2014-2017 Ram 1500 3.0L EcoDiesel Suspension Parts

Suspension on the 2014-2017 Ram 1500 3.0L EcoDiesel

The EcoDiesel shares its chassis with the rest of the DS-generation Ram 1500. Up front, upper and lower A-arms carry coil springs, twin-tube shocks and a stabilizer bar. Out back, a solid axle is located by a five-link setup with a track bar, and it rides on coil springs with a stabilizer bar and twin-tube shocks. There are no rear leaf springs on a coil-spring truck, so check that any load-support or traction part is made for a coil-sprung, five-link rear.

Ram also offered a four-corner air suspension, optional from the 2013 refresh and standard on Limited models. It replaces the springs and shocks at every corner, levels the load automatically and gives you selectable ride heights. On a Crew Cab with the 5-foot-7 box and 17-inch tires, ground clearance runs from 6.7 inches at Entry/Exit to 8.8 inches at Normal, 10.0 inches in Off-Road 1 and 10.8 inches in Off-Road 2. The engine matters too. The diesel is heavier than the gas engines, so its front spring rate is different, and owners report leveling results on the EcoDiesel that differ from HEMI trucks depending on cab style.

What wears and what to check

Suspension trouble on these trucks is a chassis issue, not an engine issue. Here is what to watch:

• Front-end wear. Many owners report that worn ball joints, tie-rod ends and control-arm bushings lead to a shake at speed after you hit a bump, sometimes called death wobble, along with loose steering. It is an owner-reported pattern that shows up at higher mileage.
• Scheduled inspection. FCA calls for a front suspension and tie-rod end inspection every 20,000 miles. It is the simplest way to catch worn joints before you add a lift or bigger tires.
• 2014 rear shock recall. Recall 14V-392 covered rear shocks on some 2014 Ram 1500s whose welds were insufficient and could let the shock detach. Owners noticed a clunk, a loose shock or tire damage. Dealers inspected and replaced affected shocks, so run your VIN if you own a 2014.

Stock height, leveling kit or lift

Leveling. A leveling kit removes the factory rake on a coil-spring truck. Most kits for this truck are 2-inch front spacers or upper strut-mount style, and owners who level 2 inches commonly keep the stock tire size or step up to a light all-terrain.

Lifting. At 4 inches and up, confirm EcoDiesel fitment on every kit. At least one well-known 4-inch kit for the 2009-2018 4WD Ram 1500 is sold excluding both air-ride trucks and the EcoDiesel. The lift kits we list here name the EcoDiesel in the title.

Towing and hauling. Air Lift's LoadLifter 5000 adds up to 5,000 lb of load-leveling capacity on coil-spring trucks. It does not fit factory air suspension, which levels itself. Leveling the load does not raise your ratings: GVWR on EcoDiesel Quad and Crew Cabs is 6,950 lb, dropping to 6,800 lb with off-road tires or steel wheels and 6,200 lb with 22-inch tires.

What we carry

• BDS Suspension: 2-, 4- and 6-inch lift kits for 4WD trucks, in base form or with FOX 2.0 coil-overs or FOX 2.5 Performance Elite coilovers, a 2-inch leveling kit with FOX 2.5 coilovers, and upper control arm kits sized for 2-3 inch and 4-6 inch lifts.
• Daystar: the KC09113BK 2.5-inch leveling kit for 4WD EcoDiesel trucks.
• Radflo: a 2.5-inch front coil-over kit and a 2.5-inch rear shock listed for the EcoDiesel.
• Air Lift: the LoadLifter 5000 helper spring kit and Ultimate Plus stainless steel upgrade, WirelessONE and WirelessAIR compressor systems and tanks, single and dual load controllers, a replacement on-board compressor, straight and angled air spring spacers, a universal air spring cradle and air hose.
• Wehrli Custom Fabrication: WCFab universal traction bars in 60- and 68-inch lengths, a bracket and hardware install kit, and replacement bushings and heims.

Fitment notes

Everything here is for the half-ton Ram 1500 with the 3.0L EcoDiesel. Check four things before you order. First, coils or air: many lift and leveling kits exclude factory air suspension, and some exclude the EcoDiesel outright. Second, drive: the BDS lift and leveling kits, the Daystar kit and the Radflo rear shock are listed for 4WD. Third, year: the EcoDiesel did not change mechanically between 2017 and 2018, so a listing marked 2014-2018 covers your truck, while the 2019-and-later DT Ram 1500 is a different body with different suspension and 6-lug wheels, and its parts generally do not interchange. Fourth, tires: off-road tires, steel wheels and 22-inch tires all carry a lower GVWR. The WCFab traction bars are universal, so measure and confirm mounting on your five-link rear with us first. When in doubt, verify by VIN.

Frequently asked questions

Can I put a leveling kit on an EcoDiesel with factory air suspension?

No. Leveling kits for the 2014-2018 EcoDiesel are sold for coil-spring trucks, not for factory air. Air-ride trucks already have selectable heights from Entry/Exit up to Off-Road 2. If you are not sure which suspension you have, call with your VIN.

Will a leveling kit lift my EcoDiesel the same amount as a HEMI truck?

Not always. The diesel is heavier, so its front spring rate differs from the gas trucks. One kit maker lists Crew Cab 5.7L and EcoDiesel trucks at 1.75 to 2.0 inches from the same kit, and owners report results that vary by cab style. Measure fender height before and after so you know where you landed.

Do Air Lift helper springs raise my truck's weight ratings?

No. The LoadLifter 5000 adds up to 5,000 lb of load-leveling capacity on a coil-spring truck, which keeps it level under load. Your GVWR stays what Ram rated it: 6,950 lb on EcoDiesel Quad and Crew Cabs with standard tires and wheels.

My front end shakes after I hit a bump. What should I check?

Many owners trace that shake to worn ball joints, tie-rod ends and control-arm bushings, usually at higher mileage. FCA schedules a front suspension and tie-rod end inspection every 20,000 miles, so start there. Sort out worn joints before adding a lift or bigger tires; we install the parts we sell at our shop in Wildwood, FL.

Was my 2014 Ram 1500 part of the rear shock recall?

Possibly. Recall 14V-392 covered rear shocks with insufficient welds on some 2014 Ram 1500s; an affected shock could detach. Run your VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup or ask a Ram dealer whether your truck was included and whether the shocks were replaced.

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.