Installing New shocks
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,213
Likes: 1
From: The Woodlands, TX
That's a great deal, thanks for sharing the details! Seems like lots of folks look at the "Rancho branded" shocks that come on the FX4 trucks and declare all Rancho's junk. Don't think Motorcraft makes much of anything, as they have suppliers that produce products to their specs. I'm willing to bet that Rancho is in fact the supplier for the factory FX4 shocks, but they are likely a much lower quality product.
Their stamped Motorcraft on the tube.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 291
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No I don't do any off roading. My truck is a grocery getter majority of the time. I pull and 11k lbs boat and used to pull a 10k lbs trailer. Sold the trailer a few weeks ago.
I have hauled about 6 pallets of st augustine sod. I do have a set of firestone air bags. I did tow several pallets without the air bags but the truck never bottomed out on the rubber things underneath the truck.
I think the cheap motocraft shocks just don't last very long
I have hauled about 6 pallets of st augustine sod. I do have a set of firestone air bags. I did tow several pallets without the air bags but the truck never bottomed out on the rubber things underneath the truck.
I think the cheap motocraft shocks just don't last very long
Elder User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 582
Likes: 0
From: Refugio, Texas
Changed out my shocks yesterday. Replaced them with the Rancho9000's.
There is so much difference in the ride it like black and white. When I pulled the original Rancho5000's off the truck the front ones did no longer extend like its supposed to...I guess they were shot. The rear one appeared still OK.
This truck has 63,000 miles on her and it was terribly rough to drive....But not any more.
Today I will be installing a Rancho Dual steering Damper.
There is so much difference in the ride it like black and white. When I pulled the original Rancho5000's off the truck the front ones did no longer extend like its supposed to...I guess they were shot. The rear one appeared still OK.
This truck has 63,000 miles on her and it was terribly rough to drive....But not any more.
Today I will be installing a Rancho Dual steering Damper.
Elder User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 582
Likes: 0
From: Refugio, Texas
How do you know the stockers are still alright? Have you removed one of the front one and verified it's still functioning properly. I thought mine were alright till I decided to change them for upgrade purposes and it was only after pulling them off the truck that I found the fronts were actually shot.
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New User
Joined: May 2012
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Ok, did the deal in about 1 1/2 hrs. Anyone who reads this post. If you have stock shocks change those things. It was the best $225 I have spent on this truck yet. I found a $325 price from one source in FL but I live in FL so I did not want to pay taxes. Summit racing matched their price and there is a $100 rebate for ranchos 9000xl
I did the rears without even jacking or removing tires. The front I removed tires and it was a pain in the butt with the top nut. I used a 7/8 wrench it worked but kind of big. I think it is metric, imagine that. It was a pain without a non ratcheting wrench. I have a basic air tools set so it was easy getting bolts and nuts off.
Night and day. My truck felt like I had NO shocks.
I did the rears without even jacking or removing tires. The front I removed tires and it was a pain in the butt with the top nut. I used a 7/8 wrench it worked but kind of big. I think it is metric, imagine that. It was a pain without a non ratcheting wrench. I have a basic air tools set so it was easy getting bolts and nuts off.
Night and day. My truck felt like I had NO shocks.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,006
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From: San Jose, CA
I have 38K on mine, and I just swapped out my fronts. I messed up on the part number for the rears. The F350 and F250 do not use the same part. I learned that after I ordered them :-(
My factory fronts don't extend the same length by themselves now that they're out, and one of them sounds like it's bubbling inside when I push down on it.
I currently have it set on '5' and the ride is far smoother. Riding in the truck was an exhausting experience going over all the cracks and bumps on long freeway runs. My wife was complaining big time.
Waiting for my rears now. That should improve it even more.
My factory fronts don't extend the same length by themselves now that they're out, and one of them sounds like it's bubbling inside when I push down on it.
I currently have it set on '5' and the ride is far smoother. Riding in the truck was an exhausting experience going over all the cracks and bumps on long freeway runs. My wife was complaining big time.
Waiting for my rears now. That should improve it even more.
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minnesotafisherman
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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