NEED NEW SHOCKS
MY truck is a 1986 Dodge PowerRam50 4 x 4 and I'm wondering (hoping) someone here knows if shocks for a same year Ram50 will work on my all stock truck..? I entered these Bilstein Part#s (shown below) into the REF Bilstein web page catalog and got the fitment data below ~ the same REF Bilstein web page catalog has nothing to fit a 1986 PowerRam50 when searching by vehicle... I originally got these Bilstein part#s from AnythingAuto & 4wheelparts & Amazon check fitment... Amazon says the FRONT fits but not the REAR... AnythingAuto & 4wheelparts both want to sell me these shocks claiming they fit... What's the truth, anyone..? Truck not used for off roading THANKS GUYS...
Yamahlr sent me a 1986 RAM50 Chrysler Service Manual ~ I uploaded two photos in my photo album that show the shock absorber specifications & there are differences between RWD & 4X4 (photo links below)
Any thoughts, I need to get THE CORRECT shocks..?
Thanks
yes - they need to be longer because the truck sits 2 - 3" higher than a 2wd. I would go with the Tokico shocks over the Bilstein shocks - they are built better and have a cushion in the bottom to prevent bottoming out damage.
Thank you pennyman, yamahlr suggested Tokico as well... Monday, (Ray 800-548-2549 ext 3290) from Hitachi in California might return my call about where to buy Tokico shocks... I want to know the specs & where to buy their H/P Trekmaster monotube shocks...
TOKICO TREKMASTER Front GE3346 & Rear GE3604
KYB Front KG5433 & Rear KG5438
SKYJACKER Front M9513 & Rear M9558
QUESTION: Will monotube shocks ruin the normal ride of these trucks; should I be shopping for twin tube shocks.?
So far with regard to max extension & compression, KYB shocks come closest to the OEM 4X4 specs with exception of their rear shock extending 2" less than OEM... I have just learned about limit straps which would allow the rear KYBs to work without any topping out... I am concerned the Hawaiian roads have pot holes deep enough to damage an out of spec shock absorber...
These trucks get noticed here in Hawaii, all 2 or 3 of them LOL
ALOHA~George
pennyman, thanks for the dollars worth of info LOL
Ray from Hitachi in Calif left me a voicemail this morning: "Tokico no longer makes high performance shock absorbers; please return my call I you have any questions..." What he did not say speaks volumes as well & pretty much explains why I could not find a supplier that sells Tokico shocks... So, at this point it seems the KYB monotube is the way to go but done correctly would need limit straps for the rear...
Front KYB shocks finally installed, rears soon... I'm very pleased with the monotube performance as compared to completely shot stock shocks (try saying that fast five times) Am hoping to find a cheap n' easy way to clean the dirty suspension & steering...
Are they mounted separately then. I can just remove the shock from the truck itself? I plan on getting all 4 shocks replaced next month. Just want an idea of what to get for parts.
I got the KYB gas-a-djust monotube gas shocks (they don't adjust, it's just a name) the rears same as stock except have 2" less extended length than stock for the 4x4 truck... Not sure if I'm ever gonna need limit straps for street driving to prevent the rear shocks from topping out... Front KYB are exact length specs as stock 4x4 truck...
Front KYB KG5433 @ Amazon $31.00 ea (Amazon does ship to Hawaii)
Rear KYB KG5438 @ O'Rielly $62.99 ea (not shipped to Hawaii from Amazon)
I like them... "Made in Japan" is stamped on each shock
Last edited by xboxrox; 08-21-2018 at 12:10 AM.
Reason: YES MOUNTED SEPARATELY
There are 2 retaining nuts on the top of the spring tower as well (one if it's been replaced already depending on the shock and the guy who bolted it up) - it might put up a fight and you will need it off the ground so you have enough clearance to drop it out.
You're right, lots different, front torsion bars on my 4x4 truck... Rears might be same, who knows..? Got the rear shocks installed today, old ones completely worn out... Ride & handling improved even more, should not need limit straps IMHO...
Last edited by xboxrox; 08-21-2018 at 11:49 PM.
Reason: Added front shock photos
Yeah, mine look like they're original. So I can only imagine how much new one will help. Lol. Thanks for the info. I just like to make sure so I know what I'm getting into. They shouldn't be too bad. It's got some surface rust too. But it is in northern NY. Which I don't care for. Yours looks really clean compared to mine.
The front have I stud on top of the front shocks, and 2 nuts on the lca for each shock. The rear have a nut on a mount for each end of the shock. Be ready for a dirt and rust shower with those shocks.
http://www.mightyram50.net/vbulletin...hp?albumid=535
yoshiwarrior, I did 3 years at the Kesselring site for the Navy near Saratoga Springs in upstate NY; I think your truck survived the salted roads really well, my truck has less rust coz it was used in California... Take a look at my photo album linked above... The two FSM pages (bottom photos) show the specs differences between RWD & 4x4 shocks... If you don't already, it might benefit you to know about limit straps & shock absorber topping out & bottoming out Ref: Google
Also, notice the shock damping force specs, the 4x4 Front shocks have more than twice the expansion & contraction force than the RWD truck...
The rear shocks for these trucks might all be the same but the fronts will be different...Hope to be helpful is all, so long as my hands stay clean
I only do normal road driving with my truck. And every other weekend I go down a bumpy dirt road. However I wouldn't mind going through some of the small mud holes and play around a bit. So it may not be such a bad idea to have them. I would have to figure out what to bolt then to on the axle, maybe just a U-bolt going around the axle itself?
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Am hoping to find a cheap n' easy way to clean the dirty suspension & steering...
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