Ahh, this is the common misperception. EVERYONE thinks they 'feel the same'.
I will say this one more time, then I'm going to shut up on it. But ANYONE driving a 25-35K mile truck and it still has the OEM shocks is shortchanging himself. You can claim anything you like, but I know better.

How many people have you ever heard claim that they upgraded shocks and wish they hadn't? There is a world of difference between 'No complaints yet' and 'Wow, my truck rides so much better with new shocks'.

 

i have to agree with the majority on here that the factory shocks wear out extremely fast. I have Rancho RS5000's and they are the best for your buck. If you go to Rancho's website you will see it is there best selling shock since 1985. My dad them back in 1990 on his 1988 Ford when he couldn't stand the ride anymore. He had them on his 1979 ford work truck, I had them on my 74' chevy stepside, and now on my 1999 Ford F-150. I bought the truck used in 2001 in like new condition and the next day changed them. I am a true believer.

 

Ok- u guys are convincing me- a rough gravel road this mourning helped

Now i just have to decide between Rancho and Bilstein......

What do u guys recommend?????


Dan.

 

What kind of driving do you do?

The ranchos are better suited for off roading, whereas the bilsteins are stiffer and will handle better onroad.

 

well i do about 50/50 i would say- and the ranchos are alot cheaper- i just looked up prices i can get the RSX for $155 and the Bilsteins are $270.

So i guess the question is longevity- which is more durable- the bilsteins claim that they are

 

If you do 50/50, Id go ahead and get Ranchos. You might consider getting RS9000x's, you can get them for $223.95 at samsoffroad.com with free shipping. They are adjustable, so you can have the best of both worlds.

The RSX's are still great shocks if you want to stay under $200...

Any aftermarket shock should get you alot longer service life than the OEMs.

Ive had the RS5000s on my truck for a little over 23k miles now, and they still feel good to me (well, so I think )

 

the price i got for the RSX's was from samsoffroad.com

they were buy 3 get the forth free. so they are only $5 higher than the rs5000's. In the description they give i dont really notice much of a difference- but for $5 i guess i cant go wrong.

How much improved are these shocks on the washboard and pothole gravel roads?????? That is the roughest offroading i do- that and irrigation roads and such.- rougher than hell

And the hunting season. thats pretty rough too.

At what mileage did u (Johngs) change yours?

I dont think i'll have time to get this done till june- after planting- i will have to take it in somewhere to get it done- i dont really have the time or the know- how.

will anyone who works on suspensions do this for me- or will they want me to buy shocks through them?????- (this is my first truck- bought new when turned 21 )

thanks for the advice everyone

Dan.

 

They will do it for you, they make the real money off the labor, not really what they sell.

 

It will only take 1.5 to 2 hours to change out the shocks. All you need are a few hand tools in metric sizes. Just make sure you lower the truck down on the ground before do the final tightening of all the bolts. The top rear's are a little tightbut not difficult at all.
I just changed mine two week's ago.

Good luck

Reloader55

 

I hate to jump in here so late in the game but should I assume my OEM shocks with 146,000 miles on them are bad?????? Just kidding……………about them being bad that is. True story though. I have been telling my wife the shocks on my truck are wasted for over 2 years now but I always got, "They seem fine to me" after the "bounce test". Just yesterday she took the truck and the 2 kids to the mall and while she was driving she decided to change lanes. Where I live we have some pretty nasty frost heaves in the roads. Well, while changing lanes she hit one of those frost heaves and, according to her, the truck jumped into the on-coming lane of traffic. Needless to say my phone at work immediately rang and she told me to go ahead and buy whatever shocks I wanted to because she refuses to drive my truck until I get them!! So, one phone call to Sam's Offroad and $219.95 later, I am the proud owner of 4 Rancho RS9000X’s.
I wonder what else I can convince her to let me buy just by letting her drive my truck………………??

 

Bilstein makes the best mono tube shock period. on or offroad.

 

well i already ordered and recieved my Rancho RSX's so i will be getting those installed sometime in the next month. according to everyone on here they will be a big improvement. We shall see....

 

How the the shocks with the Edelbrock label rate?