2004.5-2007 Dodge 5.9L Cummins Suspension Parts

Suspension on the 2004.5-2007 RAM 5.9L Cummins

These trucks were sold as the third-generation Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 in ST, SLT and Laramie trim, with Regular Cab, Quad Cab and, from 2006, Mega Cab bodies. The catalog files them under RAM. Under the 5.9L Cummins, 4WD trucks ride on a link-coil solid front axle: upper and lower trailing arms, coil springs and a two-eye track bar locating the American Axle 9.25-inch front. 2WD trucks use coil springs up front too, and every version rides on leaf springs in the rear. This front end is much stronger than the 1994-2002 design, and the two-eye track bar is a real improvement over the old ball-stud bar. The weak spots that remain are ball joints and hub bearings.

What fails and why

Most suspension trouble on this generation comes back to a short list of parts.

• Track bar. The bushings and the frame-end joint wear and let the axle shift side to side. You feel it as wander, a clunk, or death wobble, the violent shake that starts after a bump. Weld failures at the track bar bracket also show up in owner complaints.
• Ball joints and unit hub bearings. These are the known weak links of the 2003-2009 front end. Look for play at the top and bottom of the tire, clicking hubs or ABS codes.
• Control-arm bushings. At high mileage, worn upper and lower trailing-arm bushings let the axle move fore and aft. That shows up as a clunk on braking or acceleration and caster wander.
• Rear leaf springs. Sag under fifth-wheel and gooseneck loads is the common hauling complaint. The rear sits low, the headlights aim high and the truck handles poorly loaded.

Before you buy parts for a wobble, do the on-the-ground test. With the truck on its tires, have a helper saw the steering wheel back and forth while you watch the track bar ends, tie rods, ball joints and steering box for movement. People often replace the steering damper (52122370AB) and track bar together when chasing wobble, but diagnose first so you replace the part that is actually loose.

Stock replacement vs. upgrade

If the truck sits at stock height and spends most of its life empty, fresh shocks and a tight track bar are the place to start. A poly bushing kit can save a track bar whose bushings are worn, but a worn frame-end joint still means a new bar. If you tow a fifth-wheel or gooseneck, air helper springs with an onboard compressor are the upgrade for rear sag, and Bilstein shocks are the usual partner. For a lifted truck, treat the suspension as a system. A documented 2004 build combined multi-rate front coils, progressive add-a-pack rear leaves, an adjustable track bar, reservoir shocks and bearing-end control arms. When the factory ball joints wear out, rebuildable aftermarket ball joints are an upgrade over the originals.

What we carry

• Air Lift LoadLifter 5000, LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate and LoadLifter 7500XL helper spring kits, WirelessONE compressor and tank kits, the WirelessAIR control system, a heavy-duty dual load controller, Ultimate Plus stainless steel upgrades, an air spring cradle and angled air spring spacers.
• Bilstein B6 4600 and B8 5100 series shocks, front and rear, for 2WD and 4WD trucks.
• BDS Suspension lift kits from 3 to 8 inches, including long-arm kits and FOX 2.5 coilover conversions, plus traction bars and front sway bar link and disconnect kits.
• BD Diesel adjustable track bar, traction bar kit, sway bar end links and bushing kits.
• Wehrli Custom Fabrication 60-inch and 68-inch traction bars and kits, bracket and hardware install kits, and traction bar bushings and heims.
• Daystar Comfort Ride leveling kits: 1, 1.5 and 2-inch kits for 2WD and a 1-inch front kit for 4WD.
• Fleece Performance Engineering low profile shock mounts.

Fitment notes

Drivetrain comes first. The BDS lift kits are 4WD only, most of the shocks are 4WD parts with a separate 2WD rear, and the Daystar kits are split 2WD and 4WD. The BD Diesel traction bar kit is listed for trucks without air suspension. Any level or lift changes caster: with a 0-2 inch level, aim for about 5 to 5.25 degrees, and plan on adjustable control arms or eccentrics with any lift, because only total toe adjusts on the stock linkage. The 2003-and-later front end uses a different axle, track bar and ball-joint design from the 1994-2002 trucks, so front-end parts from the older truck do not cross over. 2007 is a split year: trucks built after January 1, 2007 got the 6.7L, so go by the engine, not the model year. A few kits here are listed for the 5.9L only and a few upgrade pieces for the 6.7L only. The Power Wagon of these years is a 5.7L Hemi truck, not a Cummins. Verify by VIN when in doubt.

Frequently asked questions

What causes death wobble on a 2004.5-2007 Ram 2500 or 3500?

Play in the front end, set off by a bump. On this truck the usual suspects are the track bar bushings and frame-end joint, tie rods, ball joints and the steering box. Have a helper saw the steering wheel with the truck on the ground and watch each joint for movement. Replace what moves before you reach for a new steering damper.

How do I stop rear sag when I pull a fifth-wheel?

Rear leaf sag under fifth-wheel and gooseneck loads is the common hauling complaint on this generation. Air helper springs such as the Air Lift LoadLifter kits carry part of the load on air pressure you set, and an onboard compressor lets you adjust it without hunting for an air hose. Bilstein shocks are the usual partner for that setup. None of it changes what the truck is rated to tow.

Do I need an alignment after a leveling kit?

Yes. A 0-2 inch level changes caster, and the target for a leveled truck is about 5 to 5.25 degrees positive, versus 4.0 to 4.5 degrees preferred at stock height. Camber should sit at 0 plus or minus 0.20 degrees. Only total toe adjusts on the stock linkage, so plan on adjustable control arms or eccentrics.

Will suspension parts from my 2nd-gen Ram fit this truck?

Not front-end parts. The 2003-and-later trucks use a different axle, track bar and ball-joint design from the 1994-2002 trucks. Some shocks and leveling kits are listed by the manufacturer for both generations, so go by the fitment on each product page.

Is a 2007 Ram with the 6.7L the same underneath?

It is the same third-generation chassis, and many parts here are listed for both engines. Some are not, so read the engine in each product title. Trucks built after January 1, 2007 have the 6.7L; earlier 2007 trucks have the 5.9L.

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 at our shop in Wildwood, FL.