I just replaced the shocks in my 2011 1500 with Sachs that were supposed to match the original ride and they're really bouncy. The fronts were built lighter that what came off too. I didn't really like the look of them but had to get the van on the road and the fronts were completely blown when I got it.

Does anyone have a recommendation for shocks with better rebound control?

 

any reputable brand.

KYB Gas-a-Just
a lot of people like Bilstein
Rancho

 

Original ride quality is bouncy... at least I don't think my shocks were shot at 25k when I took them off. I put in Bilstein and they make a big difference in getting rid of the bounce in the front. I need to do the back sometime.

 

It's frustrating when replacements don't quite match up to the original ride, especially after making the effort to upgrade. If you're looking for shocks with better rebound control, Bilstein or Rancho shocks are often recommended for their performance and durability. They might provide the improved ride quality you're seeking. It could be worth checking them out to see if they suit your needs better. Good luck!

 

Well, last night I threw in a set (4) of KYB Gas-a-just shocks to replace the bouncy "stock ride" shocks.

The ride is night and day better. No more bouncing like a porpoise after a dip in the road. The ride is much more stable and smooth over rough patches too. It's a lot more comfortable and confidence inspiring. I actually like the way this van drives now.

FWIW, this is with the van empty totally empty. I'll follow up once I load it down some but I'll very rarely load it down heavy.

For my needs and use I'm very happy with these.

 

A quick update after about about 10,000 miles on the KYBs.

So far I'm still really happy with them. On the highway there's no bounciness after hitting a dip or rough overpass joint. It compresses, comes back to ride height and stays there without having to cycle up and back down. There's no unstable feeling anywhere in the process. Even multiple dips don't upset it.

On curvy back roads and highway ramps the handling is very predictable with a good feeling of how the different corners are loading up and gripping. It's obviously no sports car but I've been surprised at how responsive it is when pushing it through corners with some speed and throttle control.

Pulling a 12' trailer (between 1,200 and 3,000 pounds) doesn't change the ride much at all.

I haven't towed anything heavier or loaded the van with more than 1,000 pounds so I can't say what it will do with a big payload. I build structures with aluminum extrusions so the materials I carry are more volume than weight. Tools are limited to ladders, saws and a few modular rolling toolboxes. The van is a cargo with no racks or shelving so it's about as light as you can get starting out.