Front Shocks
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,094
Likes: 379
From: Southern California
Shock Recommendations IMHO:
1) Koni- Excellent for racing applications- overpriced for street applications
2) Tokico, QA1 & Bilstein- A very good shock for street/strip applications. If you are running very stiff tires on the street (such as Bridgstone that are 100% steel belted or tires with profiles shorter than 50 series), these provide the extra give that you need for both comfort & stability
3) KYB- A very good shock for street/strip applications. If you are running a softer tires on the street (such as BFG that are a mix of steel & nylon belted or tires with profiles not shorter than 50 series), these provide the extra stiffness that you need for both comfort & stability. The Exel-G’s (formerly GR-2) are the equivalent to the Edelbrock IAS automatic adjusting units. Overall, stiffness between the Gas-a-just and the GR2’s are the same, the difference is the GR-2's valving which stiffens things up from a oem setting to that of the Gas-a-just units.. Best shock for the $/best price typically found at Performance Suspension Technologies (PST) and typically about 1/3 less than Bilstein.
4) Gabriel- A very nice good quality HD OEM replacement type unit.
1) Koni- Excellent for racing applications- overpriced for street applications
2) Tokico, QA1 & Bilstein- A very good shock for street/strip applications. If you are running very stiff tires on the street (such as Bridgstone that are 100% steel belted or tires with profiles shorter than 50 series), these provide the extra give that you need for both comfort & stability
3) KYB- A very good shock for street/strip applications. If you are running a softer tires on the street (such as BFG that are a mix of steel & nylon belted or tires with profiles not shorter than 50 series), these provide the extra stiffness that you need for both comfort & stability. The Exel-G’s (formerly GR-2) are the equivalent to the Edelbrock IAS automatic adjusting units. Overall, stiffness between the Gas-a-just and the GR2’s are the same, the difference is the GR-2's valving which stiffens things up from a oem setting to that of the Gas-a-just units.. Best shock for the $/best price typically found at Performance Suspension Technologies (PST) and typically about 1/3 less than Bilstein.
4) Gabriel- A very nice good quality HD OEM replacement type unit.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, CA
I recently replaced all 4 with a set of Rancho 9000XL's. The cool thing is the adjustable feature. Just dial-in how soft or firm you like it to ride. Definitely a huge improvement over my factory 'Ranchos' which were shot around 35K miles. My truck was riding like I had tires made of concrete. It rides closer to my F150 now and much less fatiguing than before on long trips.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,213
Likes: 1
From: The Woodlands, TX
I did the 9000XL's and so far I have been pretty pleased. The ability to expand the system with the Rancho MyRide system to adjust on the fly is always a plus.
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More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 627
Likes: 17
Same here, good shocks, reasonable price. I replaced at around 50k and the front OEM pseudo-Ranchos were toast, while the rears were still in reasonable shape. I think the heavy front end (5,060# on mine empty) just beats the front shocks to death.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Don't get Rancho 5000 series.....I mistakenly tried to be a tight wad and bought these for $200 for all 4 corners from Advanced autoparts online and the first 3 days my ride rode like glass. After that the ride deteroriated and I found out one of the fronts had colllapsed.
I bought 4 Rancho 9000xl's today from Advanced autoparts online for $331 tax and all shipped and should get them this week. They also come with a rebate so it will really be about $250 for all 4 corners. This was almost $200 less than Oreilly and Autozone just an FYI.
I'll get them later this week and I'm hoping for a stiffer ride and they are heavier duty than the wimpy 5000s. Do not buy Rancho 5000's for an F250 even though the application calls out they are suited for an F250.
I bought 4 Rancho 9000xl's today from Advanced autoparts online for $331 tax and all shipped and should get them this week. They also come with a rebate so it will really be about $250 for all 4 corners. This was almost $200 less than Oreilly and Autozone just an FYI.
I'll get them later this week and I'm hoping for a stiffer ride and they are heavier duty than the wimpy 5000s. Do not buy Rancho 5000's for an F250 even though the application calls out they are suited for an F250.
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 627
Likes: 17
Don't get Rancho 5000 series.....I mistakenly tried to be a tight wad and bought these for $200 for all 4 corners from Advanced autoparts online and the first 3 days my ride rode like glass. After that the ride deteroriated and I found out one of the fronts had colllapsed.
I bought 4 Rancho 9000xl's today from Advanced autoparts online for $331 tax and all shipped and should get them this week. They also come with a rebate so it will really be about $250 for all 4 corners. This was almost $200 less than Oreilly and Autozone just an FYI.
I'll get them later this week and I'm hoping for a stiffer ride and they are heavier duty than the wimpy 5000s. Do not buy Rancho 5000's for an F250 even though the application calls out they are suited for an F250.
I bought 4 Rancho 9000xl's today from Advanced autoparts online for $331 tax and all shipped and should get them this week. They also come with a rebate so it will really be about $250 for all 4 corners. This was almost $200 less than Oreilly and Autozone just an FYI.
I'll get them later this week and I'm hoping for a stiffer ride and they are heavier duty than the wimpy 5000s. Do not buy Rancho 5000's for an F250 even though the application calls out they are suited for an F250.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
WP......good question. Advanced said they would refund my money within 90 days as long as I kept my receipt and turned in the 5000's. So in essence the only thing I'm out is my labor (couple of hours) and $50 more dollars by upgrading to a heavier duty shock.
I agree though Rancho shouldn't sell the 5000 series for F250 trucks if they can't handle the weight of the truck itself. I'm going to give them one more shot.
I agree though Rancho shouldn't sell the 5000 series for F250 trucks if they can't handle the weight of the truck itself. I'm going to give them one more shot.
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wreckinball
Brakes, Steering, Suspension, Tires, & Wheels
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May 27, 2009 12:06 PM