Okay, I've got about 40000 miles and from all the messages about the crappy stock shocks I have to get some new ones. Problem is that I only have enough for 2 right now. Which ones should I replace first, front or rear?
The fronts probably affect the cab ride more but the rear of these trucks have some pretty harsh bounce to them. Which would give me the best results for a better ride, front or rear?
I will be doing them all eventually but just two for now.

Thanks

 

Split the difference - one fer each end

Cut out the Starbucks double-lattes,& FrappaCrappola, and save up fer all four. Doing only two makes no sense whatsoever - like "I can afford the oil filter but not the oil" ...

 

Fronts. They are the pain in the @ss to do, and you will notice the difference more than the back. When the time comes to do the back, it will probably take to longer to get the tools than to actually do the job.

 

Yeah, not much reason to do the shocks 2 at a time unless you just happen to blow out a new shock. In any case, your shocks only lasted 40k? Why do you think you need new ones?

 

wait till you have enough for all 4 shocks.

 

My experience was totally opposite of what I expected. I had about 80,000 on my factory shocks. I replaced the rear first because I was rotating the tires and it only took about 30 minutes to do the rear. I was "shocked" at the difference it made in ride and handling. It was about a month or so later before I got around to doing the fronts, and it did not have that much of an effect. It helped, but not to the extent the rears did. So, if I could only do two, I would do the rears first.

 

If I was only going to replace 2 then it would be the rear first. On my '04 f150 I replaced all four shocks at about 60,000 miles and the rear end of that truck was all over the place on bumpy roads. After the new shocks the rear end was much more civilized.

 

I am in the same situation right now. As I was thinking rears also due to the excessive bounce I get.

 

I'd do the rear first if you can't afford all four. It might be just worth it to wait until you can afford all four of them though.

 

Wait until you can get all 4. Dont do one set at once. Or at least dont install one set at once. Buy what you can and store them until you have the other set to be installed. The day you get all 4, do the rears yourself if you have 30 minutes and a floor jack, and have the dealer/a shop do the fronts since its a strut assembly and you will need an allignment afterwards.

 

I bought all four at once, but did the rear first, so that is the only experience I have on this question. Doing the rears only made a big difference and I would do it that way again.

 

I just changed my rear shocks, I have a thread open of the ones I used (Monroe sensatracs). What kind of budget do you have? I only paid $75 shipped for mine and the rears really helped the ride quality.