'03 ram 1500 quad. I have a very fast bounce on driver side front end. Its only when i have a bumpy road. Big bumps or pot holes don't make it happen. It's like a rubber band on the small bumps. Is it the front shock that has gone bad? Thanks for any info!!

 

sounds like it, probably time for a set all the way around if they are original

 

Pretty sure you diagnosed the problem.

Just replaced the shocks on my 07 3500 last weekend and was amazed at how much difference in the ride there was.

The truck now runs down the road without the bounce that had developed.

 

Yep front strut. It is a strut btw.

They move in and out by hand, but are very stiff to go either way. What their purpose is...to dampen bounce.
It's like when you buy a car, to test the struts out, you press the fender up/down to get the car bouncing pretty good and then stop. If the car doesn't settle immediately, the struts are worn and need to be replaced. It's difficult to do this on a truck because of the high stance and the coil stiffness.

Struts should always be replaced in pairs.