What is the standard Ram 1500 rear suspension?
The standard Ram 1500 rear suspension is a coil-spring, five-link independent design that delivers a smoother ride and better handling for a light-duty pickup.
To understand its role, it's important to note that the Ram 1500 has moved away from traditional leaf-spring setups in its modern generations. The five-link coil-spring arrangement locates the rear axle with multiple control arms, allowing each wheel to react independently to road imperfections. Many trims also offer an available air suspension that can adjust ride height for loading, towing, or off-road use.
Design and operation
In practice, the Ram 1500 employs a five-link independent rear suspension with coil springs. This configuration replaces the older leaf-spring approach found on many previous pickup designs and focuses on ride comfort and highway stability. The system works with dampers (shock absorbers) to control vertical movement and is engineered to maintain wheel contact with the road for better handling under varying loads.
Key components
Core parts include a multi-link arrangement that controls axle location, rear coil springs, and shock absorbers. The geometry is designed to minimize axle-hop and to improve ride quality when the truck is unloaded or carrying a payload.
- Five-link independent rear suspension
- Rear coil springs (instead of leaf springs)
- Shock absorbers to dampen rebound
- Stabilizer bar for lateral stability
- Optional Active-Level/air suspension for height adjustment
In summary, the standard setup centers on coil-spring geometry and independent wheel motion to enhance comfort and control, with an optional air suspension system available on higher trims for added height adjustability and load leveling.
Historical context and comparisons
Historically, Ram’s full-size pickups used leaf springs in older generations. The Ram 1500’s current standard rear suspension—introduced with the modern redesign in the late 2000s and carried forward—uses a coil-spring five-link arrangement, which provides a smoother ride and improved handling under typical loads. By contrast, heavier-duty Ram models (such as the 2500 and 3500) have continued to rely more on leaf-spring configurations to maximize payload and towing capacity, though they may feature upgraded suspension components or optional air suspension on certain trims.
Recent feature context
Among available options, the Active-Level Air Suspension stands out for providing adjustable ride height and improved load leveling, enhancing versatility for highway cruising, loading, and off-road use.
Variants and options
Beyond the standard coil-spring five-link setup, Ram 1500 models can be equipped with an optional air suspension system that adds height adjustability and leveling. This option is commonly found on higher trims and works in concert with adaptive dampers to tailor ride characteristics to driving conditions.
- Optional Active-Level Air Suspension with height adjustment
- Adaptive dampers that tailor stiffness to drive mode
- Height changes to aid loading and off-road clearance on certain trims
These options give the Ram 1500 a versatile ride profile, balancing comfort with capability across diverse use cases.
Summary
The standard Ram 1500 rear suspension is a five-link coil-spring independent design that prioritizes ride comfort, handling, and load management, with an optional air suspension available to further enhance height adjustability and leveling.
What best describes the Ram 1500 standard rear suspension?
The Ram 1500 standard rear suspension is best described as using coil springs. Coil springs provide a smooth ride, superior handling, and are versatile for load management needs. This makes them the preferred choice for many modern trucks.
What kind of rear suspension does a Ram 1500 have?
The RAM 1500 comes standard with a coil-spring rear suspension, which sets it apart from many competitors that use leaf springs.
Is the Ram 1500 standard rear suspension 3 or 5-link?
The standard rear suspension for the Ram 1500 is a: 5-link rear suspension with coil springs, trailing links, and stabilizer bar.
How to tell if Ram has 3.92 rear axle ratio?
You can tell if a Ram has a 3.92 rear axle ratio by checking the vehicle's original window sticker, looking for a metal tag on the rear differential, or by entering the VIN into an online decoder. Another method is to check the build sheet, which may be located under the hood or can be accessed through the Ram app.
This video explains how to check the gear ratio of your vehicle: 59sWebWheelerYouTube · Apr 10, 2018
Method 1: Check the tags and stickers
- Differential cover tag: Look for a small metal tag attached to one of the bolts on the rear differential cover. It will have the gear ratio stamped on it, such as "3.92".
- Axle sticker: There may be a sticker on the axle itself that indicates the ratio.
Method 2: Use your Vehicle Information
- Original Window Sticker: Look up your original window sticker online by using your VIN. Many websites allow you to do this for free.
- VIN Decoder: Enter your vehicle's VIN into an online VIN decoder to get the full build sheet, which will include the axle ratio.
- Ram App: Download the official Ram app. The vehicle's equipment information, including the axle ratio, can often be found in the digital glove box or vehicle equipment section.
- Build Sheet: If you have a physical build sheet, it will contain the axle ratio information.
Method 3: On-vehicle inspection (if tags are missing)
- Mark and spin: This is a more old-school method. With the truck on a lift, mark the driveshaft and a single rear wheel. Rotate the wheel one full revolution and count how many times the driveshaft rotates. A 3.92 ratio means the driveshaft will spin slightly over 4 times for one wheel rotation.
