Shocks
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,180
Likes: 83
From: Georgia
Neither was I, but got the Bilsteins on sale for $300 for 4 and the steering stabilizer was $65. Sales are out there, you just have to shop around. They changed my truck so much for the better it 's hard to explain. But to answer your question, some have found the regular Rancho 5000 s to be a good shock. And no, it is not what is on the truck from the factory. They may look like it, but they are Ford shocks painted to look like the 5000s.
Prolocutor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,618
Likes: 1,245
From: Western MA
Bilstein 4600's are the best you'll get on a modest budget. I went FOX 2.0 this time around for a better unloaded ride. They are also easily rebuildable and all aluminum so they won't turn into ***** of rust up here in our salt filled Northeast winters. I had to pay for it though at $450 for the 4...
Any aftermarket shock will be better than either the Ford "Rancho Branded" shocks or even the regular black Ford shocks. As Monty pointed out, they are pretty much the same shock. The FX4 shocks are just painted Rancho colors with a Rancho sticker on them. The kicker is, technically, the two Ford offerings are really made by the same company as the "real" Ranchos. Tenneco makes the Ford shocks and Rancho shocks. (Along with Monroe and others.) While the same company can make both an average base level product and a great product, there is no excuse for putting out a complete garbage product like the FX4 Ranchos. So, even though the 5000, 7000, and 9000 series from Rancho may be quality offerings, they lost me with the high failure rate of the FX4 Rancho Branded shocks that aren't really Ranchos... but are really Ranchos...
Any aftermarket shock will be better than either the Ford "Rancho Branded" shocks or even the regular black Ford shocks. As Monty pointed out, they are pretty much the same shock. The FX4 shocks are just painted Rancho colors with a Rancho sticker on them. The kicker is, technically, the two Ford offerings are really made by the same company as the "real" Ranchos. Tenneco makes the Ford shocks and Rancho shocks. (Along with Monroe and others.) While the same company can make both an average base level product and a great product, there is no excuse for putting out a complete garbage product like the FX4 Ranchos. So, even though the 5000, 7000, and 9000 series from Rancho may be quality offerings, they lost me with the high failure rate of the FX4 Rancho Branded shocks that aren't really Ranchos... but are really Ranchos...
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,595
Likes: 0
From: Utah County, UT
I had sensatrac on 1/2 ton, they didn't offer them for 250/350 at time and went with the grey ones. I forget the series naming Monroe had. During summer I liked them but didn't handle winter well and would make all kinds of knocking sounds. The 5100 bilstein didn't do this and was happy to run those. Bilstein or fox is what I will be replacing with here shortly...
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Prolocutor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,618
Likes: 1,245
From: Western MA
eBay vendor. They fluctuate their price and now they are at $525 though. The best deal right now is Auto Anything. Do a web chat with them and ask if they have the shocks in stock. When they say yes, ask if they have a coupon code to help you make your decision to purchase. They will give you one for 10% off bringing their price to about $460 shipped. That's the best deal I know of right now.
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