Bilstein rear shock report
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More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2013
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Bilstein rear shock report
Installed some Bilstein 4600 shocks on my 2wd F250. Ride seems to be a little better unloaded. I was getting a lot of hop over bumps, even with the rears at 60 psi. Install was easy, but I had an impact wrench, it would be tough with out one.
Boot looks funny in the picture because it was taken from the ground looking up the shock.
Boot looks funny in the picture because it was taken from the ground looking up the shock.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Gilbert
After reading RZAR's thread about his Bilstein experience, keep an eye on those puppies!
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...k-failure.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...k-failure.html
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From: Home Base Nebraska
I can honestly say that I'm not overly impressed with the shocks on my truck and after our first good pull next week I may replace them but I will go with Monroe Gas Magnums like I had on my last truck.
2000silverbullet I have never seen a shock overheat and fail like that and I have put a lot of miles on trucks with slide in campers and 5th wheels on some not so great roads.
Denny
2000silverbullet I have never seen a shock overheat and fail like that and I have put a lot of miles on trucks with slide in campers and 5th wheels on some not so great roads.
Denny
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Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Northwestern, PA
Well after just installing a set of Bilstein shocks I can say for right now what a difference than the stock shocks that were on the truck. With only 25,000 miles on it the stock ones are junk. I pushed them in to see how they reacted and they never even came back out. Cant wait to haul the camper and see how they work. Used to bounce all around on the old shocks.
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I may be wrong, but most shocks don't have rebound springs. They dampen the suspension springs. Big Daddy, did you have the Rancho shocks that came with the FX4 pkg? I have a 2014 SD with the FX4 pkg and seems to ride stiffer (rougher) than the demo I drove.
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Denny
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From: Northwestern, PA
No they were not Rancho shocks. Ford brand I guess? They were all black. I plan on doing the front next. I have read a lot about the Rancho ones also that come on the FX4 package. I like the stiffer ride. In my opinion that's the way a heavy duty truck should ride not like a car. There was also a video from someone on here that I saw on the Rancho shocks that come on the FX4 package, but cant remember where I saw it.
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There seems to be a common misconception that the "Rancho" shocks on the FX4 are poor quality or defective because they don't rebound when compressed by hand. They are hydraulic shocks and work differently than gas shocks like the Bilstiens. Hydraulic shocks don't rebound when you compress them. It's the pressure in a gas shock that makes it rebound.
That being said, I think the Bilsteins, or other gas shocks are better on these trucks. I changed to Bilstein 4600's on my 2012 FX4 and found that the truck seems more sure footed with less rear wheel hop. I don't think the ride improved at all though.
On another note, I took a 10,000 mile trip with my truck camper in the bed this summer. On all kinds of roads, the Bilstens worked great and suffered no ill effects or overheating.
That being said, I think the Bilsteins, or other gas shocks are better on these trucks. I changed to Bilstein 4600's on my 2012 FX4 and found that the truck seems more sure footed with less rear wheel hop. I don't think the ride improved at all though.
On another note, I took a 10,000 mile trip with my truck camper in the bed this summer. On all kinds of roads, the Bilstens worked great and suffered no ill effects or overheating.
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After my 94 yr old mother made a comment about my truck riding rougher than it did when new, I replaced the FX4 Ford factory Rancho shocks with Bilstein 4600 series shocks yesterday. The difference in handling control and smoothness perception was immediate. Much better control when trying to jump potholes ! Truck has 20,300 miles on it.
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