Put Rancho 9000's on mid last year and destroyed them in six months. December I put Bilstein 5100's on and now they're leaking. My Rancho Dual Stabilizers are shot too... What gives? Don't haul heavy much, rarely off road. Tires have been balanced to all heck. Alignment is great. New track bar & ball joints recently. I have a 2.5" leveling kit with F350 rear blocks. Double checked model numbers to ensure right units were ordered/installed for my lift change. I just don't get it.

Any suggestions?

 

Skyjacker or OEM.

I am just shy of 81K on my original OEM's.

 

I wonder if an empty truck is harder on shocks?

Mine is still running great on the factory rancho's... about 70,000 miles

 

I have had my Bilsteins for 14 months, no problems yet.....I think they re warrantied? no?

 

Yes. Rancho's were swapped out by Summit Racing for the Bilstein's. looking at different options to get in exchange for Bilstein's.

Amazon sent out a new steering stabilizer kit today under warranty.

 

Good question as I am usually loaded down.

 

I usually have at the least 500 lbs in it, and it smoothes out quite a bit.

 

im unloaded 99% of the time...

 

I have about 300-500lbs in the bed at least 60% of the time. Occasionally, I'll put 1,000-1500 lbs of materials. I pull a 16' utility trailer with lumber and debris every couple weeks.

 

I hear air ride springs are also really hard on shocks, so that leads me to believe that the heavier truck riding unloaded can be hard on shocks.

Maybe time for dual shocks?

 

or upgrade to better shocks instead of get the 5100 shocks from bilstein, get the bilstein 5160 shock. I have them on my truck and they have been on there for over a year. My trucks gotta go down lease roads, so lets just say those shocks have been put through some ruff situations.

 

Eric over at PTP said Icon 2.0 or 2.5 would be best.

 

At the encouragement of Muddoc I went out this morning and took one of my shocks loose just to check them.

They are good to go. I had a heck of a time compressing the one I took off.

I vote OEM.

 

But you don't have an FX4 right?

I just replaced my buddy's shocks in his 08 with 98,000 miles. Non-Rancho branded shocks. They Weren't in bad shape. A little slow on the extension but still smooth.

 

No I don't have the Fx4. I bought the skid plates myself and put them on.

I do however have snow plow prep. According to what I know that does not do anything about shocks, just the front springs and clutch fan/alternator.