And yet another leaking shock absorber
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 872
Likes: 4
From: Greene, NY
Rodney - Any way to tell if the shock is toast without removing? I'm at just over 3k on mine, and it feels like my ride isn't as good as it was originally. Trying to figure out if I've already lost a shock or 4, or if it's just the crappy roads around here being really crappy with the spring thaw....
Prolocutor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,618
Likes: 1,245
From: Western MA
Ted, a couple other 17 owners have said the same to me about deteriorating ride quality. Unfortunately, if only the gas side is blown, there is no way to know but to pull the bottom bolt and see there is rebound. I'll let you know about mine this weekend. I've got about the same miles as my 2012 when I changed them out. Although I haven't towed with this one like I did with my last at the same point.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
I wonder if the duallys use the same rear shocks? Quite a bit more unsprung weight on these trucks.
My truck seems to ride about the same as when it left the dealer...it has 8k on it now. Standard black shocks.
Personally, I think the dealer should have to change these out under warranty. If everyone just accepts junk shocks and swaps them out on their own, FoMoCo doesn't see a high rate of warranty failures and continues to use junk shocks.
If everyone made the warranty claim, Ford might see a spike and be willing to change to something better in the future.
My truck seems to ride about the same as when it left the dealer...it has 8k on it now. Standard black shocks.
Personally, I think the dealer should have to change these out under warranty. If everyone just accepts junk shocks and swaps them out on their own, FoMoCo doesn't see a high rate of warranty failures and continues to use junk shocks.
If everyone made the warranty claim, Ford might see a spike and be willing to change to something better in the future.
Prolocutor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,618
Likes: 1,245
From: Western MA
I disagree there Tyler. While the dealer absolutely will replace them under warranty, why would you want junk to replace junk? Just to make a point on principal? It's not worth my time to make Ford pay as it were... I'd rather have a better than OE replacement and be done with it. That's just me though.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 722
From: Wisconsin
I wonder if the duallys use the same rear shocks? Quite a bit more unsprung weight on these trucks.
My truck seems to ride about the same as when it left the dealer...it has 8k on it now. Standard black shocks.
Personally, I think the dealer should have to change these out under warranty. If everyone just accepts junk shocks and swaps them out on their own, FoMoCo doesn't see a high rate of warranty failures and continues to use junk shocks.
If everyone made the warranty claim, Ford might see a spike and be willing to change to something better in the future.
My truck seems to ride about the same as when it left the dealer...it has 8k on it now. Standard black shocks.
Personally, I think the dealer should have to change these out under warranty. If everyone just accepts junk shocks and swaps them out on their own, FoMoCo doesn't see a high rate of warranty failures and continues to use junk shocks.
If everyone made the warranty claim, Ford might see a spike and be willing to change to something better in the future.
Prolocutor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,618
Likes: 1,245
From: Western MA
This has been an issue as long as there have been Super Duty trucks built. There is no improvement by replacing OE with OE. Just more of the same.
You're in the minority not wanting to upgrade anything yet Jim. Half the threads on here are bout upgrades...LOL. My shocks aren't blown to my knowledge yet and they are getting upgraded this weekend...
You're in the minority not wanting to upgrade anything yet Jim. Half the threads on here are bout upgrades...LOL. My shocks aren't blown to my knowledge yet and they are getting upgraded this weekend...
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 633
Likes: 42
I agree also... Although I don't have a issue that I'm aware of ,but if one arises I'll be back to the dealership for replacement.
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Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
I disagree there Tyler. While the dealer absolutely will replace them under warranty, why would you want junk to replace junk? Just to make a point on principal? It's not worth my time to make Ford pay as it were... I'd rather have a better than OE replacement and be done with it. That's just me though.
Prolocutor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,618
Likes: 1,245
From: Western MA
It's been going on since 1999 T. I don't think Ford's going to learn a lesson here...LOL On top of that, the stock shocks, even when not blown, are sub par. The difference while towing with OE vs. Bilstein or Fox is night and day. The unloaded ride improves as well.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
Yeah, I know the shocks have been junk for quite some time. But interestingly, none of my Super Dutys seem to have suffered a blown shock. All of them have been the standard black shocks. Maybe some of them had gas failure and I never knew, but the ride quality never seemed to change much. I assume my duty cycle is as severe as most, running full air pressure, hauling tons of wood pellets all winter long, towing heavy equipment in the summer, and driving the truck over pot-holed and frost heaved New England roads all year round...
I'm contemplating an upgrade maybe this summer or fall. I wouldn't mind an improved ride. Fox shocks on my mountain bike and snowmobile have always performed well, but I also like Bilstein. Unfortunately, they don't make a shock for the Super Duty right now.
I'm contemplating an upgrade maybe this summer or fall. I wouldn't mind an improved ride. Fox shocks on my mountain bike and snowmobile have always performed well, but I also like Bilstein. Unfortunately, they don't make a shock for the Super Duty right now.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,686
Likes: 12,808
From: Wyoming
I see what Rodney and Tyler are both saying. My time is important but I do like making a point also. So if my shocks are shot early I'm going to make Ford replace them. I can swap out shocks pretty quickly so eventually - once we get the aftermarket support for a direct replacement - I'll ditch the stock shocks.
Nissan does the same thing as Ford. Rancho branded shocks on the Titan. I ditched those within 10k miles and went with Sway-a-way. Big difference!
Nissan does the same thing as Ford. Rancho branded shocks on the Titan. I ditched those within 10k miles and went with Sway-a-way. Big difference!
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
I'll await your report on ride quality improvements.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,757
Likes: 123
From: Maryland
Karl4Cat, any chance you can get me dimensions of the Fox 2.0 opening the bushings fit into?