shocks
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 737
Likes: 0
From: LAKE FORK TEXAS
I went with the Rancho RSX's,, Unbelievable difference over the factory shocks. I just didnt like the blue and yellow of the bilsteins,everyone says they are awesome though, Ranchos are red and white,, Match my red truck much better and they have been around forever, Obviously a good product.!!
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,248
Likes: 0
Hmm. Rancho Suspension has been around 'forever'. Seems like it. But Bilstein isn't exactly a newcomer. Rancho has been in business making car shocks since 1955. 50 years is a long time.
In fact, Bilstein has been making automotive shocks since 1954 - basically the same length of time. However, 1954 is only when Bilstein started making auto shocks - they have actually been in business making various types of hardware since the late 1800s.
Both shocks are good - and a HUGE improvement over the wimpy stockers. I prefer the Bilsteins. A friend has dual Ranchos on the front and single Ranchos on the back of his F250 - I have single Bilsteins all round. While both are very well-controlled, his jolts more over small bumps. Off road, I like the way mine work better - on-road I prefer the ride of mine.
Just my opinion. Oh, and yeah, the paint scheme isn't great... but I do have a Rancho steering damper (since Bilstein does not make one for F250s!!)
Still, either one will give your truck a BIG improvement in driveability.
In fact, Bilstein has been making automotive shocks since 1954 - basically the same length of time. However, 1954 is only when Bilstein started making auto shocks - they have actually been in business making various types of hardware since the late 1800s.
Both shocks are good - and a HUGE improvement over the wimpy stockers. I prefer the Bilsteins. A friend has dual Ranchos on the front and single Ranchos on the back of his F250 - I have single Bilsteins all round. While both are very well-controlled, his jolts more over small bumps. Off road, I like the way mine work better - on-road I prefer the ride of mine.
Just my opinion. Oh, and yeah, the paint scheme isn't great... but I do have a Rancho steering damper (since Bilstein does not make one for F250s!!)
Still, either one will give your truck a BIG improvement in driveability.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,767
Likes: 1
If a Bilstein goes bad under normal use, it's replaced for life. I like that. Edlebrock shocks are the same and so are the heavy duty monroes. But the monroes are not a mono-tube high-pressure shock. I don't mean to sound all "know it all" cause believe me, I have a hard time remembering why I walked in a room sometimes and there are a lot of people on this site with more knowledge than me. The only reason I know this is because my truck was just due new shocks so I spent a bunch of time on the internet checking a lot of them out.
Last edited by Orezona; Mar 2, 2005 at 09:47 PM.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,007
Likes: 1
From: Newport News
I'll go with Bilsteins as well. I have the 5150's and they're great. I had the RS9000X Rancho's and wasn't very impressed, although they were much better than stock.
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,767
Likes: 1
Autozone was $70 + tax each. I got mine from http://www.eshocks.com/index.htm for $64.95 each, no tax and free shipping. I asked about the warranty process and they said if I ever needed to replace a shock then I'd buy one, they'd send it, and then when I sent back the bad one they'd credit me. I saved about $30 by going with eshocks. A few day's later I was with a friend at the GM dealer and I noticed an "Authorized Bilstein Dealer" sign. I think it's because some GM trucks have a Soft ride Bilstein as an OEM.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 1
From: Littleton, Colorado
Bilsteins are probably the best all around shock for the Super Duty. Another great shock suprisingly is the Gabriel Max Control. Its a monotube with the same specs as the Edelbrocks and Bilsteins. Lifetime warranty too. $49.00 at Autozone.
Austin
Austin
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Slana, Alaska
I bought my Bilsteins thru Camping World. I understand that a lot of folks use them on their motorhomes because they have found that they outlast any other shock and work best with the extra weight of their rigs.
