Rancho vs. custom valved Bilstein?
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Rancho vs. custom valved Bilstein?
I have V/modded B's installed now, upgraded rear sway bar this weekend and radius rods, air bags in the next couple weeks. The last piece to finish it all up will be the shocks. Around here it seems like most everyone really likes the 9000XLs for everyday driving.
On another forum there is a vendor that says the Rancho's are junk and his custom valved Bilsteins are much better. He goes on to say with the Ex and the steering problems he highly recomends dual custom valved Bilsteins up front. I asked the vendor what made the Bilstein shocks better and he pretty much said Rancho's suck, they are only adjustable on compression. But his aren't adjustable on compression or rebound so I don't know how that makes his better. I know Bilstein is a good shock, just not sure how different they are from Rancho.
He gave me a quote for $350 shipped for 4 Blisteins. So, my question is this: Anyone know if the custom valved Blisteins are better? I can get a set of 9000XL for $317 shipped - $100 rebate for a total of $217. My Ex is a people hauler 90% of the time and the time spent towing is under 7500lbs.
On another forum there is a vendor that says the Rancho's are junk and his custom valved Bilsteins are much better. He goes on to say with the Ex and the steering problems he highly recomends dual custom valved Bilsteins up front. I asked the vendor what made the Bilstein shocks better and he pretty much said Rancho's suck, they are only adjustable on compression. But his aren't adjustable on compression or rebound so I don't know how that makes his better. I know Bilstein is a good shock, just not sure how different they are from Rancho.
He gave me a quote for $350 shipped for 4 Blisteins. So, my question is this: Anyone know if the custom valved Blisteins are better? I can get a set of 9000XL for $317 shipped - $100 rebate for a total of $217. My Ex is a people hauler 90% of the time and the time spent towing is under 7500lbs.
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I know who you are talking about and even though it seems a lot of people like his stuff, I was not impressed at all with his answers to my questions. It seemed that it was his way or the highway and that he was really talking down to me. I'm going with Ranchos when I need new shocks. I was not crazy about the stock Bilsteins I had on my previous Excursion.
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I know who you are talking about and even though it seems a lot of people like his stuff, I was not impressed at all with his answers to my questions. It seemed that it was his way or the highway and that he was really talking down to me. I'm going with Ranchos when I need new shocks. I was not crazy about the stock Bilsteins I had on my previous Excursion.
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From: SEVA
I can't speak to the custom-valved Bilsteins, but I tried a set of "out of the box" Bilsteins on my '05 X ... and that was after I had adjustable Ranchos on my '01 X. It wasn't too many miles later that I tossed the Bilsteins in the trash & sprung for another set of Ranchos. I recall a time when Bilstein was a highly reguarded brand name among shock absorbers. But like BMW & Mercedes, it just ain't so anymore. What happened to formerly-good German engineering?
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If you do an extensive search over at TDS, you'll find threads from years ago where he was starting to ask questions about the suspension, researching the spring upgrade modification that was becoming popular.
White Buffalo (posts a lot in the 7.3L forum) has his system and loves it.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post10080091
Stewart
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I did his upgrades and they are fabulous! Check out his work...he's not talking down if he just happens to be one of few guys that have done 100's of our truck with little to NO complaints on the boards. I appreciate his wisdom and if you get him on the phone, you will see that Cary Towery is a kind and very generous man with a wealth of knowledge that he shares freely. I talked to him for 50+ min months before I ever bought a thing from him. I highly recommend him!
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Why don't you just put some Monroe shocks on and save money ??
Honestly, I just put a set of gas magnum's on, and I can't tell the difference between mine and a buddy that has Bilstein's. The money you save you could almost buy a tank of gas !!!!!
If you don't like the yellow you could get a rattle can and make them purple or something !!
If you don't like the yellow you could get a rattle can and make them purple or something !!
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Thanks for the link Stewart!
But dang, still seems like a hard call on which ones I should order. Is there any reason to go with dual shocks up front? I have 33" tires and V-codes so nothing special. I probably won't adjust the Ranchos much once I found the best setting. Decisions are fun sometimes.
But dang, still seems like a hard call on which ones I should order. Is there any reason to go with dual shocks up front? I have 33" tires and V-codes so nothing special. I probably won't adjust the Ranchos much once I found the best setting. Decisions are fun sometimes.
