The question is not whether they are the right ones for the truck. I bought them from Rockauto for the truck model.

My question is whether the shocks I bought are suitable. I was told front and rear shocks need to match or the truck will not be level which will damage the differential. However, there are no matching front shocks listed with these.

I bought these shocks. They are rear only. Should I send them back, and order these:There are not a lot of knowledgeable resources in my rural neck of the woods, so I have to learn how to take care of my truck. I thought the Sensa-Trac for towing would be good, because I pull a horse trailer, but then realized there are no matching front shocks. I was also told they may make the back of the truck jump around when it's empty, so maybe they are overkill?

Should I send the ones I bought back, and reorder? They are for a 1998 Ram 1500 4WD.

Thanks.

 

that is NOT true. if someone actually told you that - they are wrong and you should not take advice from them. or perhaps you misunderstood what they said?


understand this - #1 normal shocks (excluding "air shocks" or "coilover shocks") DO NOT lift the truck and DO NOT actually carry the weight. the springs lift the truck and the springs carry the weight. by definition, the springs will also bounce. the ONLY thing the shock does is suppress/reduce the natural bounce of the springs.

#2. even if you do have "lift shocks" with air or coilovers, its still irrelevant whether they match or not, or whether the truck is level or not. that makes no difference whatsoever.

but - here's what is important - on a 4wd, the TIRE SIZE of the front must match the rear, or else you'll damage the drive line.

the shocks you bought are fine. don't worry about it.

 

The only difference on 2wd and 4wd rear axles are that The shock mounts on the 4wd axle are moved up horizontally to compensate for the factory 3" lift block, as the 2wd are more vertical. So it makes a 2wd rear stock shock compatible with a 4wd rear stock length shock. The fronts on 2wd are substantially shorter than the 4wd front shocks. Hope this helps.

 

i missed that he might be attempting to install rear shocks on the front. that won't work because the top bolt is different. front is stud on top, rear is bolt hole on top.

i was reading that he had bought rear only (4wd to match his truck), and had not bought front, and that he was concerned that his new rears don't match his old fronts in brand or rating or advertised towing duty. op- clarify if that's not true.

 

I was just giving advise on a situation i had ran into with my old 2wd that I had lifted and ran into the shocks being too short on the rear axle

 

No misunderstanding. That's what he said, and is still saying. That's ok. It's why I am happy to have found this forum.

I presume these are called "coilover". They are heavy Load Assist shocks with a coil around the outside.

Good to know. Tires are good all the way around. Will make sure they stay that way.

Thanks!
Then for the front, since there aren't any in the Load Assist section, I will be ok buying these?

Heavy Duty MONROE Part # 34778 Gas-Magnum One of our most popular parts Front; 4WD

 

Those'll be fine.

 

It does, thanks.

 

Actually both are correct. Not a he, so I am learning a lot. With 50 miles to the nearest parts store, and farther to a knowledgeable technician, I am happy to have found this forum.

I did buy the shocks for the front, but that was a failure on my part to read the rockauto site. It does need both front and back though, so I will order front today. I did learn the front stud / rear bolt lesson when they arrived.

 

Thanks!