Anyone recommend a good shock for a mostly daily driven pavement queen F-150? It's a 1997 with a 4.6, auto, a Fabtech 3.5" spindle lift with 265-75-16 all-terrain tires. In the rear I'm running Superlift shocks and they're ok but I want to run something that won't rattle my door panels loose if I come across a stretch of bumpy road. I've heard good things about Edelbrock's new IAS shock but want some "I've tried these" responses.

Also is there anything else in the front suspension I probably haven't been paying attention to? 30k miles ago I replaced both lower BJ's with OEM units, also changed the driver's side swaybar link and now the passenger side one is shot so it's getting replaced with the shocks, I also replaced the idler arm and all tie rod ends as well. I'm hoping my upper BJ's are okay so when it goes up on the rack for shocks, we'll see.

 

I like the Gabriel Gas Ryder LT's they ride good and keep the truck pretty stable. They are priced right too.

 

I put Bilstein shocks on the front of my 97 40k ago. so far so good

 

I really like the Monroe Reflexes that I put on the wife's Exploder. It handles better, less body roll, doesn't feel as top heavy and generally controls the bumps better. They are a bit firmer than the original shocks though but to me they dont feel worse over bumps...just more controlled.

 

With 97k miles on my truck,you think its time to replace the factory shocks?

 

Racerguy: I also have Monroe's in my truck, very nice.

 

I have run the IAS's for a about 45k miles now and am pretty happy with them. It doesn't dramatically improve the plushness of the ride, but really seems to control body roll/stability. Still some axle hop, etc. But definitely an improvement over stock.

 

CONTRiC I haven't tried these on a truck, only on the Exploder. How does the back of the truck feel over washboards? On the Exploder it used to pretty much bounce the rear tires off the pavement with the stock shocks. The new ones are much better.

 

What about the new Edelbrock Extreme Travel shocks? Anyone used them yet? I drive on road but off road quite often.

 

Racerguy: So far so good. I went up north this weekend and it handled the gravel roads *very* well. I am also impressed with speedbumps. She would nose dive when the rear would go over the speedbump with the stock shocks. Lifetime warentee as well on the monroe's.

 

After reading several replies in this forum, I decided to go with the Bilstiens (sp?). I went to Wheel Works and they told me about the sale they were having on the Monroe Reflexes. The Reflexes were buy 3 get 1 free...AND if I did not like them for ANY reason in the first 30 days, they would credit me the parts AND labor towards any other shock, all I would have to pay was the difference in the price of the Shock...(which was kind of shocking itself). The Bilstiens were ~$117 each. So the difference (with the free shock) was $250. No risk to me, so I told them to go for it. I love the ride, much better than the original ride (which often felt like I was trolling through a harbor)...

I can't imagine the Bilstiens being much better...

My Truck => 2001 F-150 Super Crew, Lariat, (60K miles) I mostly drive on the street, do some hauling, and of course the Tahoe trips...

Good Luck

 

Hi SC_Bowler and welcome
Good to hear that you like your Reflexes too.

 

I put the Monroe Reflexes on two months ago, w/ 68k on the originals. What a difference!! My truck isn't a work truck and offroading is minimal. But it makes upwards of twenty trips to the Sierras a year

As good as the shocks handle curves(remember it's a truck) I think the monroes are more impressive stopping(reduced forward pitching) and very very impressive in crosswinds and I have a pretty tall shell on the back.

I got them at Pep Boys for $50ea. I think Kragen was a couple bucks cheaper but they didn't have them in stock. Online I found them for about $42 + shpg. but couldn't wait the 3-5 days to get them.

I have an 01 f150 SCab 4x4.

Tim