shocks
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Member
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Hattiesburg, MS. ,USA
shocks
Has anyone used the EDELBROCK IAS shocks ?
I would like any information pro or con. before I spend that much money on a pair of shocks. Do they realy make much of a difference over stock shocks ? Or is there another brand you would recommend. Thanks for the info.
I would like any information pro or con. before I spend that much money on a pair of shocks. Do they realy make much of a difference over stock shocks ? Or is there another brand you would recommend. Thanks for the info.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 1999
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 2
From: OK
Edelbrock, Rancho and Bilstein are all good shocks. Any will be much better than the factory crap. I've had the Edelbrocks for over 3 years and they have been terrific on & off road. I may go with Rancho 9000s on my F250, though.
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1997 4x4 Expedition- 4.6L, true dual exhaust w/glass-packs, K&N air filter, SuperChip, airbox mods, Edelbrock shocks, 285/75R16 BFG ATs, 2000 F150 "XLT" wheels, 4.10 gears, Auburn LS, Clarion In-dash CD player, Smitty Bilt push bars and nerf bars.
2000 4x4 F250 SD XLT SuperCab SWB- 6.8L, Offroad Pkg, Camper Pkg, 4.30LS, Tape & CD player, Remote Keyless Entry, Sliding back glass, tinted windows, 265/75R16 OWL tires, & Line-X.
NoMo's site
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1997 4x4 Expedition- 4.6L, true dual exhaust w/glass-packs, K&N air filter, SuperChip, airbox mods, Edelbrock shocks, 285/75R16 BFG ATs, 2000 F150 "XLT" wheels, 4.10 gears, Auburn LS, Clarion In-dash CD player, Smitty Bilt push bars and nerf bars.
2000 4x4 F250 SD XLT SuperCab SWB- 6.8L, Offroad Pkg, Camper Pkg, 4.30LS, Tape & CD player, Remote Keyless Entry, Sliding back glass, tinted windows, 265/75R16 OWL tires, & Line-X.
NoMo's site
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 749
Likes: 0
From: Lakeville, Minnesota, USA
Monroe Reflex shocks are supposed to have about the same technology as the IAS shocks. Rancho RSX's are essentially the same also. They come with a lower price and a better ride than stock. Good luck!
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1997 F150 XLT, Flareside , Moonlight Blue, 4x2, SC, Auto, 4.6L, 3:08, Cargo Cover by Century, Penda bed liner, Blue Oval reciever hitch plug, Driver Design bug deflector, Monroe Reflex Shocks, 235/70/16 Firestone Wilderness AT's, sliding rear window, captain's chairs, Valvoline Durablend Oil, Purolator Pure One Oil Filter, and 114,000 miles and counting!
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1997 F150 XLT, Flareside , Moonlight Blue, 4x2, SC, Auto, 4.6L, 3:08, Cargo Cover by Century, Penda bed liner, Blue Oval reciever hitch plug, Driver Design bug deflector, Monroe Reflex Shocks, 235/70/16 Firestone Wilderness AT's, sliding rear window, captain's chairs, Valvoline Durablend Oil, Purolator Pure One Oil Filter, and 114,000 miles and counting!
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 513
Likes: 0
From: Lebanon, TN
i have always found bilstein to be the best shock for my use...they tend to stiffen up your truck some, but they are tons better than the oem's...Rich
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-1999 F-150 4X4 XLT SC
-4.6, auto
-3.55LS
-Westin chrome nerf bars
-dual straight pipes
-goodyear mt/r 265/75/16
-hikerdadrich@aol.com
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-1999 F-150 4X4 XLT SC
-4.6, auto
-3.55LS
-Westin chrome nerf bars
-dual straight pipes
-goodyear mt/r 265/75/16
-hikerdadrich@aol.com
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Hanover, Maryland
Mounted Bilsteins a week or so ago. Much better ride, truck is not so squirrely in tight, fast turns. More firm. Get them.
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1999 F150 4x4, wedgewood blue, 5.4l auto, Manick brush guard, Duraliner, KC Hilites, surf rod holders, tinted windows, K&N air filter without airbox, Velocity air intake tube, Midas Performance muffler with dual pipes, Bilstein shocks, toolbox, Kenwood CD, Uniden CB with whip, and a good 'ole Superchip.
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1999 F150 4x4, wedgewood blue, 5.4l auto, Manick brush guard, Duraliner, KC Hilites, surf rod holders, tinted windows, K&N air filter without airbox, Velocity air intake tube, Midas Performance muffler with dual pipes, Bilstein shocks, toolbox, Kenwood CD, Uniden CB with whip, and a good 'ole Superchip.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,761
Likes: 0
GCOLE- All previous posts include great shocks. I went with the Rancho RS9000s, so that I could have several adjustments to test and pick from, and found it a nice option; especially the rear ones for loads and towing. www.4wheelparts.com runs some good sales in their magazine on several types of shocks. Good Luck !! 
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2000 F-150 XL, RC, LB, 5.4L, 4R70W, 3.55LS,
Class III tow, Payload #3, & Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS, Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner w/Paintsaver & gas/wheel/spare locks,
K&N F.I.P.K. w/Outwears pre-filter, Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back w/ 3" Y-pipe,
Hellwig front & rear anti-sway bars, Rancho RS 9000s,
Mobil 1, K&N oil filter.
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2000 F-150 XL, RC, LB, 5.4L, 4R70W, 3.55LS,
Class III tow, Payload #3, & Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS, Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner w/Paintsaver & gas/wheel/spare locks,
K&N F.I.P.K. w/Outwears pre-filter, Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back w/ 3" Y-pipe,
Hellwig front & rear anti-sway bars, Rancho RS 9000s,
Mobil 1, K&N oil filter.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 344
Likes: 1
From: Baltimore, MD
I'm wil Nomo on this one. I've used Edelbrocks IAS shocks on my previous Explorer and my current Expedition. Excellent shock, and well worth the price!
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2000 Wedgewood Blue Expy XLT 5.4L 4WD, C&C group, towing package, beige leather interior, captain's chairs, 6 CD Changer, 255/70R16, all-weather floor mats, factory fog lamps, Mobil1 5W-30 Synthetic w/ Puralator filter
MODS
Ford Bug Deflector (2/15/00), Superchip (3/11/00), Airaid (3/23/00), Edelbrock IAS shocks (3/23/00), Jardine cat-back exhaust (4/6/00, removed 8/22/00), Under Seat Locking Storage Drawer (6/6/00), MPC Rear Air Foil (7/2/00)
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2000 Wedgewood Blue Expy XLT 5.4L 4WD, C&C group, towing package, beige leather interior, captain's chairs, 6 CD Changer, 255/70R16, all-weather floor mats, factory fog lamps, Mobil1 5W-30 Synthetic w/ Puralator filter
MODS
Ford Bug Deflector (2/15/00), Superchip (3/11/00), Airaid (3/23/00), Edelbrock IAS shocks (3/23/00), Jardine cat-back exhaust (4/6/00, removed 8/22/00), Under Seat Locking Storage Drawer (6/6/00), MPC Rear Air Foil (7/2/00)
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Member
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
My 98 4wd hardly ever leaves the road. The OEM shocks(Motorcraft)are made by Gabriel, but you can only get them thru Ford, which includes the really nice bushings that you can't get anywhere else.
Gabriel's OEM replacement shocks (LST I think) are cheap($17 ea @ Autozone), but the fronts are softer than OEM and rears are firmer, which makes the truck sloppy/sway-y in the front and makes the rear feel even stiffer in comparison. They're cheap but the front ones are a definite step down in handling from the OEM.
The Rancho 9000s are adjustable and this feature really works. However, the Ranchos are not a gas-charged shock. They have cellular foam (a high density foam rubber) in them instead of a nitrogen charge, so that they won't "blow-out" like gas shock absorbers may under severe shock. Rancho design is heavily biased to off-road use. The compromise is in the on-pavement ride: without gas charging they have a tendency towards low amplitude, high-frequency oscillation. They made my stomach feel a little queasy, a weird sensation. The first clue you'll have that they are unusual (compared to most other gas charged shocks) is when you take them out of the box and try to depress the rod into the shock, the rod will not spring back after you press it down. Gas shocks will spring back, unless they are damaged (wear, etc). I tried the Ranchos for a few weeks and hated them. Rancho (a division of Monroe) had a 30 day money back guarantee at the time. I returned them to Monroe and they promptly refunded my money, no questions asked.
I took the refund and bought Bilsteins for the front (Gabriel on rear). They're about $62 ea at Autozone, approx same price as R9000 and Edelbrock. Bilsteins for F150 are very stiff, you can barely depress the rod leaning into it with your body weight. They have a high pressure gas charge (360 psi vs 100-175 psi in other brands), thats why they're like a rock. Supposedly the Germans build these things good enough so they won't blow-out under normal use. I believe they are very popular for sports cars (Porsche OEM i think) application. Bilsteins will make the ride a little harsh. But they really improve handling. I can swing through a curve and break the rear loose without throttle - that ORP 4WD used to just sway like h*e*l*l.
I haven't tried Edelbrocks, so no info for you. Monroe Reflex are probably about the same as the Edelbrock. I have had good service from Monroe Magnum shocks on an older truck. Don't buy the front Gabriels unless you're broke, the rears aren't so bad, they're extra volume, about twice the diameter of OEM. I may eventually replace the rears with Bilstein. I really like the Bilsteins!
The OEM shocks are actually pretty good, they just have some wear on them after 30-40k miles. Of course if you take them off road you can damage or wear them out real quick. If you find any oil on the outside of the shock body then they have a leak, and it should be replaced. This indicates the seal is damaged and the oil and gas will leak out, rendering the shock less effective.
A rear anti-sway bar like one made by Hellwig will help reduce sway a bunch. However you may not want to install this if you do alot of off-roading as the sway bar reduces the free motion of the axle.
Gabriel's OEM replacement shocks (LST I think) are cheap($17 ea @ Autozone), but the fronts are softer than OEM and rears are firmer, which makes the truck sloppy/sway-y in the front and makes the rear feel even stiffer in comparison. They're cheap but the front ones are a definite step down in handling from the OEM.
The Rancho 9000s are adjustable and this feature really works. However, the Ranchos are not a gas-charged shock. They have cellular foam (a high density foam rubber) in them instead of a nitrogen charge, so that they won't "blow-out" like gas shock absorbers may under severe shock. Rancho design is heavily biased to off-road use. The compromise is in the on-pavement ride: without gas charging they have a tendency towards low amplitude, high-frequency oscillation. They made my stomach feel a little queasy, a weird sensation. The first clue you'll have that they are unusual (compared to most other gas charged shocks) is when you take them out of the box and try to depress the rod into the shock, the rod will not spring back after you press it down. Gas shocks will spring back, unless they are damaged (wear, etc). I tried the Ranchos for a few weeks and hated them. Rancho (a division of Monroe) had a 30 day money back guarantee at the time. I returned them to Monroe and they promptly refunded my money, no questions asked.
I took the refund and bought Bilsteins for the front (Gabriel on rear). They're about $62 ea at Autozone, approx same price as R9000 and Edelbrock. Bilsteins for F150 are very stiff, you can barely depress the rod leaning into it with your body weight. They have a high pressure gas charge (360 psi vs 100-175 psi in other brands), thats why they're like a rock. Supposedly the Germans build these things good enough so they won't blow-out under normal use. I believe they are very popular for sports cars (Porsche OEM i think) application. Bilsteins will make the ride a little harsh. But they really improve handling. I can swing through a curve and break the rear loose without throttle - that ORP 4WD used to just sway like h*e*l*l.
I haven't tried Edelbrocks, so no info for you. Monroe Reflex are probably about the same as the Edelbrock. I have had good service from Monroe Magnum shocks on an older truck. Don't buy the front Gabriels unless you're broke, the rears aren't so bad, they're extra volume, about twice the diameter of OEM. I may eventually replace the rears with Bilstein. I really like the Bilsteins!
The OEM shocks are actually pretty good, they just have some wear on them after 30-40k miles. Of course if you take them off road you can damage or wear them out real quick. If you find any oil on the outside of the shock body then they have a leak, and it should be replaced. This indicates the seal is damaged and the oil and gas will leak out, rendering the shock less effective.
A rear anti-sway bar like one made by Hellwig will help reduce sway a bunch. However you may not want to install this if you do alot of off-roading as the sway bar reduces the free motion of the axle.
