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Replacement shock absorbers on a 4-corner air-suspension Ram.

The pressure inside the shock is vastly higher than in the airbag, probably between 150-250 psi.
 
E.Hands said:
I completed the swap, new Rebel/Bilstein dampers installed INSIDE the original factory airbags. It went much better than I pessimistically feared. View attachment 180391View attachment 180390
It appears that the Rebel shock extends another half inch in rebound.

Airbag disassembly requires patients and finesse. But it can be done without any beating and banging.
View attachment 180392View attachment 180393View attachment 180394
Many more insights to share if anyone is interested.
Click to expand...
I need to do this as my current one is leaking, what additional parts do i need like new clamps or seals or anything?
 
My 19 Rebel with Air Ride is just past 92k and it feels like its bouncing all over the place, so I think I'm due for some replacements. Read through the entire thread -- Are these the two go-tos?

Rear: 24-228848
Front: P68323489AD

@OCD Solutions - How is your truck going? You mentioned maybe a concern with that sharp lip. Any issues? Any more details on removing the old shock from the front bag? A step-by-step would be amazing! haha
 
Anyone know what the difference is on these full assemblies? They all say they fit my 2019 RAM but one is $1200 (which looks like it has the Bilstein installed) and then another half the price (which is still available on other sites) but the strut looks different?

1730471360929.png
 
Zero complaints on my end so I'm still more than happy with my swap. I can't see the sharp end making any difference since that shock is an OEM option for the Rebels.
 
I went with the 4600 series but the part I purchased and have been running now for 20k miles or more, (said the same thing about not working with air suspension), has been working just fine. There might be some sort of subtle valving difference but I can't tell the difference if there is. I've been tempted to order the correct ones just to see if the difference would be noticeable.

My thought is the air ride shocks must have some sort of balancing circuit where they shift fluid from one side of the plunger to the other to balance out for ride height. Basis for this thinking is that when you remove a shock, they typically want to extend to their max. Several people have now commented that when they removed the shocks from an air ride suspension, the shocks want to retract to a spot 2-4" from full extension. But, a couple days later, they are at full extension and react as expected.
 
OCD Solutions said:
I went with the 4600 series but the part I purchased and have been running now for 20k miles or more, (said the same thing about not working with air suspension), has been working just fine. There might be some sort of subtle valving difference but I can't tell the difference if there is. I've been tempted to order the correct ones just to see if the difference would be noticeable.

My thought is the air ride shocks must have some sort of balancing circuit where they shift fluid from one side of the plunger to the other to balance out for ride height. Basis for this thinking is that when you remove a shock, they typically want to extend to their max. Several people have now commented that when they removed the shocks from an air ride suspension, the shocks want to retract to a spot 2-4" from full extension. But, a couple days later, they are at full extension and react as expected.
Click to expand...
Ok I’ll see if I can get them to work. I know the 5100 is more “aggressive “ over the other and more compatible with lift and larger tires which I am running both of those. (35’s and level links 4 corners)
 
Anyone have any ideas what these rear OEM Bilsteins are with the reservoir? They come up when you look for OEM rear suspension (in this case) for my Rebel.

1731345633716.png
 
Also contains some more photos and additional write up of disassembly for the airbag
 
I’m new on here, and I want to do the oem strut(68323489AD) swap for the front air suspension. I have read the entire thread maybe I missed it, but when installing the air bag assembly back together into the truck, do I need to recharge the air system with nitrogen? Or is it just as simple as connecting the bags and letting the truck fill them up with air?

I don’t know if I’m overthinking it, because I have never heard of nitrogen going back into an air system suspension. But just want to make sure I don’t ruin my air suspension.

Thank you everyone for this information, very informative, good to know there’s DIY-ers around.
 
khrizkarranza12 said:
I’m new on here, and I want to do the oem strut(68323489AD) swap for the front air suspension. I have read the entire thread maybe I missed it, but when installing the air bag assembly back together into the truck, do I need to recharge the air system with nitrogen? Or is it just as simple as connecting the bags and letting the truck fill them up with air?

I don’t know if I’m overthinking it, because I have never heard of nitrogen going back into an air system suspension. But just want to make sure I don’t ruin my air suspension.

Thank you everyone for this information, very informative, good to know there’s DIY-ers around.
Click to expand...
I think someone here said up to 5 times of disconnecting is okay. You should put it on exit mode to conserve as much as you can though.
 
E.Hands said:
I completed the swap, new Rebel/Bilstein dampers installed INSIDE the original factory airbags. It went much better than I pessimistically feared. View attachment 180391View attachment 180390
It appears that the Rebel shock extends another half inch in rebound.

Airbag disassembly requires patients and finesse. But it can be done without any beating and banging.
View attachment 180392View attachment 180393View attachment 180394
Many more insights to share if anyone is interested.
Click to expand...
Thank you for sharing this. I will be taking on this job to replace my front struts over the next few weeks
 
@E.Hands @OCD Solutions
Good afternoon. I'm looking to maybe try this repair on my own 2019 1500 Limited. Did you require any special tools for these repairs? I've consulted with several repair shops around town and several of them wouldn't even touch it... and the dealership quoted $3300+ tax just for the front.

The thing I'm most curious about is the air connection to the truck... it isn't obvious from any of the attached pictures where the air hose connects and what that connection looks like. Then, is it really necessary to recharge with Nitrogen or can the pump on the truck refill/calibrate each air bag.

If anyone else has additional pictures and advice... I'd like to see them.
 
No special toools required but the more tools you have, the better chance of finding one that will work better than others. For instance, E.Hands used a couple screw drivers to compress and remove the snap ring in the top. I had several different prybars to choose from.

The air fitting in the top is a common fitting where you push to release. The the fitting itself just threads out.
 
So... I just finished the strut/shock swap on my 2019 Limited. It wasn't as easy as I had hoped... 3 trips to the store for tools (mostly open-end wrenches at the larger metric sizes... and a fitting to use with my air compressor to reseat the bag on the strut after reassembly). I started on the front driver's side... and really struggled to get the shock out... turns out it was still pressurized. I disconnected the 12mm fitting from the top of the strut where the air line was and heard the air escape... but when I removed the other brass fitting, much more air came out. Then there was the dreaded retainer ring at the top... not terrible to get out... very terrible to put back in. I ended up using a bottle jack as a make-shift hydraulic press to put it back in. I also really struggled to separate the air bag from factory strut. Lots of learning occurred on the driver's side, and the passenger side only took me about an hour. I waited until the long weekend to give myself plenty of time to do the work and make runs for tools... took me about 24hours total to do both front and back including sleep, breaks for food/drink, and trips to the stores. Phew... Its Miller Time.
 
2019Limited_1 said:
So... I just finished the strut/shock swap on my 2019 Limited. It wasn't as easy as I had hoped... 3 trips to the store for tools (mostly open-end wrenches at the larger metric sizes... and a fitting to use with my air compressor to reseat the bag on the strut after reassembly). I started on the front driver's side... and really struggled to get the shock out... turns out it was still pressurized. I disconnected the 12mm fitting from the top of the strut where the air line was and heard the air escape... but when I removed the other brass fitting, much more air came out. Then there was the dreaded retainer ring at the top... not terrible to get out... very terrible to put back in. I ended up using a bottle jack as a make-shift hydraulic press to put it back in. I also really struggled to separate the air bag from factory strut. Lots of learning occurred on the driver's side, and the passenger side only took me about an hour. I waited until the long weekend to give myself plenty of time to do the work and make runs for tools... took me about 24hours total to do both front and back including sleep, breaks for food/drink, and trips to the stores. Phew... Its Miller Time.
Click to expand...
Pretty sure alfa OBD has the ability to pump down the bags without dumping all the gas. What are your plans for recharging the vented nitrogen?
Asking because I feel that this coming up for me in the not so distant future.
 
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