Strut Assembly - Rear

This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the rear shock absorber assemblies on a 2007 Ram 3500 with 5.9L Cummins diesel engine and 4WD.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear shock absorber assembly × 2 — Use OEM specification or equivalent heavy-duty shock

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake firmly
2. Place wheel chocks in front of front tires
3. If vehicle has been driven, allow suspension components to cool
4. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground (do not remove)
5. Raise rear of vehicle using floor jack at rear axle differential center
6. Place jack stands under frame rails on both sides, forward of rear axle
7. Lower vehicle onto jack stands, keeping jack in position as safety backup
8. Remove rear wheels completely
9. Spray penetrating oil on shock mounting bolts and allow to soak for 10-15 minutes

Procedure

1. 1

   Access upper shock mount
   Locate the upper shock mount inside the frame rail. On the Ram 3500, the upper mount is accessible from above the axle. The upper shock mount attaches to a bracket on the frame, secured by a mounting bolt through the shock eye and frame bracket. Confirm the exact mounting orientation on your vehicle before proceeding.
2. 2

   Support rear axle
   Position the floor jack directly under the rear axle tube near the shock being replaced. Raise jack until it just contacts the axle and provides slight upward pressure. This prevents the axle from dropping excessively when the shock is removed and keeps the shock mounting points aligned.
3. 3

   Remove upper shock mounting bolt
   Using the appropriate socket and ratchet (verify size against service documentation), remove the upper shock mounting bolt that passes through the shock eye and frame bracket. You may need to hold the opposite side with a wrench if the bolt spins. If corrosion makes removal difficult, apply additional penetrating oil and use a breaker bar. Fully remove bolt and retain hardware if reusing.
4. 4

   Remove lower shock mounting bolt
   Locate the lower shock mount on the rear axle bracket. Using the appropriate socket (verify size against service documentation), remove the lower mounting bolt that secures the shock to the axle bracket. Support the shock with one hand as you remove the final threads to prevent it from falling. Remove the bolt completely and retain hardware.
5. 5

   Remove shock assembly
   Pull the shock absorber downward and outward from the vehicle. The shock should slide out of the upper mount first, then clear the lower mount. Inspect the mounting locations on both frame and axle for damage, excessive rust, or worn bushings in the mounting brackets.
6. 6

   Prepare mounting points
   Use a wire brush to clean both upper and lower mounting bolt holes and contact surfaces. Remove any rust, debris, or old thread locking compound from the bolt holes. Inspect frame and axle mounting brackets for cracks or damage. If bushings in the mounting brackets are worn or damaged, they must be replaced before installing new shocks.
7. 7

   Install new shock assembly
   Position the new shock with the upper eye aligned with the frame bracket mount. Insert the upper mounting bolt through the frame bracket and shock eye. Thread by hand but do not tighten yet. Align the lower shock eye with the axle bracket and insert the lower mounting bolt, threading by hand.
8. 8

   Torque shock mounting bolts
   With the vehicle weight supported by jack stands and the axle at normal ride height (supported by the floor jack), torque the upper and lower shock mounting bolts to the manufacturer-specified values. It is critical to torque shock mounts with the suspension at ride height to prevent preloading the bushings. Note: Manufacturer torque specifications were not available in the database — you MUST look up the correct upper and lower rear shock bolt torque values in the factory service manual before final tightening. Do not rely on generic estimates for these safety-critical fasteners.
9. 9

   Install second shock
   Repeat steps 2-8 for the opposite side rear shock. Always replace shocks in pairs to maintain balanced suspension performance and handling.

Reassembly

1. Reinstall rear wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts in a star pattern
2. Raise vehicle slightly with floor jack to remove jack stands
3. Lower vehicle completely to ground
4. Torque wheel lug nuts to 135 ft-lbs in a star pattern
5. Remove wheel chocks and floor jack

Verification

• Visually inspect both shock absorbers to ensure mounting bolts are fully seated and tight
• Check that there is no contact between shock body and any part of the frame or axle through full suspension travel
• Bounce each corner of the rear suspension firmly and verify shocks are secure with no unusual noises
• Test drive vehicle at low speed in a safe area and verify normal handling with no clunking or rattling from rear suspension
• After 50-100 miles of driving, re-check torque on all shock mounting bolts

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