Many threads refer to the stock shocks on Super Duty trucks to be "crappy" or inferior to Rancho or Bilstein aftermarket shocks. Is this true? In what conditions are the aftermarkets better? Lifted, Off-Road, Towing, Highway, City, etc...

I've searched the forums and found several people talking about shocks, but that's only led me to wondering what it is about the stock shocks that are so bad vs an aftermarket.

I posted this in the 6.7 category because I'm mainly talking about 2011-current Super Duty trucks. It may need to be moved to another section.

Thanks in advance for all who know and reply!

 

I have no issue with the stock Rancho's, also had the replaced with the same before my extended warranty expired.

I've had a problem with RS9000's leaking in the past on a lifted vehicle and one of the stock ones on this truck had a leak so they changed all 4, that was at about 60k miles.

 

Stock shocks aren't ranchos, they just put the label on them. There is no difference between the basic super duty shocks and the so call "rancho" shocks on the FX4 trucks.

 

But, does that make them bad shocks?

 

nope, not at all.

 

The stock shocks are neutral. (When you remove them, they don't extend with force to the longest length)

Most standard HD aftermarket (bilsteins) are charged with pressure, so, it takes approx. 100lbs of pressure to compress the shock, and conversely, they exert pressure outward all the time. It firms up the ride feel, firms up the response, and technically provide approx. 100extra pounds of capacity to your truck.

Both styles work to resist rebound movement in both directions, aftermarket ones are just more aggressive. In my experience, when removing the stock shocks, I can squeeze and pull them very easily by hand, both fast and slow, so in my opinion, the stock shocks don't do much, but they do work.

 

Thanks for the explanation!

 

In my particular instance, I didn't notice a significant difference in going from the stock shocks to Bilsteins. The Bilsteins are a bit nicer, but not enough, in my opinion, if I could go back in time, to change them out again. Maybe once the originals are worn out, but not before.

However, I do not have a typical truck either. 2013 DRW 2wd.

 

My factory shocks have ~80k miles on them and my truck still rides very stable. I tried the Rancho RS9000 and they were completely shot after about ~20k miles and my truck road like a bouncing ball.

 

I am running the stock, fake rancho's on mine.

Rides just fine. I see no reason to change them.

 

This is actually not 100% accurate Joel. The stock Rancho shocks are gas/hydraulic just like aftermarket. When removed from the truck the gas charge should immediately extend the shock to full length. The reason it would appear that they are neutral is that the gas side blows out when they are very new. 3 of 4 of mine were blown on the gas side with less than 1000 miles when I changed to Bilsteins. One of those three also blew the hydraulic seal and was leaking fluid as well. They are also TERRIBLE when towing heavy if you have a SRW truck which is why I changed mine at 900 miles. The Bilsteins were night and day better riding when towing eliminating most bouncing. When driving empty they were about the same, maybe a touch better.

Also, although the fake Rancho shocks are actually Ford shocks painted white with a Rancho sticker applied, this doesn't mean they are the same shock as the non FX4 Ford shocks. They are valved differently. The standard black Ford shocks are a much better product which is why you don't hear folks complaining about them and changing them. When I bought my truck, the only way to get the skid plates was to get the FX4 so I was stuck with them. Now Ford offers the skids as a stand alone option. So, on my 2017 I won't be stuck with the fake Ranchos. I have no intention of changing shocks on the next truck due to this....

 

I just replaced my stock shocks with the bilstein 5100 shocks and was extremely happy with the results. I don't have the FX4 shocks, just the all black ones. The truck felt unsettled on the highway when going around soft bends and hitting anything. It felt like it would dive when cornering or braking. Overall, I just had an uneasy feeling with the truck in terms of handling so I decided to make the swap with 55K miles on my OEM's.

This is the first I have heard that the stock shocks are Neutral, and don't rebound to full length. Seems like that would be better as a steering stabilizer than a shock. My OEM shocks were extremely easy to compress and didn't rebound at all. The bilstein 5100's were much firmer on compression and consistently strong on the rebound. The truck feels more planted now and not as twitchy. It is a slightly firmer ride but in a more comfortable way. I think this was a great upgrade and I wish I had done it sooner!

 

Cool. Thanks everyone for your replies! I think I'll stick with the OEMs at first when I get my 2017, but will be inclined to go with an upgrade if I think the ride would benefit.

 

My neutral statement came from a rancho representative that posted here a couple years ago. They do expand but the pressure they're charged with is very much weaker than most aftermarket shocks.

And I agree, why they equip a truck whose design philosophy is grounded in towing trailers with weak shock valving escapes me. Keeping 10-20,000 pounds under control is no small feat.

 

My understanding is the black shocks are the same shock as the fake rancho. I think it had the same part number on the body of the shock itself.

I replaced black shocks at 35k. The shocks where easy to compress. The front shocks offered no resistance when being compress or expanded. You could hear the leak from inside them. I did change of to bilstiens 5100. The bounce from the rear end is more now, but towing is more stable. If I where to do it again I would go with the smaller bilstiens.

Donovan