JayBee2019
Member
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2021
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 29
Not long after purchasing my 2019 Ram Rebel I started hearing a rattle coming from my front suspension. I visited the forum sites and Facebook groups to find that there were a few others with similar stories. I saw quite a few who pointed to the sway bar link pins. So I started there first and found that there are no aftermarket companies who make an improved design, specifically for the 1500s, over the ever-failing stock design. While researching, a member from this forum pointed out a possible solution from a company who had a different design that used heim joints. The issue with those is they were designed for a Ram 2500/3500 and not a 1500. The difference in length between the sway bar links of a 1500 and a 2500/3500 is about 2 1/2” with the 1500 links being longer. At $175 for a set that was unverified to fit, it was a hard no for me but I found another company on eBay who pretty much had the same product, but only $95 for a set. Much better deal!! So I purchased them. See the pic below for reference.
The company says that these are adjustable 0” to a 6” lift. With a few changes to some of the parts, I got these to fit the 1500 perfectly. See the pic below for reference.
Couple notes to get it right:
1. The bottom supplied 1 1/4” carriage bolt needs to be replace with a 2” carriage bolt. This is the bolt that attaches the bracket to the lower control arm.
2. Add 1/2” washers to be used as spacers when assembling the bottom bracket, bolt, heim joint, and 2 cone spacers.
3. Do not use the supplied top bolt assembly and replace with a 4” 1/2x13 grade 8 bolt with lock nut. This will be the bolt that will connect the top heim joint to the sway bar. When looking at pic #2, you’ll see that I used a bunch (20) washers as a spacer between the upper heim joint and the sway bar. Yes you could use a 1 1/2” spacer, but the washers are quite a bit cheaper to use.
4. You will need a total of (8) 1/2” steel cone spacers. Only (6) come in the kit. Therefore, you will need to purchase/order (2) more. I got them off of eBay. See the pic below for reference.
5. When tightening the heim joints to the hexagonal rod connector, align them perpendicular to eachother.
6. When searching for this kit on eBay, search for “03-08 Ram 1500 2500 3500 4WD Inc. Mega Cab Sway Bar End Link For 0-6" Lift Kit”. (I’m not supplying the seller’s info as they have not paid me to do so AND no I’m not the seller
)
After putting these on, guess what!?! I still had the rattle! So the write up above is for those who have bad sway bar links! You’re welcome! I still have these installed and have over 1,000 miles on them with no issues.
Obviously my hunt to fix that damn rattle was still on!! So I crawled under the truck and just grabbed onto and shook the **** out of the sway bar…mostly out of frustration…and…it rattled! Turns out after only being 3 years old, the rubber sway bar bushings were worn out and was the source of my rattle. With the issues finally found, I didn’t want to just replace it with another rubber piece which I might have to replace in another 3 years so I searched for a polyurethane bushing. No luck with searching specifically for a 2019-2022 Ram 1500. So I measured the bar size, found it to be 36mm, and searched for 36mm polyurethane sway bar bushings. It took me 3 orders before finding the exact replacement. For replacing the old rubber bushings use Energy Suspension part 5.5160R. See the pic below for reference.
A couple of notes for replacing old bushing:
1. Be careful removing the 4 bolts that hold the sway bar bushing brackets. Even after only being 3 years old, I felt that if I had used an impact, I would have broke the bolt off in the frame. Use anti-seize when reinstalling the bolts.
2. The stock bushings are not split, therefore, they have to be cut off.
3. The new bushing do come split. Make sure the split goes towards the front.
4. Don’t forget to use the supplied grease for inside the bushing surface that meets the bar.
After installing…no more rattle!! Finally a quite Ram Rebel 1500!! I’m so freakin’ happy!
If you read all of this, I hope you were entertained! But more importantly, I hope either one of these items fixes your clunk or rattle too!
The company says that these are adjustable 0” to a 6” lift. With a few changes to some of the parts, I got these to fit the 1500 perfectly. See the pic below for reference.
Couple notes to get it right:
1. The bottom supplied 1 1/4” carriage bolt needs to be replace with a 2” carriage bolt. This is the bolt that attaches the bracket to the lower control arm.
2. Add 1/2” washers to be used as spacers when assembling the bottom bracket, bolt, heim joint, and 2 cone spacers.
3. Do not use the supplied top bolt assembly and replace with a 4” 1/2x13 grade 8 bolt with lock nut. This will be the bolt that will connect the top heim joint to the sway bar. When looking at pic #2, you’ll see that I used a bunch (20) washers as a spacer between the upper heim joint and the sway bar. Yes you could use a 1 1/2” spacer, but the washers are quite a bit cheaper to use.
4. You will need a total of (8) 1/2” steel cone spacers. Only (6) come in the kit. Therefore, you will need to purchase/order (2) more. I got them off of eBay. See the pic below for reference.
5. When tightening the heim joints to the hexagonal rod connector, align them perpendicular to eachother.
6. When searching for this kit on eBay, search for “03-08 Ram 1500 2500 3500 4WD Inc. Mega Cab Sway Bar End Link For 0-6" Lift Kit”. (I’m not supplying the seller’s info as they have not paid me to do so AND no I’m not the seller
)After putting these on, guess what!?! I still had the rattle! So the write up above is for those who have bad sway bar links! You’re welcome! I still have these installed and have over 1,000 miles on them with no issues.
Obviously my hunt to fix that damn rattle was still on!! So I crawled under the truck and just grabbed onto and shook the **** out of the sway bar…mostly out of frustration…and…it rattled! Turns out after only being 3 years old, the rubber sway bar bushings were worn out and was the source of my rattle. With the issues finally found, I didn’t want to just replace it with another rubber piece which I might have to replace in another 3 years so I searched for a polyurethane bushing. No luck with searching specifically for a 2019-2022 Ram 1500. So I measured the bar size, found it to be 36mm, and searched for 36mm polyurethane sway bar bushings. It took me 3 orders before finding the exact replacement. For replacing the old rubber bushings use Energy Suspension part 5.5160R. See the pic below for reference.
A couple of notes for replacing old bushing:
1. Be careful removing the 4 bolts that hold the sway bar bushing brackets. Even after only being 3 years old, I felt that if I had used an impact, I would have broke the bolt off in the frame. Use anti-seize when reinstalling the bolts.
2. The stock bushings are not split, therefore, they have to be cut off.
3. The new bushing do come split. Make sure the split goes towards the front.
4. Don’t forget to use the supplied grease for inside the bushing surface that meets the bar.
After installing…no more rattle!! Finally a quite Ram Rebel 1500!! I’m so freakin’ happy!
If you read all of this, I hope you were entertained! But more importantly, I hope either one of these items fixes your clunk or rattle too!
Last edited:
. I plan on putting them through their paces.
