conversion use luke's links on your TRE's, get the rock solid ram steering upgrade and see how it does after that. Currently, mine has all of those upgrades and still steers like crap but my stock steering shaft is worn out. My next move is a borgeson shaft- if that doesn't work I may drive it off a cliff and get a 2010.

DIESELWRKS

I'm trouble free with my DSS steering brace and had their trac bar as well untill the truck was lifted. now I'm really happy with DT-pro fabs adj trac bar. I noticed a differance on replacing the sway bar links as well I used maxx links replacement. and I also have bilstien shocks that have been good. but soon looking at king shocks.

www.suspensionmaxx.com

www.sourceautomotive.com

www.dtprofab.com
hope this helps

sheriffav8r

Replace your wheel bearings while you check out the U-Joints up front.

RamSteerFix Guy

ckolloff:

Hello there:

Just a thought that's not been covered here yet.

I really, really enjoy and recommend the 19.5 tire conversion package. It's been on my truck for 10 years now, and I consider it a 'must have' - it just transforms how the truck drives, handles loads, it's stability and also is more economical - the 19.5's just handle far more abuse than a 16" tire can.

For those who tow, it's a nice margin of safety. Here are the folks who sold me the set originally: www.RicksonTruck.com

I also understand that 'vision wheel' offers the 19.5 aluminum rims for our Rams, too.

In fact, last time I checked, the cost of those was actually less than the steel rim / simulator package I purchased.

You can find tires very reasonably, I just got the General LMT 400's in 12 ply 225/70 R 19.5 - same tire seen on many a Ford F-450, 550 commercial. Our local commercial outlet had em on overstock - just $ 160 each, not much more than 16"s.

Lifespan is generally 60,000-90,000 miles per set, and they're re-treadable.

Anyhow, I consider the 19.5" tire & rim package a serious upgrade in supension, both from a handling & safety perspective & duty cycle, too.

I finally joined the forums here, after hearing from quite a few of you recommending that I do so......

Many thanks, best regards,

David Alan

high bid

I'd have to agreee w/the above except for the 19.5 upgrade. No offense, JMO
I think I'm going to replace what I have and install pure progressive rate 6" springs and 12pack leafs from 8lug, just haven't ordered them. Really is there a diff btw carli, kore, pure... I don't know.

totalloser

Think again. That silly bushing won't fix anything most likely. The borgeson steering shaft is a stout piece that replaces a rather terrible piece of junk that came stock.

Grab the steering shaft where it passes through the firewall and give it a wiggle. If it doesn't wiggle much, forget the bushing.

BTW the rock solid performance claims are rather exaggerated.

As to 19.5's I think they are a separate issue. I'm happy with mine, but it's primarily for tire longevity and clearance for larger brakes. But I just put up a rather long winded thread on this, so I'll spare you.

RamSteerFix Guy

Totaloser:

"There you go again..." (apologies to President Reagan).....I see you've continued in the path of spreading dis-information and innuendo, about products you've never tried....

Your continued ignoring of what others Ram owners have found to be true, (elsewhere on the web, and now here...) show you to hold not only unjustified contempt for our product, one you've never tested, but for their honestly expressed experiences as well....many of whom HAVE tested our claims....- not cool, nor honest....

Mature opinion recognizes the self-evident fact that only when one is willing to hear 'all angles', can the true nature of a given problem be discovered and a solution properly applied.

IE, What ails the Ram column is a separate concern from whether the intermediate steering shaft is worn out - just because those two steering parts correlate to each other, we shouldn't conflate their function / malfunction:

I take ckolloff's post # 4 not as saying our kit eliminates the need to upgrade the intermediate shaft, but rather that he thought his OEM shaft was the problem; but in reality it was his steering column.

(ckolloff, please correct me if I'm interpreting you incorrectly...)

The wisdom of Proverbs 11:14: "....In the abundance of counsellors, there is Victory..." applies to fixing Ram trucks, as to other matters of higher importance.

David Alan / RamSteerFix Guy

totalloser

Present myself as an expert when I'm not?

Actually, I am an expert. Well sort of. I don't often throw it around, but I carry 9 ase certs as a Master Tech. As well as owning a small fab shop where I occasionally manufacture valve guides, and seats for obsolete engines. We also fab and treat pins for industrial machines, and for a while I moonlighted as the maintenance officer for my local FD. Would have been an engineer too, but couldn't hack the calculus.

The only reason I go after your product is that the claims on your website are GREATLY EXAGGERATED and I feel that it is somewhat dishonest.

Incidentally just to be clear, I believe the rock solid bushing is a superior part. But its a bit of a pain to replace, and I don't think the performance will justify replacing a good stock part. Steering box braces on the other hand almost always deliver much tighter steering regardless of condition of stock parts.

Besides, I actually only advise against your product when the stock bushing is not sloppy. I have to warn you, though. Your posts probably hurt your sales WAY beyond anything I put up.

Danderson

Carli Suspension for the lift and a Don Thuren drop in trackbar.

RamSteerFix Guy

Totalloser:

I'm not intending to start a 'flame war' here.

It sounds like you have your area of expertise - great, and good for those who can rely on you in that way, in your realm.

Like it or not, I've kinda become like that for the Ram truck steering column, de facto. (At least when it comes to addressing this weakness.)

What I have learned, and happily admit:

Not all Ram trucks need our Steering Fix, but when they do, fixing / upgrading everything else (if the lower column bushing is gone loose OR badly worn out), won't get rid of the play or looseness.

Not to mention the fact that Dodge dealers just laugh at us & advise us to pony up a $ 1000 for an entire new column...not funny when just one small sub-assembly is worn out.

I only developed this fix because my steering was slowly going bad, getting a bit more imprecise with every passing year, and I was also installing every 'performance part' to try to restore the steering precision: rebuild track bar, new control arms & urethane sway bar bushings, DSS box stabilizer bracket, Borgeson intermedate shaft, etc - quite the list.

(All of which I'm glad to have done - they'll not likely wear out & do contribute to a stout front end in the final scheme.)

Once finished, only a bit of improvement was seen, and then a year later, the loud 'what the heck is wrong with my truck' clunking started.

Over rough pavement, loud sharp rattling was heard. When coming to a stop, or starting off from a stop, or driveway joint, a distinct thunk, clunk. It wasn't only heard, but also kinda felt, too - in the pedal / firewall area.

The play then got a little worse.....even more than before all the 'new performance parts' went on !

So, that was the 'Genesis' for our fix. The guys over at TDR kept bugging me to provide them a fix package, and thus, we began.

It's a small enterprise, puts a bit of bread on the table for my family, and helps 'patch' a known issue that Dodge didn't quite get right.

And you're right, our fix bushing can seem to be a hassle to install, which is why our instructions are very complete - so nobody has to wonder how to finish the job.

As for my posts hurting things - you got me there.

I've always striven to write helpful posts, clear & objectively - even making sure to ask folks to be sure they actually have the problem before spending a modest few bucks & the time to do the upgrade.

The last thing I am after is for even a single person spending a dollar or minute they can ill afford to spare.

David Alan