Rancho or Bilstein?
Prolocutor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,618
Likes: 1,247
From: Western MA
Mine too on my 2012... after only 900 miles... Gas side blown out on 3 of 4...
To the OP, I vote of Fox 2.0. The best of the 3 but the most expensive too. I ran Bilstein 5100s on my 2012 and while they vastly improved loaded ride quality, they made the unloaded ride stiffer. The Fox on my 2017 improved both loaded and empty and is aluminum bodied so it isn't corroding quickly with all the road salt they use up here. I haven't run the Rancho 9000 but there are a lot of happy users out there. I just know I'll never play with the adjustment as I'm a set it and forget it guy. I also know that I will forget to fluid film the adjuster **** and it will seize from salt after a few seasons...
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,536
Likes: 200
From: southeast PA
I'm in the exact same boat. I'll never touch the adjusters, and the salt will get them. I like set and forget. That said, I have Bilstein 4600's in the mail, and at 5 years old and 32k I'm probably long overdue. I've only recently noticed a degradation in ride quality now that spring is coming and the Pennsylvania State flower, the pothole, is popping up.
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 587
Likes: 101
From: Nampa, Idaho
Bilstein 5100's on my stock height 2014 F350. Some day I may do a level on it, and the 5100's will still be fine. Ride did not get stiffer than stock after installing the Bilsteins. I felt it got smoother...read less abrupt.
I purchased from Amazon after putting them on my Wish List and watching the price. Bought the set of 4 for $293.65 in January. Right now they are listed at $307.47. I have Prime so there was no shipping cost.
I purchased from Amazon after putting them on my Wish List and watching the price. Bought the set of 4 for $293.65 in January. Right now they are listed at $307.47. I have Prime so there was no shipping cost.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 134
Likes: 5
My stock Ranchos AKA Ford shocks with Rancho paint were beat at 12K and my steering stabilizer was rock hard was so hard to turn was affecting the steering returning after taking a turn you had to turn the steering wheel to return with effort .
Check your stabilizer , I went with Bilstiens 5100 including the stabilizer which was night and day steering is perfect now .
Check your stabilizer , I went with Bilstiens 5100 including the stabilizer which was night and day steering is perfect now .
Cross-Country
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 88
Likes: 2
I bought a set of the 9000s about two years ago for the adjustable ride feature. I have about 45 - 50k on them and the front shocks seem worn out. I used to run them at 6 and now have to set them at 9 and still get allot of uncontrolled bounce. My vote is for the Bilstein shocks which I've run before to 140k miles before one started to seep a bit.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,722
Likes: 12,867
From: Wyoming
I bought a set of the 9000s about two years ago for the adjustable ride feature. I have about 45 - 50k on them and the front shocks seem worn out. I used to run them at 6 and now have to set them at 9 and still get allot of uncontrolled bounce. My vote is for the Bilstein shocks which I've run before to 140k miles before one started to seep a bit.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 930
Likes: 6
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 538
Likes: 45
From: Lansing, MI
I called Bilstein yesterday and the gentlemen I spoke with strongly recommended the 4600's for a non-lifted truck even though the 5100 description says 0-2" lift. He said that the 4600's will perform better than the 5100's on the stock height truck.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,536
Likes: 200
From: southeast PA
I did the 4600s about a month ago on my truck. I've been very happy so far.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,406
Likes: 229
From: Pa
On my 06, after spending money on Rancho's, and they were shot in 6 months, I just went to AutoZone (or rock auto) bought whatever heavy duty shocks they had on sale and replaced them every year. Could usually get all 4 for less than $100, and they worked as good as anything else I ran in 20yrs for a third the price.
Edit: I think the high end Monroes are Rancho's. ????
Edit: I think the high end Monroes are Rancho's. ????
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John7894
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
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Feb 23, 2010 12:46 AM