I need some advice. I am thinking about getting some Edelbrock IAS shocks or a Hellwig anti sway bar. My question is are the factory shocks good enough to leave them and just go with the anti sway bar, or should I just replace the shocks and not worry about the anti sway bar. From what I read the Edelbrocks take care of most of the body roll anyway.

 

The stock shocks will be trash is a few thousand miles, for that matter their not that good to start with. My two cents are get Rancho 9000's as they are adjustable and can be set VERY firm when you need it, softer when you don't. It's up to you though but I wouldn't add a crutch(sway bar) to a horse with two broken legs(stock shocks!)

 

I agree completely with Yankee. There was nothing HD about the OEM shocks. Mine were shot by 12k miles.
Rancho 9000s installed, and I never looked back. You can adjust them according to your mood, or requirements. 5 settings coveres anything you can throw at em. I will sing the praises of the RS9000s to anyone that will listen.

 

Well, I was going to do just that. I put the Edelbrock's on and decided the rear sway bar was unnecessary. They are quite a bit stiffer than stock and the truck doesn't roll nearly as much which is a selling point for these shocks. It rides pretty good nonetheless. I think any good aftermarket shock would probably suit you just fine and keep you from having to put on a rear sway bar which some folks have had trouble with. There have been some success stories with the rear bar but also some folks with grinding noises and difficulty installing them. I read where they might also limit axle travel although I am not an expert.

 

I replaced the OEM shocks after 4K miles on my Expy, and installed a Hellwig rear bar 6 months later. The shocks were a huge upgrade for my Expy. The rear bar upgrade also helped quite a bit with minimizing bounce, and improved recovery. My suggestion? Run the Edlebrocks awhile, then do the rear bar upgrade. That way you'll be able to tell how each mod helped you.

Have fun with it.

 

How do you know when the stock shocks are gone (useless)? Can you tell from ride or sway or soft bumps. Do larger than stock tires effect (increase/instigate) shock wear? Do soft tires hide worn out shocks? My truck isn't that modified, but just in case...

-Joel

 

You can tell the facory shocks are no good because they never were any good. I replaced mine with bilstiens at seven thousand miles. My truck was beating me to death. The smooth ride, towing, control, hugely improved. Wow. Ford is now installing bilstiens on the lightening. I think they should be oem on all f-150's. I had to grit my teeth at the price and hope when I bought them. However, the gamble was richly rewarded.
-------------------------------
01 lariet, black step side, leather,4x4, off road, towing,bilstiens,flowmaster 70, 3" pipe,k&n

 

I have a regular cab F150 and it bounces on the freeway with every little bump. Would the Ranchos or Edelbrocks shocks reduce that significantly or make it worse? I drove an SuperCab and it was worse and I drove a SuperCrew and it was better.

 

You guys convinced me on the edelbrocks. I was not disappointed. I could compress my old factory shocks with my hands. Night and day difference....cruising on dirt roads or jamming around cars on freeway with no body roll during lane changes.


Thanks a million!

 

Skinny,

I've got 7k miles on my SCrew and just put the rear and front sway bars on. However, I will be installing the Edelbrock IAS shocks soon because there is already a noticeable deterioration of the stock HD shocks, especially the front set.
As JMARTINB states above, wait a while after installing the shocks and then put the rear bar on and then you'll definitely feel the difference.