2006 Independent Front Suspension
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2006 Independent Front Suspension
I have a 2006 Quad Cab 1500 Hemi which was a replacement for my 96 Extended Cab 1500. I have noticed that the front suspension is underdamped. It feels fine around town but it becomes an issue at speed. I suspect the OEM shocks (struts) are calibrated too soft. It also looks as if it will be a job to replace the front shocks as they are a strut type of design. Is it just me or does anyone else notice the suspension is "unsettled" at speed?
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RE: 2006 Independent Front Suspension
Hi Buck,
Highway speeds usually 65 to 75 mph. The sensation is similiar to riding in a deep V boat and hitting a wake. It takes the truck about three slow oscillations to recover and then it hits the next bump and so on. The truck seems to constantly wallow. The front end has literally lost it on washboard type bumps in a curve. Its really almost unsafe. I previously had a 96 Ram 1500 with the quad link solid front end. I went thru several sets of shocks until I put a set of Bilstein shocks on it. What a difference, like night and day! I went to the Bilstein site but thay dont list an application for 2006 yet. Guess I have to be patient but I am surprised that the OEM shocks are so poor. Just curious if its me or if others think the same.
Highway speeds usually 65 to 75 mph. The sensation is similiar to riding in a deep V boat and hitting a wake. It takes the truck about three slow oscillations to recover and then it hits the next bump and so on. The truck seems to constantly wallow. The front end has literally lost it on washboard type bumps in a curve. Its really almost unsafe. I previously had a 96 Ram 1500 with the quad link solid front end. I went thru several sets of shocks until I put a set of Bilstein shocks on it. What a difference, like night and day! I went to the Bilstein site but thay dont list an application for 2006 yet. Guess I have to be patient but I am surprised that the OEM shocks are so poor. Just curious if its me or if others think the same.
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RE: 2006 Independent Front Suspension
Hello I'm a new member and owner of 2006 Ram 1500 Quad cab SLT ThunderRoad 4x4 with a Hemi. I've had my truck for 800 miles and just notice my self how the ride feels much more unstable at highway speed and with high winds lately. I also notice just today that my rear shock on the drivers side has leaked a nice size puddle of hydrolic fluid on the ground. I have to take it back to the dealer in the morning. I think these new 20 inch tires make the ride a lot different on the highway. I just traded in my 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad cab SLT 4x4 5.9 liter magnum with 100,000 miles. The 2002 i think rode much more tighter. Charlie
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RE: 2006 Independent Front Suspension
ORIGINAL: kpumroy
Hi Buck,
Highway speeds usually 65 to 75 mph. The sensation is similiar to riding in a deep V boat and hitting a wake. It takes the truck about three slow oscillations to recover and then it hits the next bump and so on. The truck seems to constantly wallow. The front end has literally lost it on washboard type bumps in a curve. Its really almost unsafe. I previously had a 96 Ram 1500 with the quad link solid front end. I went thru several sets of shocks until I put a set of Bilstein shocks on it. What a difference, like night and day! I went to the Bilstein site but thay dont list an application for 2006 yet. Guess I have to be patient but I am surprised that the OEM shocks are so poor. Just curious if its me or if others think the same.
Hi Buck,
Highway speeds usually 65 to 75 mph. The sensation is similiar to riding in a deep V boat and hitting a wake. It takes the truck about three slow oscillations to recover and then it hits the next bump and so on. The truck seems to constantly wallow. The front end has literally lost it on washboard type bumps in a curve. Its really almost unsafe. I previously had a 96 Ram 1500 with the quad link solid front end. I went thru several sets of shocks until I put a set of Bilstein shocks on it. What a difference, like night and day! I went to the Bilstein site but thay dont list an application for 2006 yet. Guess I have to be patient but I am surprised that the OEM shocks are so poor. Just curious if its me or if others think the same.
If you have been running around with the Bilsteins on your old truck which after all are performance dampers, your new set up is bound to feel "different"? Possibly even not as good as your old modified truck?
My 2p worth.
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RE: 2006 Independent Front Suspension
I have to agree. The 2006 suspension feels like a boat at high speeds. My 2004 was solid as a rock at all speed but the 2006, while more comfortable at normal speeds does tend to drift over 70 mph.
H.H.
H.H.
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RE: 2006 Independent Front Suspension
I guess my comparison is off.. My 03 had torsion bars, and after 30,000 miles, she handled like my 41 Albemarle in a 30kt blow.
My 06 QC feels nimble, but I do tend to feel more of the lovely PennDot seams in the road. I attribute this more to going from 17"s with high sidewalls to 20"s with a lower profile.... Less forgiving, with a tighter suspension.
My 06 QC feels nimble, but I do tend to feel more of the lovely PennDot seams in the road. I attribute this more to going from 17"s with high sidewalls to 20"s with a lower profile.... Less forgiving, with a tighter suspension.
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RE: 2006 Independent Front Suspension
Just as an update I had my dealer service dept look at my truck because I also had some vibration in the steering wheel at speed. They found one of my front tire was out of balance and they "Road Force" balanced the tire/wheel. I googled it because I had never heard the term. It seems Hunter has a new machine that balnces and trues the wheel/tire under load. The tire is remounted to cancel out the heavy or out of roundness of the tire and wheel. It has made the truck more stable on the highway but I still think the ride is too busy.
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RE: 2006 Independent Front Suspension
I'm with you, I own a 2006 Quad Cab 4x4 with the HEMI and the shocks suck. I have been in contact with several manufacturers and it sounds like KYB is the closest ones to releasing anything, but they said they are still a couple of months away. Every new Dodge truck I have purchased, 4 since 1991, has had poor quality shocks and I have always replaced them as soon as I could. Hang in there, that's what I'm doing. And I only have 1800 miles on mine.
