Does buying new shocks really make any difference? I still have my stock ones. At off road warehouse they are trying to sell me on bilsteins.

Is this a waste of money?

 

I put Bilsteins on mine around 50K and I like it better now that it rides like a truck. You do not need to change them if there still good IMHO.

How much do they want? check online to see if they are trying to hose you.

M

 

are they more stiffer or softer? Do you have an fx4? The fx4 shocks are pretty stiff. and did you get the ones with the resivores (dont know how to spell) or the standard ones? and what do the resivores really do? whats the difference?

 

The Bilsteins will make a HUGE difference in how the truck rides and handles.

 

The resivors hold more nitrogen/oil. So that the tempertures in the shock stay cooler and this reduces shock fade. However if your truck stays on the street resivors are a total waste.. They just look cool.

Really most of the offroaders here dont need them either.. They are good for people who take their trucks to the desert. where your shocks are gonna be absorbing alot for extended periods of time.

 

just put the bilsteins on my 05 KR and the difference is huge. smooths out the bumps. i would not say it rides stiffer or softer, just gets rid of the road feed back. they do what shocks are supposed to do.

its obvious ford puts junk from the lowest cost supplier on our trucks. look at the wiper blades, tires etc. any place they can cut costs they can. quality is job 1 unless it hurts the bottom line. by replacing some of these components with after market stuff it makes the truck what it should be.

i got my bilsteins, all 4 for 329.00 off ebay. definately worth the money. i only have 16K on the truck and the stock shocks compressed with very little resistance, that means the springs were the main source of suspension dampening.

 

Did it improve the handling of the truck?

 

i didnt notice as much improvement in the handling as i did in the ride. got rid of the feed back thru the steering wheel that was there. maybe a little better when making a couple quick turns like trying to avoid a cat in the road. well maybe thats not a good example since cats are only good for target practice but then you know the kind of turn i am describing.

the mod that made a world of difference in handling was the rear sway bar. it was only 175.00 and took an hour or so to install. turns and big road bumps are alot better.

 

Just stock replacements. Not stiff but more controlled feeling. Handling did not notice anything. 04 2x4 xlt