Need a shock recommendation
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Joined: Aug 2006
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Need a shock recommendation
My shocks are waaay overdue to be swapped out, and Im looking for some insight as to which to pick. Ive got it narrowed down to three that Im looking at:
1. Bilsteins ($250)
2. Rancho RSX ($230)
3. Rancho RS5000 ($180)
Ive had the Bilsteins and RS5000's before but they were on Chevy ZR2's, one Blazer/one S10 pickup. I like the Bilsteins a lot, and the RS5000's were on the stiff side, but Ive heard thats a drawback of using them on downsized trucks. Im more interested in hearing about the RSX's. They read like theyre similar to the Edelbrock IAS shocks, which seem to get good reviews.
The truck theyre going on is an 02 F150 4x4 ec/sb with 75k on the clock. Right now, she sees 100 miles a day of highway (not the greatest pavement either), and when its off the highway, its the streets of NYC (which are horrible). I have to keep that in mind too..
1. Bilsteins ($250)
2. Rancho RSX ($230)
3. Rancho RS5000 ($180)
Ive had the Bilsteins and RS5000's before but they were on Chevy ZR2's, one Blazer/one S10 pickup. I like the Bilsteins a lot, and the RS5000's were on the stiff side, but Ive heard thats a drawback of using them on downsized trucks. Im more interested in hearing about the RSX's. They read like theyre similar to the Edelbrock IAS shocks, which seem to get good reviews.
The truck theyre going on is an 02 F150 4x4 ec/sb with 75k on the clock. Right now, she sees 100 miles a day of highway (not the greatest pavement either), and when its off the highway, its the streets of NYC (which are horrible). I have to keep that in mind too..
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Joined: Aug 2007
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It's hard to go wrong with Bilsteins. These are not something you get every few months so I always recommend high quality.
http://www.shockwarehouse.com/
Save a few bucks and use the code f150. It will give you 5% off on top of the free shipping if you get them from us.
http://www.shockwarehouse.com/
Save a few bucks and use the code f150. It will give you 5% off on top of the free shipping if you get them from us.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 256
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From: Panama city, Fl
im running bilsteins all around and love them. i just wish they made coilovers for the f150s like they do for the tundra/tacomas. Id say either bilstiens or pro comps. my brother has the pro comps and they ride really good.
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Just a little update. I got a good local deal on a set of the HD Bilsteins, and decided to put them on myself. Questionable decision, considering the snowflakes falling on me, but once I get an idea in my head...
The original stock "Ranchos" were beat to worthlessness after 80k miles on them; the fronts actually did have a little (very little) rebound left in them, the backs might as well have been 2x4s.
Pulling them off was easy, and straightforward. Getting the backs on took some time. First because , like a retard, I accidentally expanded both before I was ready to put them on. I needed to pull out the hydraulic floor jack to rectify that little mistake.
Then, discovering the need for an allen wrench to tighten the nut on top was disappointing, since it meant I couldnt use a ratchet. Id highly recommend getting the spare out from under the bed before doing this- mine as already out, but I spent alot of time sitting under there. The room was nice.
Up front went real fast. The only hitch I rant into was finding a way to get enough thread to lock onto when putting the new shocks on. I heard about reinstalling the tire to compress the lower bushing, but I was already at that point, and still without threads. So after I buzzed the corrosion/rubber bushing remnants off and threw some paint on them, I used the Ford nut assembly from the REAR shocks to finish off the FRONT Bilsteins. Worked great!
The ride is definitely better. Still stiff, as expected, but much better control on the road, and that scary feeling like Im going to careen off the roads when I hit interstate pavement seams and potholes, are alllllll gone.
Many thanks for the replies and input!
The original stock "Ranchos" were beat to worthlessness after 80k miles on them; the fronts actually did have a little (very little) rebound left in them, the backs might as well have been 2x4s.
Pulling them off was easy, and straightforward. Getting the backs on took some time. First because , like a retard, I accidentally expanded both before I was ready to put them on. I needed to pull out the hydraulic floor jack to rectify that little mistake.
Then, discovering the need for an allen wrench to tighten the nut on top was disappointing, since it meant I couldnt use a ratchet. Id highly recommend getting the spare out from under the bed before doing this- mine as already out, but I spent alot of time sitting under there. The room was nice.
Up front went real fast. The only hitch I rant into was finding a way to get enough thread to lock onto when putting the new shocks on. I heard about reinstalling the tire to compress the lower bushing, but I was already at that point, and still without threads. So after I buzzed the corrosion/rubber bushing remnants off and threw some paint on them, I used the Ford nut assembly from the REAR shocks to finish off the FRONT Bilsteins. Worked great!
The ride is definitely better. Still stiff, as expected, but much better control on the road, and that scary feeling like Im going to careen off the roads when I hit interstate pavement seams and potholes, are alllllll gone.
Many thanks for the replies and input!
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 845
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From: Metro Detroit
Finding enough thread to put the top nut on the Bilsteins has always been a challenge. I am sure there's a reason why they do it but it seems they could make the bushing a little thinner or something. I ran into the same problem on both sets of Bilsteins I installed. They are great shocks though.
Anyway, glad to hear it worked out.
Anyway, glad to hear it worked out.