1998.5-2002 Dodge 5.9L Cummins Suspension Parts

Suspension on the 1998.5-2002 RAM 5.9L Cummins

Four-wheel-drive versions of the second-gen Dodge Ram ride on a coil-sprung solid Dana 60 front axle. Upper and lower trailing arms hold it fore and aft, and a single track bar keeps it located side to side under the truck. Caster is set with eccentrics in the lower arms, and there is no factory camber adjustment. Leaf springs carry the rear. The front end changed for 2000: those trucks got different spindles and ball joints, larger caster eccentrics, dual-piston calipers and non-captive rotors. Keep that 1999/2000 line in mind when you shop, because T-style steering and adjustable upper ball joints are 2000-2002 only, and the earlier trucks use different tapers and caster sleeves. The 24-valve 5.9L Cummins came only in the 2500 and 3500, and every 3500 of this generation is a long-bed dually.

What fails and why

The track bar is the weak link. Its ball-stud end at the frame wears quickly, and once it has play the axle can shift side to side. You feel that as wander and constant steering correction. Hit a bump with that play in the system and it can set off death wobble, a violent shimmy of the front end. To check it, have a helper saw the steering wheel back and forth with the truck on the ground while you watch the ball stud for up-and-down play. This is a 1994-2002 design issue, and Luke's Link notes that owners running worn stock-style bars can end up replacing them every 6 to 12 months.

Death wobble rarely has a single cause. The track bar, tires and alignment all play a part, and the steering damper most of all. Worn tires alone have cured it on some trucks. Ball joints and tie-rod ends wear too, usually past 100,000 miles, and show up as wander, hunting and cupped tires. Worn trailing-arm bushings let the axle move fore and aft and can clunk. At the rear, tired leaf-spring bushings or a rear axle out of alignment can make the truck dog-track. Dodge's own procedure for steering wander, TSB 19-10-97, works through the steering damper, tie rods, end links and steering gear adjustment.

Stock replacement vs. upgrade

If your truck sits at stock height and you just want it to drive straight, start with the wear items: track bar, steering damper, end links, shocks and bushings. A stock-style track bar takes out the play but keeps the same ball-stud design that wore out. The fix TDR writers call the cure-all is moving to a two-eye track bar like the 2003-and-later trucks use, and a BD Diesel adjustable bar is one of the routes they list. Owners report 150,000-plus trouble-free miles that way. Bilstein shocks are a common step up from tired factory units. If you haul, air springs help keep a loaded truck level. If you lift or level, plan on rechecking track-bar and caster geometry afterward. The preferred caster for these 4x4 trucks is 3.5 to 4.0 degrees positive, with camber at zero plus or minus half a degree.

What we carry

Here is what this collection holds, grouped by job.

• Shocks: Bilstein B6 4600 Series shocks listed for 1994-2002 5.9L trucks by drivetrain and position, and B8 5100 Series shocks for 4WD trucks.
• Air springs and onboard air: Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 helper spring kits and Ultimate Plus stainless upgrades, air spring spacers and a universal cradle, WirelessONE and WirelessAIR compressor systems, single and dual load controllers, and a replacement onboard compressor.
• Track bar and links: BD Diesel adjustable track bar for 1994-2002 4WD trucks, a replacement bushing kit, and sway bar end links with a matching bushing kit.
• Traction bars: Wehrli Custom Fabrication 60 and 68 inch traction bars, complete Dodge/Ford kits, a bracket and hardware install kit, and bushings and heims.
• Lift and level: BDS Suspension lift kits and a rear sway bar link kit, and Daystar Comfort Ride leveling kits.
• Shock mounts: Fleece Performance Engineering low-profile shock mounts for 1994-2012 Cummins trucks.

Fitment notes

Model year matters more than usual here. BDS lists 4.5 inch lift kits for 1994-1999 4WD trucks and 5 inch kits for 2000-2002 4WD trucks, each in a standard and a long-arm conversion version. Daystar leveling kits are split by drivetrain: 1, 1.5 and 2 inch kits for 2WD trucks and a 1 inch front kit for 4WD. BD's sway bar end links and end link bushing kit are listed for 2000-2009, so a 1998.5-1999 owner should confirm fitment first. The BDS rear sway bar link kit is listed for the 2500. Bilstein shocks are listed by front or rear and 2WD or 4WD, so order by position. If you are not sure which side of the 1999/2000 change your truck falls on, verify by VIN or call us.

Frequently asked questions

What causes death wobble on a 1998.5-2002 Ram 2500 or 3500?

Usually a combination of worn parts, not one. Start with the track bar's ball-stud end, then the steering damper, tires, ball joints and alignment. Worn tires alone have fixed it on some trucks, so inspect everything before you buy.

Should I replace my track bar with a stock-style one or upgrade?

A stock-style bar takes out the play but keeps the ball-stud design that wears, and some owners end up replacing those every 6 to 12 months. Converting to a two-eye style bar is what TDR writers call the cure-all. BD Diesel's adjustable bar for 1994-2002 4WD trucks is one of the routes they list.

Do I need an alignment after lifting or leveling?

Yes. Any lift on a second-gen needs the track-bar and caster geometry rechecked. The preferred caster is 3.5 to 4.0 degrees positive. On 1994-1999 trucks that takes offset or adjustable upper ball-joint sleeves, while 2000-2002 trucks use adjustable upper ball joints.

Are air springs worth it on a 24-valve Ram?

If you haul or tow heavy, they help keep a loaded truck level. Air Lift's LoadLifter 5000 helper spring kit is the starting point. Add a WirelessONE, WirelessAIR or load controller system if you want onboard air instead of filling the bags at a gas station. Your truck's factory ratings still apply with air springs installed.

My truck rides rough and the seat sags. Is it the shocks?

Not always. Many owners report that the seat cushions collapse on second-gen trucks with age, and that sag often gets blamed on the shocks. Look at the seat before you replace good shocks. If yours are due, Bilstein B6 4600 Series units are listed for these trucks by drivetrain and position.

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.