1994-1998 Dodge 5.9L Cummins Suspension Parts

Suspension on the 1994-1998 Ram 5.9L Cummins

The second-generation Ram changed everything under the front of the truck. On 4x4 models Dodge dropped the first-gen leaf springs and set the solid front axle on coil springs, located by upper and lower control arms and a track bar. 2WD trucks got an independent double-wishbone front with coils. Every truck in this range runs leaf springs out back, and the 3500 chassis cab uses a solid coil-sprung front. On top of all that sits the heavy 12-valve Cummins, right over the front axle.

Alignment range is tight from the factory. Caster spec is about 2.74 degrees, plus or minus one, and the lower-arm eccentrics on 1994-1999 trucks only reach about 2.8 degrees. There is no camber adjustment at all. Turbo Diesel Register (TDR) members use an Ingalls 532 adjustable ball-joint sleeve to reach their preferred 4x4 numbers of 3.2 degrees left and 3.5 degrees right caster, and the caster eccentrics have to be turned equally on both sides.

What fails and why

The track bar goes first. The factory bar wears out quickly, and Dodge issued TSB 19-05-96 for trucks built before May 15, 1996. The wear point is the plastic tension bushing in the tie-rod-style end. Once it loosens, the axle moves side to side and you get wander, a clunk and a steering wheel that will not sit on center.

The engine's weight works the rest of the front end too. Ball joints and the upper and lower control-arm bushings take extra strain, and high-mileage trucks show it as wander, cupped tires and play at the knuckle. Let a worn track bar, ball joints, bushings and steering parts stack up and you get death wobble: a violent shimmy after a bump or an angled road seam, usually involving the right front wheel, that stops only when you slow down. It is a worn-truck problem, typically past 100,000 miles. Dodge's TSB 19-10-97 for steering wander lists the steering damper, tie rods, end links and stabilizer braces.

Stock replacement vs. upgrade

For a stock-height daily driver, fresh wear parts and a correct alignment are the fix. The list is short: track bar, upper and lower ball joints, control-arm bushings, sway-bar end links and shocks. Replace the worn piece, then align.

If you tow or want the truck to sit level, the upgrade path is well proven. On TDR test trucks, a third-gen-style track-bar bracket retrofit with a BD adjustable track bar is credited with ending death wobble. A 2-inch front leveling kit with Bilstein 5100 shocks is the common second-gen setup, and rear air springs with individual fill lines, a heavy-duty sway bar and dual-pivot end links keep a loaded Ram level. Go taller than a level and you need a longer or adjustable track bar and a hard look at caster.

What we carry

Bilstein shocks come from the B6 4600 Series, listed for 1994-2002 5.9L trucks in 2WD and 4WD, and the B8 5100 Series for 4WD trucks. Air Lift covers load support with the LoadLifter 5000 helper spring kit, the LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate Plus stainless steel upgrade, WirelessONE and WirelessAIR compressor systems, tanks, air spring spacers and the Single Load Controller II. BD Diesel supplies an adjustable track bar for 1994-2002 Cummins 4WD trucks and a replacement bushing kit. Wehrli Custom Fabrication builds universal traction bars in 60-inch and 68-inch lengths, Dodge/Ford traction bar kits, a bracket and hardware install kit and replacement bushings and heims. Daystar makes Comfort Ride leveling kits for 2WD and 4WD, BDS Suspension offers 4.5-inch lift kits and a rear sway bar link kit, and Fleece Performance Engineering adds low-profile shock mounts.

Fitment notes

Start with drive type. The 2WD and 4x4 front suspensions share nothing, so leveling kits, ball joints and track bars are built for one or the other. Next, year. Dodge changed front suspension and knuckle parts for 2000-2002 along with the twin-piston front caliper, and 1994-1998 trucks take the early 1994-1999 parts. 1998 is also the year the 12-valve gave way to the 24-valve partway through production, but suspension parts follow the chassis, so a 1998 truck with either engine shops from the same early parts. Read the year range, drive type and front or rear position in every product title. The BDS rear sway bar link kit, for example, is listed for the 2500. When in doubt, verify by VIN.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my Ram shake violently after I hit a bump?

That is death wobble, a caster shimmy that usually involves the right front wheel and stops only when you slow down. On second-gen 4x4s it comes from worn front-end parts, above all the track bar. Check the track bar end first, then the ball joints, control-arm bushings, tie rods and steering damper.

Do I need an alignment after front-end work?

Yes. Caster on these trucks is set only through the lower control-arm eccentrics, which reach about 2.8 degrees on 1994-1999 trucks, and there is no camber adjustment. TDR's preferred 4x4 numbers are 3.2 left and 3.5 right caster, -0.1 camber and 0 to -0.25 toe, often reached with an Ingalls 532 adjustable ball-joint sleeve.

Will these parts fit my 2000-2002 Ram?

Some will and some will not. Dodge changed front suspension and knuckle parts for 2000-2002, so front-end parts for a 1994-1998 truck are the early style. Several items here, like the Bilstein B6 4600 shocks and the BD adjustable track bar, are listed for 1994-2002, so read the year range on each product.

What is a good towing setup for a 12-valve Ram?

The documented second-gen tow-and-daily setup is a 2-inch front leveling kit, Bilstein shocks and rear air springs. Add a heavy-duty sway bar and dual-pivot end links, and run the air springs on individual fill lines to keep a loaded truck level.

My driver seat is bottomed out. Is that the suspension?

Probably not. A collapsed seat cushion is a near-universal second-gen complaint and the most common non-mechanical ride complaint on these trucks. Fix the seat first, then judge how the suspension rides.

Not sure what fits? Call the shop at the number in the header, or use the fitment checker on any product page. We install everything we sell.