Please advise as to what brands or models I should consider and the pros & cons of each brand (shock & stabilizer).

I have a 2003 Excursion Ltd 4X4 with the 6.0L motor. The suspension and tires are stock and I intend to keep them that way.

What brand and models of shocks should or would work best. Why would someone pick Rancho or Bilsteins? Does it have something to due with "rebounding", "dampening" or something?

Different brands have been mentioned, but I am curious what makes one better or not for normal driving and medium towing - stock set-up.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

I keep moving them becasue they do not go in the 6.0 forum it needs to be in the SD section


Now the two threads are merged

 

Tim,

I agree, but when looking at the Bilstein site, they want to know if one has a 7.3L or 6.0L motor... I guess there are differences.... I do not know.

I will check out the SD forum.

The 6.0L forum has been a good place to discuss everything related to the current 2003 - 2005 model year diesels... becuase they are 6.0L motors. I guess I asked (as others have) since we all ahare the same "bond" of the same motor.

I guess sway bar questions, shocks, tires, towing questions, suspension questions, tow/haul questions, VIN request questions... as you see... they all get related to our diesel trucks... which just happen to be 6.0L motors. If not, we would be in the 7.3L forum or some other place????

No debate intended, but just trying to express we I, and others, mostly hang out in the 6.0L forum (and yes, I do go to the Excursion one to as you know).

Thanks Bud,

Jeff

 

I was trying to get fish4bass with some answers, and yours was a good question so that is why I combined them...all very relevant to each of you ...plus I am learning something too.


I try to keep anything hooked to the 6.0 together, like pipes, TS after that it all gets moved to the SD unless it is about a 7.3…

 

6.0 and 7.3 are engine's not a truck. anything not related to the engine is super duty and belongs there.. suspension,tires, shocks and lifts are the truck.
we have reasons for the super duty area.

 

So back to my post.

I drive an '03 Excursion Ltd 4X4 with the 6.0L motor.

I need new shocks and was wondering what the pros and cons are to the two most popular brands (Rancho and Bilstein)?

I have seens and heard mentioned here on the site that the RanchoRSX's are a great choice and to go with the on-shock adjustable feature and forget the "in-cab" controller.

The price between Bilsteins and Rancho's are within $10/shock, so what are the driving, towing, performance and quality issues I should consider?

The Excursion weighs more than a Pick-up and my driving is mostly in-city and highway with occasional towing of between 3,000 - 8,000 lbs (max).

I was also looking a new/replacement steering stabilizer and I see that Rancho has one, but Bilstein does not (is this correct)?

I know that I will get many differing opionins, but that's OK as I am curious why each is preferred and what the differences are.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

Any thoughts???

 

Go with the RS9000X's, you'll be happy with them. Not the RSX9000, they're not adjustable.

 

I have run both the RS9000 shocks with an in cab controller and Bilstein 5100 shocks. Personally I like the Bilsteins better. Bilstein current does not make a steering stabilizer for our trucks, but you can purchase a steering stabilizer from DR that uses re-valved 5100 shocks.

 

My ride improved considerably by removing the fake Ranchos and installing Bilsteins. Actually, my dually rides better then my 01 SRW PSD did!

 

where did you have the in-cab controller?
any pics of the setup?
tips on install

 

What package do you have to order from the factory to get the steering stabalizer??

 

The factory shocks and stabilizers are garbage. I have had stock, rancho's, and bilstein shocks. I will never use a rancho shock again after using the bil's. My brother had a set on his truck that he gave to me, which I ran for about 30k miles, then we put them on our dad's truck and he's still running them and they're still better than the stock or rancho's after being on three trucks and at least 60k miles. I got a dual shock stabilizer with all mouting brackets shipped to my door for less than $100 on ebay. It uses rough country shocks which aren't the greatest, but for the steering stabilizer they work fine. I wonder if I can mount some bilsteins in there...

 

I had the controller mounted under the dash. Sorry no pictures. If I were to get the RS9000 shocks again I don't think I would get the controller. I ran the RS shocks for awhile without it and liked the adjust-ability of the shocks. I thought the controller would save me from getting dirty when I would go under the truck to adjust them. Installed the controller and no matter what I did I could not get it to hold a setting. Sure it would lose maybe a setting over a 24 hour period and all you had to do was push a button, but I liked the positive settings that would stay using the **** on the shocks.

Even with all that said I wouldn't get them again. The Bilstein 5100 shocks cost about the same and ride so much better than the Ranchos. I also thing the build quality of the Bilstein shocks is far superior.

Just so that everyone is talking about the same thing here, remember that the Rancho shocks that are available in the FX4 package are cheap and I believe oil filled. The RS9000X shock is the top of the line Rancho shock and is both gas filled and adjustable. There is even an available remote reservoir. Bilstein shocks are all gas filled with their HD series for stock height trucks and the 5100 series for lifted. Then you go up from there with the 7100 series shocks and remote reservoir shocks along with their off road racing shocks.

 

Just ordered a complete set of Bilstein shocks for my Excursion.

Here is what I have learned...

1) Bilstein brand has less to go wrong due to not having adjustable valving like the Rancho's 9000RSX's. They are good, but I like the design, durability and research I did (personal preference).

2) Bilstein just updated their "internal R&D info" to now include all model years of the Excursion (before they stopped at 2001). They now go to 2004 (not sure why not 2005)? They are the same part number as earlier years, but at least they will fit my stock '03 Excursion and be warranted.

3) Front #: BE5-6208 / Rear #: BE5-6209

4) Purchased from eshock(dot)com and paid $259.80 (free UPS shipping).

5) Local shop will install for $18.00/ea shock (will see if a friend can do it for less or a few beers).

With 55,000 miles on my 2003 Excursion Ltd 4X4 (stock suspension), it was time to move up to better shocks... I figured I used them well enough going 55,000 miles... but will have to say, I still have a lot of tread left on my stock tires and they are wearing evenly!!!! I have noticed a few more "bounces"... hence the reason to buy new shocks!!!

Tim.... my 3rd mod... (Coolant filter, Fumoto drain plug and now new Heavy Duty Bilstein shocks)!!!! Now just need proof of Oil by-pass filters and their results (ha, ha)!!!!!

Thanks,

Jeff