I would I know if the front shocks are well... shot? They are not leaking but Im getting this knock in the front end and cant figure out what it is I changed all the tierods and pitman arm. The shocks are all rusty but I dont think rust is gonna make them fail am I wrong?

 

Unless they're high end shocks, they are designed to last about 3 years. I just replaced the factory shocks on my 98 1500 and they had not leaked at all(and no rust because Arizona is cool like that) but were both very weak. There is an inner and outer seal in the cylinder. Just because the outer doesn't leak, doesn't mean the inner seal is good. It takes most of the punishment, and can wear out without the slightest external symptom.

 

Bad shocks will quickly cause undue wear on the newly replaced tie-rods. Sometimes, just grabbing the fender and trying to bounce the truck will show if the shocks are bad. The truck should barely move.

If you are uncertain of their age, changing them now would be a good idea. Go the extra mile by applying Anti-seize to the threads of the fasteners and the shanks of the bolts of the new shocks. That way, when the time comes to replace them they'll be easier to remove. Just remember that shocks should be changed ~50-70K miles.

 

but would they making a knocking noise? I also feel it on the brake pedal if I hit the brake and a bump at the same time its not a big knock just a little one.

 

bad control arm bushings or bad ball joints may cause the noise too

 

if the knock us under the driver or passenger feet, make sure the lower shock bolts are torqued to about 105 pounds.

otherwise- bad ball joints will cause a knock or clunk when going over bumps.

they're easy to check. jack up truck so front wheels are 2-3 inches off the ground. using a pipe or jack handle or tire tool, put the pipe under the tire from the outside, and pry up and down on the pipe while looking at the ball joint. should be no movement. repeat with the pipe coming in from the front for a little different angle.

 

If they have the Mopar stamp on them, and the truck is a 2002, replace them. No shocks will last 10 years!

 

Shocks are good for ~75,000 (so they say)... but at 149,000 my front passenger shock has just started to tell me it has had enough.
New Rancho RS5000's arrived yesterday, and will be going in next weekend.

Symptoms; Rapid (leaf spring like) squeak with small movements, carry-on after crossing a speed bump (more than 1½ cycles), wheel hop (similar feel to out of balance wheel) between 60-65MPH.

 

RIGHT....... (THEY may be less than truthful...)

 

I guess that depends on whether they're doing 75k of concrete or potholes