All,
Is anyone familiar with Gabriel shocks? I found a great deal on 4 Gabriel Ultras, but I called their technical service line and their top-of-the-line, called the Max-control is being compared to the Bilsteins. Can anyone confirm or deny? He made it sound like the ultra is garbage compared to the Max-control.

Also, how does Gabriel compare to Monroe? I was all ready to get a set of Monroes but now I'm confused.

Keep in mind, I'm looking to get all 4 new shocks for less than $100. I know how most feel about bilstein's but I just can't afford them. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

Gabriel has been making shocks for many years, I'm sure they're a decent product, but there's gotta be a darn good reason everybody gravitates toward the much more expensive Rancho, Bilstein, and Edelbrock shocks. I'm not saying don't get the less expensive shocks, but I continually realize "you get what you pay for" and am usually disappointed when I try to save a buck.

 

I have run Rancho, tough country, Skyjacker, Monroe, and a few others I can't even remember. I have a set of Monroe sensa-tracs on the Expy right now and haven't had any problems. The rear bounces a little bit over a large bump( I'm talking about the kind that bottoms out a car) But all in all, no problems! IMO I think that the other shocks are nice and all but I can't see spending 2-3 times more for a sticker that says Rancho Or the like! This is just my .02!

 

When I worked at NTB, we got a lot of complaints about Monroes, saying that they softened up too much after about 10,000 miles.

Of course, our customers were blabbering idiots who had no business operating a motor vehicle, but just the same.

I went with Bilsteins - they're firm, but not really harsh.

Next time around I'll try to get some adjustable shocks, but for now the Bilsteins are fine. I'm seriously considering replacing the LLS in my Expy so I can be rid of all the technical mumbo-jumbo and get some adjustable shocks for a nice plush ride.

XXL

 

Big Matt hit on the most important question you have to ask yourself, and it's not price. What do you want from them when on the truck? Ride or performance? If you want ride the cheaper shocks will get you mushy ride like a Cadillac de ville but wear out in 15 to 20k miles with less control on twisty roler coaster roads or in emergency manuvers. If you want performance, then Bilsteins will deliver firm not harsh, stable ride, excellent control in harsh, loaded, high speed conditions and last and last and last. Guaranteed not to wear out or break for the life of the vehicle. I've got 95K miles on my rear set and they are as good as new. I'm certainly sure I got my money's worth, though I paid a premium price for them. Apparently Rancho and KYB and Koni make great shocks that perform well but just don't last as long in real world of tough truck conditions simply because they have more moving parts to wear out. I never raced with Ranchos, but the Konis and KYBs were excellent in performance as long as they lasted, which was double the life of cheap shocks.
To each his own. I don't mind paying premium price for premium performance that lasts because to me that is a great bargain... installing once and then forgetting about it to concentrate on something else!

 

Koni's are "lower" pressure twin tube shocks and will give you a cushier ride than the Bilsteins which are single tube high pressure. I've had Koni's on all my vehicles since 84. Lifetime warranty and they're adjustable for wear and/or "stiffness". There is a reason why they come with Porsches,Ferrari's etc-because they're the best. Both Bilst. and Koni's are the two and only two best. Gabriel/Monroe/Rancho/Kyb's are all down the ladder. Expect to pay around $75 apeice,and no more yoyo ing down the street!

 

All,
Thanks for the advise suggestions. My only reasoning for staying under $100 was a great deal on ebay. However, I don't have discriminating enough taste to differentiate between a $35 shock and a $75 shock. At least I don't think I do. Still undecided but working on it. Thanks again.

 

In the past I've used both Monroe's and Gabriel and different vehicles. For the most part I tend to go back to Gabriel because they seemed to last longer.

Now I haven't bought a pair of either in over 3 years but Pep Boys store brand used to be made by Garbriel...you might check with them and ask...if so it might save you a couple more bucks.

Also, I agree with what is said about getting what you pay for but am I the only one here old enough to remember being young and broke? I remember the days of being glad I could afford to buy new shocks and how much better my car rode...even if it was on Gabriel's.

Go for it and enjoy your new shocks...

 

Thanks,
Agreed...shocks don't make it very high on the priority list with two little ones and a new trampoline for a birthday. That's exactly where I'm at.

 

I'm not buying the argument that Koni's are the best just because they're on Porsches and Ferrari's. Koni's might be great and designed for sports cars, but last time I checked, my 6,000# gorilla isn't used in road races or in grand prix's. Since we're talking about trucks, one ought to stick to shocks designed and made specifically for trucks.

Jackman, I don't blame you for not wanting to spend $300+ on new shocks, I didn't either. If you want some excellent shocks, Rancho generally runs a spring-time special (I think March-May) whereby you buy three and receive one free (they've had it the past two years for sure). Hopefully they'll do it again this year.

 

I'm not buying the argument that Koni's are the best just because they're on Porsches and Ferrari's. Koni's might be great and designed for sports cars, but last time I checked, my 6,000# gorilla isn't used in road races or in grand prix's. Since we're talking about trucks, one ought to stick to shocks designed and made specifically for trucks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Buzzard my friend-don't think for one second that Koni didn't design their shock for the expy because they have an extremely high tech r&d. There is quite bluntly no comparison. Also, an Expy was featured in Trukin mag. a couple years ago with Edelbrock shocks. I called the guy with the expy and he said the edelbrocks were good for about 8 months and then they "faded" enough as to be undesireable. He didn't recommend them.

 

The big question is, as others have said , what do you want for ride quality? I myself like the truck ride, I came out of a 93 Bronco into a 2002 EB Expy. The Expy in my opinion has way to much (bounce) and the body roll was terable. The first thing I did was call 4wheel wholesale to order a set of 4 shocks and a Helwig Stab bar for the rear.
I had origninally planed on ordering Ranchos becuase like others have said the Edelbrocks, and Bilstiens were kind of hard on the wallet$$$$$$. I was talking to the service rep at 4wheel wholesale, I asked him about the ProComp shock absorbers.
He said the Rancho RS5000 was the same shock as the Procomp ES3000.
The Rancho RSX reflex is the same shock as the Procomp ES9000 except the RSX has a special bushing insert vs the poly urethane on the ES9000. And they are all made by MONROE.

I went with the Procomp ES9000 and the Rear Helwig stab bar and could not be happier. If you watch the 4wheel parts wholesalers ads they have the Procomps on sale all the time. I got mine on a buy 3 get 1 free , plus free shipping for $120.00.

 

Believe it or not there is a ton of ride development that goes into you factory shocks, And in fact your factory shocks on F-150 and Expedition are made by Monroe. I used to work very closely with the ride devolopment team from (SVE) Fords Special Vehcle Engineering. We did tons of shock swaps and re-valving until a package is agreed upon. When a vehicle goes production they may have 15-20 different ride packages. The shocks from the factory may be different between standard cab, ext. cab, crew cab, and then between XLT, Lariot, Eddie Bauer, Limited etc , etc.
Now here is the kicker, Ford Service Parts will pick 3 of those to use for service, or might even develop a "Service shock" to handle all 2wd truck and one to handle 4wd trucks. The reason for this is Ford Service can not stock all 15-20 ride packages for each vehicle, warehousing costs will not allow it. That being said, if you went to the dealer to buy your OE shocks, chances are they are not the same units that came on your car.
The logic behind this is that by the time you replace you shocks, It will probably be well after the warranty period. You suspension bushing and springs have fatiqued and you will not be able to tell one package from the other.

 

All,
I am extremely impressed with the knowledge and experience on this board. Thanks for the insight. I heard Advance auto will run their buy 3 get 1 free shock sale sometime in March. I'll probably hold off until then. However, keep the suggestions coming as I am still undecided. Thanks.

 

You will when you have to make some crazy maneuvers in your 6,000 lb truck. For the most part, it's like anything else - you get what you pay for.

IMO, Bilsteins and Konis are probably the "super-premium" choices.

Ranchos aka Procomp aka Monroes are a great balance between ride and cost, plus you see a lot of "Buy 3 get 1 free + free install" going around.

All that said, there's not too terribly much that goes into a shock absorber. Sure, there's tons of new technological advances, etc - but it all comes down to pressurized gas inside a tube.

I would go with a mid-range Rancho/Monroe/Procomp and see how that does.

As I said before, I found the Bilsteins to be firm/borderline harsh (no doubt due to the super-heavy live axle in the rear - the stiff shocks just make it worse) but they handle great.

XXL