Shocks
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,104
Likes: 384
From: Southern California
1) Koni- Excellent for racing applications- overpriced for street applications
2) Tokico, QA1 & Bilstein- A very good shock for street/strip applications- but. QA1 & Bilstein have periodic/intermittent QA issues. If you are running very stiff tires on the street (such as Bridgstone 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 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. I have personally run these on everything for about 30 years.
4) Gabriel- A very nice good quality HD OEM replacement type unit.
5) Monroe- stay away from that junk!
Rancho.... I have no experience with them nor do I hang out with the crowds that use them.....
Moderator
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,230
Likes: 1,247
From: San Antonio, TX
The best replacement shocks I’ve used are several sets of KYBs, which are quite firm and why I didn’t recommend them. And Rancho 5000s. The Rancho 5000s made my ‘97 F250 ride a whole lot better than the OEM shocks did.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 472
Likes: 153
From: Southeast Wisconsin
Quote:
2) Tokico, QA1 & Bilstein- A very good shock for street/strip applications- but. QA1 & Bilstein have periodic/intermittent QA issues. If you are running very stiff tires on the street (such as Bridgstone or tires with profiles shorter than 50 series), these provide the extra give that you need for both comfort & stability.
I agree 100% with this statement. I have the lower profile OEM "sport truck" tires with Bilsteins and I am very happy with the upgrade. Will never go back to stock shocks....
2) Tokico, QA1 & Bilstein- A very good shock for street/strip applications- but. QA1 & Bilstein have periodic/intermittent QA issues. If you are running very stiff tires on the street (such as Bridgstone or tires with profiles shorter than 50 series), these provide the extra give that you need for both comfort & stability.
I agree 100% with this statement. I have the lower profile OEM "sport truck" tires with Bilsteins and I am very happy with the upgrade. Will never go back to stock shocks....
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,888
Likes: 359
From: Mts. S. of San Francisco
That said, this is great information, and useful to me because I am at that new shock stage with our 2015.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: greenwell springs, la.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
New User
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 17
Likes: 8
I tried Bilstein rear shocks on my 2020 F-150. I found them extremely hard and stiff though they did improve the handling a lot.
I swapped them for the Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks and I’m very happy with them. I have them on setting #2 and it helps the handling but not real stiff….much better than Bilstein. Of course I can set them to a higher setting if I opt to haul a bunch.
I swapped them for the Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks and I’m very happy with them. I have them on setting #2 and it helps the handling but not real stiff….much better than Bilstein. Of course I can set them to a higher setting if I opt to haul a bunch.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post