Ok guys, I need your help!

How often should I change shocks? Would it be a good idea when I get new tires after the first of the year to change the shocks as well. I have Rancho 5000 and might go with the Bilsteins HD's.

Second, what kind of ordeal is it to make the front passenger seat of a 2001 a power seat? I have decided to keep my '01 even though I have 215,000 +- miles and I already have to ge the driver seat replaced because the seat track is broken, so I might as well replace them both. It would make the litte lady I live with(for 21+ years) more comphy.

John in Mobile
'01 PSD 4 X 4

 

The shock question is not so simple. It isn't a question of miles. If you only drive on the highway they don't get as much wear as if you have a quarter mile long, heavely potholed gravel driveway (like I do) that it runs over several times a day. Someone here can probably post a "rule-of-thumb" test like jumping off of the bumber and seeing how quickly the "bounce" in the truck dampens. It really turns into a seat-of-the-pants gut feel kind of thing.

As far as the replacement brand goes, I went with Rancho 9000. They are adjustable via a small dial on the shock itself. This works well for customizing the shock for towing vs. highway driving, vs. pothole hopping... The Bilstiens have a good reputation on this forum, but some have commented that they are a bit stiff and I thought that was the last thing my already "rough-riding" X needed.

 

John bear in mind that neither of my Excursion had/have powered passenger seats and I have never tried to install one. With that said, I would imagine that all you need is a powered seat and some power. A positive and a negative would be simple to run. Finding a power seat that matches may be more difficult.

Unless your Ranchos are leaking or have lost all dampening then save your dough. You don't need new shocks.

 

How often you change shocks and the type of replacement shock you choose depends on your driving habits, the level of performance you seek and terrain. If you granny it down a smooth highway probably never. If you drive aggressively and not afraid of bumps then probably every 60,000 miles. If you tow a lot probably every 40,000. These mileages are SWAGs and based on no data. High quality shocks will probably last longer. Average shocks will most likely last less. Personally, I have Bilstiens because I drive fats and want the truck to stay on the road and I tow a 6,000 lb. boat and 10,000 trailer. My Bilstiens have been on my X for 35,000 miles and feel like the day I put them on. FWIW.

Now for the power seat. The required power seat connections may be stored under the carpet under your current seat. It may be as simple as installing a power seat, making the connections and installing a fuse. I believe several years ago car makers went to one wire harness fits all vice a different harness for each option. Not sure but may be worth checking. Also suggest you check the fuse panel to see if there are wires in the power seat fuse location where there is probably no fuse. That would give you a clue if the wires are run in the harness.

DSMMH