I have a 2003 xlt 2wd...wanting to lift to stock 4x4 height. would it then be possible to use 4x4 shocks? are the shock mounts the same in the front also between the 2wd and 4wd?
basically wanting rancho RS9000XL 4wd shocks on my 2wd at 4wd height..

 

Shocks alone are not going to lift your truck... Lifted 2wd guys will chime in and tell you what you need.

 

No, the shocks do not support the truck's weight. The 97-03 4x4's sit about 3 inches taller than the stock 4x2's. You have several options that will get you close to this height. In order of cost (lowest to heighest) you can add 2 inch Daystar coilspring spacers, a 3 inch body lift or 3.5 inch lifted spindles. Or you can combine all three for 8.5 inches of lift!

 

I thought the 2wd had coil springs and the 4wd had torsion bars which would mean the front shocks are struts, totally different from the 4wd ones. Correct me if I am wrong

 

The 97-03 4x2's have IFS with dual a-arms, coilsprings and shocks, but they are not coilovers like the 04-10's.

 

And the 2WDs are not struts, they are normal shocks. Quite a few people get this confused. Even on the newer trucks they are not struts. They are coil-overs, which is a normal shock absorber with the coil spring affixed to it to make one assembly.

 

yeah i know shocks don't lift the truck, they ABSORB SHOCK..
I'm either going with a Daystar 1.5'' leveling kit, or 2'' leveling coil springs to lift the front, and 2'' blocks out back (like 4x4's)

but i want to know if the shocks on the 4wd have the same mounting types as the 2wd. as the 2wd have a mounting hole on bottom with a bolt going through, and pointed threaded top that the nut threads onto.

 

Well I learned something new, thanks

 

To answer your question...yes, they are the same. BUT, you can't just go out and buy a 4WD shock just because it will bolt up. If you're going to just throw a shock on there that's not matched to a lift kit or something for your trucks, you need to check lengths between the two mounting points and find a shock that fits.