On the DS-generation Ram 1500 the front "strut" is really a coil-over shock: three nuts hold the top mount in the frame tower and one long through-bolt holds the bottom in the lower control arm. That makes it an easier job than a MacPherson strut truck because you never touch the steering knuckle, ball joints, or camber settings, so an alignment usually is not required. The real work is soaking, persuading, and driving out the rusted lower through-bolt.
Sizes are the same across 4.7, 5.7 Hemi, 3.6 Pentastar and 3.0 EcoDiesel trucks, but parts are not: 2WD and 4WD, Rebel, off-road package, and heavy-payload trucks use different spring rates, and 2013+ trucks can have factory air suspension with no front coil-over at all. The mistake people make is pulling the lower bolt without a jack under the control arm, or torquing that bolt with the suspension hanging, which twists the bushing and kills the new part early.
| Item | Type | |
|---|---|---|
| Floor jack 2 ton minimum, low profile Lifts the truck at the frame rail and later supports the lower control arm. | Required | shop |
| Jack stands 3 ton pair Supports the frame while the front wheels are off. | Safety | shop |
| Wheel chocks Blocks the rear wheels before lifting. | Safety | shop |
| Impact or breaker bar socket 22 mm, 1/2 in drive, deep Removes the front wheel lug nuts on all DS trims. | Required | shop |
| Breaker bar 1/2 in drive, 24 in Loosens lug nuts and the tight lower strut through-bolt. | Required | shop |
| Deep socket 15 mm, 3/8 in drive (some trucks 16 mm) Removes the three upper strut mount nuts in the frame tower. | Required | shop |
| Ratchet and extensions 3/8 in drive, 3 in and 6 in extensions plus swivel Reaches the upper mount nuts around the frame bracket and brake lines. | Required | shop |
| Socket and combination wrench 21 mm socket, 1/2 in drive, plus 21 mm wrench Holds and removes the lower strut-to-control-arm through-bolt and nut. | Required | shop |
| Torque wrench 1/2 in drive, 25-250 ft-lb range Sets the lower through-bolt and lug nuts to spec. | Required | shop |
| Torque wrench 3/8 in drive, 10-100 ft-lb Accurately torques the smaller upper mount nuts. | Recommended | shop |
| Penetrating oil Frees the lower through-bolt, which often seizes in the control arm bushing sleeve. | Consumables | shop |
| Pry bar 18-24 in Aligns the strut with the control arm and frame tower holes on reassembly. | Recommended | shop |
| Dead blow hammer or brass drift Drives the stubborn lower through-bolt out without damaging threads. | Recommended | shop |
| 18 mm socket and wrench 18 mm, for sway bar end link if needed Some trucks need the sway bar link loose to drop the control arm far enough. | Recommended | shop |
| Wire brush Cleans rust off the lower bolt and mount surfaces before reassembly. | Consumables | shop |
| Anti-seize compound Light coat on the lower through-bolt shank (not the threads of torque-critical nuts) eases future removal. | Consumables | shop |
| Front strut assemblies Loaded coil-over assemblies, pair, matched to 2WD/4WD and payload package The replacement units; buy in pairs so ride height matches. | Parts | shop |
| Safety glasses and gloves Rust and debris fall from the wheel well and frame tower. | Safety | shop |
| Scan tool with chassis access For air-suspension trucks only Puts factory air ride into service/transport mode and clears codes afterward. | Recommended | shop |
Tool and fastener sizes do not change between the 4.7, 5.7 Hemi, 3.6 Pentastar and 3.0 EcoDiesel. What changes is the part: 2WD vs 4WD, standard vs off-road/heavy-payload spring rates, and 2013-2018 trucks optioned with four-corner air suspension, which use front air springs and require a scan tool or EVIC service mode instead of a coil-over swap.
| Front wheel lug nuts | 130 ft-lb (176 Nm) |
| Strut lower through-bolt/nut at lower control arm | approx. 140 ft-lb (190 Nm) - verify in the service manual |
| Upper strut mount nuts (3) to frame tower | approx. 45 ft-lb (61 Nm) - verify in the service manual |
| Sway bar end link nut (if disconnected) | verify in the service manual |
Upper mount nuts are 15 mm on most DS trucks but some build dates use 16 mm, and the lower bolt head/nut is typically 21 mm (occasionally 22 mm), so check with a wrench before buying sockets; treat the two strut torque figures as approximate and confirm them against the FSM for your year.
Usually not, because the coil-over does not locate the knuckle and camber/caster are set at the upper control arm and cam bolts. A toe check is still worth doing, especially if you disturbed the sway bar links or the truck pulled before the repair.:
The three upper mount nuts in the frame tower are typically 15 mm (some builds 16 mm), and the lower through-bolt into the lower control arm is typically 21 mm head and nut. Lug nuts are 22 mm.
Yes, but you need a proper coil spring compressor to transfer the spring and upper mount, and the mount and isolator are common wear items anyway. A loaded quick-strut assembly is safer and usually cheaper than the separate parts plus tool rental.
No. Air-ride DS trucks use front air springs with a separate shock, and you must put the system into service/transport mode through the EVIC or a scan tool before lifting so the compressor does not inflate the bags off the ground. Replacement parts and procedure are different from the coil-over trucks.