Banks ’20 RAM 6.7 gets a better ride

The Banks ’20 RAM got a better ride. The upgrades came after the team watched a very informative video from CJC Off Road about suspension upgrades. Started by two off-road enthusiasts, CJC is an authority on Carli Suspension systems. Watch Cody as his team upgrades our 2020 3500 H.O. with a state-of-the-art Carli 3.25” Factory Air Assist Pin-Top Suspension System. “Banks realized right off the bat that the stock suspension ride sucks,” says Cody with a smile.

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The Shocks

Let’s start with the shocks. These are Carli-spec King Shocks with 17-4 stainless shafts, Carli pistons, and Carli custom shock tuning, refined to the air-assist Ram 3500 Platform. These are different than standard King Shocks. They’re also different internally than the ones that come with a non-air assist 3500. The stock leaf springs have a single “locating” leaf spring to center the axle and determine the travel path and a second “traction” leaf to prevent axle wrap. You don’t want axle wrap with airbags.

The Carli configuration has heavy-duty Deaver Full-Progressive Leaf Springs paired with extended ride-height sensor links to empty the bags at ride height. The factory air-ride setup runs on the air spring causing a jarring, floating, unpredictable rear end. The Carli setup rides on the leaf springs to ensure there’s no axle wrap, and it stays planted, with a predictable spring rate only inflating the airbags when the rear of the truck sags below level. In other words, their system converts it from air-ride to air-supplemented. Should the airbags fail, the Deaver springs are designed to hold the entirety of the truck’s capacity ensuring you’re not stranded.

Banks '20 RAM

Removing the Factory RAM Torsion Sway Bar

We also opted for the torsion sway bar. The factory sway bar effectively locks the axle from articulating in favor of a torsion spring that will allow some “float” to absorb minor road imperfections. As the front end articulates, it progressively engages the sway bar’s rate adding more spring to support the suspension. When cornering aggressively, this equates to a “glued-to-the-road” feeling. The harder you drive, the more it leans. That lean induces more traction to the outside wheels because the spring rate of the sway bar pushes into the outside of the tires.

Radius Arms

The fabricated radius arms are made from ¼” cold-rolled USA steel with “x” gussets traveling the entire length of the arm for strength. The rear joint is a 17-4 Stainless spherical bearing with preloaded urethane damping races. We also went with the front differential guard which is ¼” boxed cold-rolled steel. It uses the lower bolt-holes of the front differential to protect the pinion from impact.

Our team couldn’t be happier with the upgrade to the Banks ’20 RAM!

CJC Off-Road
2860 Seaboard Ln
Long Beach, CA 90805
(844) 252-6373
cjcoffroad.com