Side to Side Rocking

[dieselscout80]

I called Fox and they said that there shocks were not the answer and recommended Bilstein. However, Bilstein says that they don’t make 5100 for stock height gas trucks.

I emailed Thuern and they said only a change of springs would really help and the don’t make 1” or less spring for gas trucks.

 

[Dave01]

Having spent many years on various forums for cars, trucks, boats, tractors, I would every time go with the recommendations based on experience that well known members have. Calling manufacturers can be a mixed bag. I'm surprised by Fox, but am absolutely baffled by the response by Thuren.

 

[jsalbre]

Shocks are going to do nothing for what you’re complaining about. Neither will springs. The solution, as half of the forum has said at this point, is a new front swaybar. The factory swaybar is extremely thick and very resistant to front axle flex.

 

[Scooter29]

I called Fox and they said that there shocks were not the answer and recommended Bilstein. However, Bilstein says that they don’t make 5100 for stock height gas trucks.

I emailed Thuern and they said only a change of springs would really help and the don’t make 1” or less spring for gas trucks.

I’m assuming Fox recommended Bilstein because the Bilsteins have a stiffer feel being a digressive shock and not progressive like Fox. The Fox will have a smoother feel on entry to bumps and small things vs Bilstein taking larger hits easier. But the rocking side to side is being caused by the stiff OEM sway bar. My curb is the rounded style going into my driveway and stock pulling into my driveway at an angle my truck would rock side to side multiple times before settling. Now with the Thuren sway bar there is the initial rock side to side and it settles right away.

 

[dieselscout80]

I wonder if some of my perception of the side to side motion is me coming from years of driving GM IFS trucks. I need to drive my old 2000 Chevy 2500 through the same spots again and see the difference.

Remember currently my factory sway bar is still unhooked.

 

[dieselscout80]

Also, in Thuren’s video they seem to be focused on higher speeds with their rear track bar.

I may consider it afterwards.

 

[Gondul]

I called Fox and they said that there shocks were not the answer and recommended Bilstein. However, Bilstein says that they don’t make 5100 for stock height gas trucks.

I emailed Thuern and they said only a change of springs would really help and the don’t make 1” or less spring for gas trucks.

And yet the Bilstien will fit and work just fine...
Several people have posted that information here for you.

 

[dieselscout80]

And yet the Bilstien will fit and work just fine...
Several people have posted that information here for you.

Yes

I kinda thought the Thuren sway bar would be the answer and was leaning that way.

However, with my factory sway bar unhooked it still rock, but not as much.

 

[jsalbre]

Yes

I kinda thought the Thuren sway bar would be the answer and was leaning that way.

However, with my factory sway bar unhooked it still rock, but not as much.

It’s still a solid axle radius arm HD truck. You’re not going to be able to eliminate all of it.

 

[dieselscout80]

lifted. Doesn't matter for the rocking. It's a well documented issue with Ram. Look up all sorts of videos on how a rear track bar will reduce the rocking.

I have a question about the longer track bar. I understand it limits the movement at the point where the bar is flat, but would it not be worse at extreme compression or droop due to the addition length?

 

[waveslayer]

I have a question about the longer track bar. I understand it limits the movement at the point where the bar is flat, but would it not be worse at extreme compression or droop due to the addition length?

According to Thuren it doesn't effect the drop or compression, it's the same as the front track bar, it's keeping the solid axle better aligned . I'm no expert, but watching some videos it's amazing how the solid axle has a lot of side to side movement when compressing and rebounding. The mounting location minimizes the side to side movement of the axle

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

 

[joshuaeb09]

I wonder if some of my perception of the side to side motion is me coming from years of driving GM IFS trucks. I need to drive my old 2000 Chevy 2500 through the same spots again and see the difference.

100% going to be a different animal. A live axle on radius arms will transfer that motion once it can no longer articulate, but you can help it along with a progressive sway bar (less resistance to articulation), moving to a 4 link or two piece radius arm (such as metal cloak/factory PW setup) for less bind, and different springs for more travel (will allow more articulation before you reach the limit of travel on either side).

I have a question about the longer track bar. I understand it limits the movement at the point where the bar is flat, but would it not be worse at extreme compression or droop due to the addition length?

The longer track bar actually increases the radius of the arc making the lateral movement smaller per unit of vertical movement. The longer you make a trackbar, the less it will move laterally by increasing the radius (Think of a smaller circle vs a larger circle). With the bigger "circle", keeping the trackbar level at static ride height, it will maintain more vertical/less horizontal travel as it moves along that part of arc.

 

[dieselscout80]

100% going to be a different animal. A live axle on radius arms will transfer that motion once it can no longer articulate, but you can help it along with a progressive sway bar (less resistance to articulation), moving to a 4 link or two piece radius arm (such as metal cloak/factory PW setup) for less bind, and different springs for more travel (will allow more articulation before you reach the limit of travel on either side).



The longer track bar actually increases the radius of the arc making the lateral movement smaller per unit of vertical movement. The longer you make a trackbar, the less it will move laterally by increasing the radius (Think of a smaller circle vs a larger circle). With the bigger "circle", keeping the trackbar level at static ride height, it will maintain more vertical/less horizontal travel as it moves along that part of arc.

Thanks