Quick frustration...
 

Just got new shocks from jcwhitney.com...

Rancho RS5000 DO NOT fit a 97 F150 4.2L 4WD

The stock fronts sit a FULL 5 1/4" higher than these.

I was reccommended to purchase the RS9000 (for twice the price)

I originally wanted to get the 9K's, but workin on budget here.

My stock shock won't go back on because the threads snapped off while removing the nut (wasn't hard at all to twist off)

So here I sit in DeSoto... 3hrs from home... about to spend more than I care to. My truck is worth it but FML

-Thanks for listening to me whine :):-X09

Looking them up myself, it appears this should be the part number info you should have:

Sub Model: F150
Tonnage: 1/2-ton
Location: Front
Wheel Drive: 4WD
Inches of Lift: NO LIFT


Front RS5000 High-performance Shock
SKU #:
1JA 492819
Mfr. #:
RS5233

I am wondering if they didn't send you these:


Sub Model: F150
Tonnage: 1/2-ton
Location: Front
Wheel Drive: 2WD
Inches of Lift: NO LIFT


Front RS5000 High-performance Shock
SKU #:
1JA 492821
Mfr. #:
RS5235

Other than having to do it again, they do offer a guarantee that they fit or your money back...Years ago I had to order shocks for my 75 F250 4x4 and ended up having to do them by custom order, as the ones they claimed would work had the wrong mounting... Also were too short... Aside from all that, welcome!

If they did it had to have been a major mistake, I'd checked the stamping on the shock itself and it was the RS5233.

Not worried about it now, they've already been sent back. Bought some OEM replacements. But of course knowing me, one small quick project just has to turn 10x more annoying. The bolt holding the lower section of the shock would not move. I cut off the nut and it started turning but still wouldn't reverse. So I ended up having to cut (torch) the bolt itself on either side of the bushing, unfortunately covering the cv boot with a coffee can didn't deflect enough heat and it split open....

Taking it to the shop now, I'm obviously not doing very well on my own...

Another lesson learned.

Hard saying, it may have been one of the wonderful half-year changes that plague us in the parts business...

Sorry to hear about the cv boot, I had my fun for the day changing struts on my mom's car, the nut wouldn't crack loose for anything, so I finally just burned it off, which of course heated the rubber too much, and burned the spacer a bit. Then putting it back together didn't notice the bearing had fallen out. Saw that when the strut was all mounted up and I thought I was done, so I had to pull it back off, tear it back down, and put the strut bearing in, and put it all back together......

The stock shocks are the best on these trucks anyways IMO. they offer the best ride and still work great loaded down. Not that your front shocks should matter for loading.