Good Morning All

The local Advanced Auto Parts had the "buy 3 get 1 free" deal on shocks. My truck, 1995 F250 4x4 HD (over 8500GVW w/ D50 front axle) had the ORIGINAL shocks on it.

I think it's time for a change and looking for options. The shocks on sale are :

1. Monroe Reflex
2. Monroe Sensa-Trac
3. Monroe Gas-Magnum
4. Rancho RS9000XL
5. Rancho RS5000
6. Rancho QuickLIFT

I am looking for educated input for I am about function and reliability, not about LCF (look cool factor). My truck is due for springs, especially in the front. This vehicle is my daily driver work vehicle and the only time I use 4x4 is when required for the odd jaunt into the Everglades.

Any assistance is greatly appreciated. If there are other models out there please feel free to add your input. I have no plans to lift this truck due to D50 TTB front end. I would really like to add a steering dampner shock to it also. Tires are BFG Rugged Trail LT 265/75R16 on steel rims. It also has the auto hubs.

Thanks for your time and input.
Regards
CS45

 

Hi CS, I asked a similar question a few weeks ago looking to replace my old worn shocks with something that would lesson the bone jarring ride our 250 HDs give us. I'm leaning towards the monroe sensor or gas magnum, though I haven't made up my mind yet- and I'mg going to do inner and outer bearings, calipers, rotors and break pads when I do them so I'm saving up to have all the parts on hand before doing so. My worries with both- the sensor will lesson the rough ride, but fall off a bunch when I'm loaded with wood and the gas magnum will leave me with the same really rough ride I have now. I'd be curious to know what you end up putting on and how it rides if you get your on before mine. Good luck. Keystonepaul

97 F250 HD, supercab, 4x4, colonial white.

 

My F250 is due for new shocks also. Let me know what you decided on and how you like the new ones. I'd appreciate it!

 

The rancho 9000s are adjustable for the load/ride you want

 

I just installed 4 Rancho RS5000 on my truck (87' 1/2 ton) two weeks ago. The ride differance is night and day from the old shocks that come off the truck which were wore out.

These are not car shocks and if thats the ride you are looking for then don't get the Rancho shocks. They ride very much like the stock shocks when they were new maybe a tad bit more stiff.

My truck is my daily driver and I am very happy with the Rancho shocks.

 

I just put the Monroes from NAPA on mine 4 years ago.. It rides like a truck. but guess what it IS a truck, a heavy duty truck at that.. It's the stiff springs and high load rating tires that give rough ride, the shocks just keep the tires from bouncing like a rubber ball...

If you want a cushey ride get a Town Car.

 

no one's looking for a cushy ride(though it would be nice), but if we're changing shocks and can make a small difference in our ride that's all were looking for. I have the same truck as you and was in a 2000 Chevy HD truck a couple of weeks ago and it road like a truck, not tank. That's all I'm looking for, a ride that won't require me to get a kidney transplant somewhere in the next 4 years. Maybe I should skip the lincoln and get a Chevy HD? (ouch).

back towards the topic- anyone choose the sensa tracs over the gas magnums and regret it/ think it was a very good thing or get the gas magnums and notice a difference from thier tired worn shocks for the better. Thanks all. Keystonepaul

 

Tires make a HUGE difference in ride.. More so than shocks....

Load range E with 80 psi or thereabouts, will beat the hell out of you, and a load range C with 35 psi or so will feel more like your mommas LTD...

 

Lowering the air pressure, even in E-rates, makes a HUGE difference in ride quality. The only time you should ever need to run max pressure in your E-rates is when you're loaded, and loaded heavy. On my fronts, I run about 55-60 psi, with a good contact patch, and compared to 80psi, it rides like a Caddy.

 

OK PEOPLE, let's focus here.

In the 15 plus years that these trucks have been on the road a handful of FTE members must have replaced their shocks at the very least.

Nowhere in my original post did I say anything about wanting a cushy ride. I am driving a 3/4ton 4x4 HD truck with the tires inflated at the recommended PSI. I am asking for experience with the shocks listed.

So if you have input about the questions asked, it's much appreciated.

Regards
CS45

 

CS 45,
Here is what I use and have used.. I choose for my working trucks the Monroe Gas Mags. THey cost more than the gas matic. They will perform like OEM, and in my opinion a little better. Addidionally when I put shocks on for a customer that works the truck hard, I put the GAS MAGNUMS on it.

Now for the occasional haul or daily driver on an F 150 the GAS MATICS work. But I will not use the Gas Matics in the F250 or higher. In comparasion I was once told that the gas matics are closer to the OEM, never found any proof.

F 250 /HD go with Gas Magnums

I know this is late, Let me know what you did choose

 

i have used MONROE'S , GABRIEL S , RANCHOS , BILSTIEN , and no names .
any more i like to go to AUTOZONE and get there best that have a lifetime warranty !
for work trucks and daily driving you dont need any to spend a lot of money on shocks !
research the different types of shocks !

 

All Contributors

I ended up going with the Monroe Gas Magnums all around. They have just been delivered to my front door plus a steering stabilizer shock for $207.00 all in. I'll be installing them later today except for the steering shock, looks a little more involved and I'll tackle that Saturday.

Thanks for the input. I'll add a review later.

Anyone ever put a steering shock on one of these trucks? Tips? Directions look a little vague.

Stay Safe
CS45

 

Follow up for new shocks. There is defininately a difference in the feel of the ride on the road, I will have to drive a couple hundred miles to get the real feel. plus I want to get that steering dampner attached to see what it does to the steering feel, although I wuold say that mine doesn't have the exessive play I'0 ready about in these threads, I will definately be looking when I am installing that steering shock later this week,

CS45

 

Raising this Thread from the Dead here.
ok CS, any long term report on those Magnums?
I had the same decision you faced and went with the Monroe Reflex.
They will replace what I think are probably Monroe Magnums.
I bought the truck used, it is a surplussed mining co. fleet truck and was worked hard the 1st 100K miles of it's life. The shocks it has don't appear to be stock. There aren't any stickers or anything, but they are big and beefy and yellow like the Magnums, so I assume that's probably what they are.
The Magnums seem to be pretty good for hard service in heavy duty work application. I do haul and tow with my truck, but less nowadays than I once did, so if I'm able to gain any slight increment in improved ride quality with the Reflex over the old Magnums, I'll be pleased.