I have a 2006 Dakota St ext. cab and it has 42,000 miles on it. My buddy was riding with me on in a parking lot and as we went over a speed bump he commented that my truck needs new shocks. It still has the original ones on it, but is 42,000 miles too early to need new shocks yet? I do driver over speed bumps on a regular basis and i need some help picking out decent shocks. I dont really want to get stock ones from dodge and i want something with more decent performance but i dont need "pre-runner" type performance.

So what do you guys think, are they at the age of replacement and what should i get?? Thanks!

 

if your bed keeps bouncing up and down over a speed bump your shocks are bad, if they spring right back up and stop it from bouncing they are good.

i have procomp es9000 ive put a few thousand miles on them and i like them alot. they are pretty firm. i got them for just under 150 bucks.

 

Only option on a 2006 is Rancho, or Monroe. Enjoy the aftermarket! LOL

 

The front end of these trucks is junk. I've read on here that some have to replace struts in the first 36k miles. Unfortunately your shoices are OEM, Monroe or Rancho.

 

I have Rancho's all the way around the truck and it has really changed the ride quality of the truck. 100% satisfied with the Ranchos.

 

I had some serious bouncing in the front, Got the Ranchos also. And that was at 19,000 miles! (Yes 19,000)

The Ranchos are great.

 

thats what my tax refund this year is partially going towards!

 

The only real bouncing comes from the front end of the truck, they spring right back up instantly but i think the ride quality might be a little splashy with about 2-3 before its leveled off and not moving up or down. When i take my truck to dodge to have the oil changed really soon ill ask if they will do a quick bounce test for me. Im going to look into the monroes and the ranchos because im not interested in the stock shocks. Thanks!

 

Also let me say welcome to DF and the G3 Dakota section.

 

I changed mine at 15000 because the stock struts were garbage. Bought the Rancho struts and they improved the ride significantly. I was't too impressed with the rear Rancho shocks(not gassed charged). I race off road buggies and the trucks handles great out in the desert. Stock rebound completely gone with the Rancho struts. I wish Bilstein made them for our truck but they don't so the Ranchos are the next best thing.