need recommendations for shocks, please

[Tim OLeary]

2002 ST

I want to put on shocks to compliment the new upper and lower ball joints, tires, and chassis mounts!

TIA

 

[blert]

Love the Bilsteins I put on earlier this year. Be warned... they are stiff.

Skip Rancho unless you spring for the adjustable ones or have to have the red/white paint. Get Monroes instead, they are the same (Monroe makes Rancho, they are just a sister/rebrand) and you don't pay for the Rancho name.

Personally, I consider Gabriels as emergency shocks only... like, I NEED shocks now and this all I could get. (Appologies to the Gabriel fans out there).

 

[EddieS'04]

Love the Bilsteins I put on earlier this year. Be warned... they are stiff.

That is why I installed the rancho rsx, @ 1500 miles. They are getting soft now, and the rs 5000 is the replacment, for the rsx. They have a life warranty, but I purchased online and self installed.
What version of bilstiens or monroe compare to the rs 5000.?

Not a gabriel fan either. over 30 years ago I installed some 3 way adjustable gabs'. They turned out to be snake oil. Got taken in by a speed shop owner.

 

[blert]

Bilstein 4600 fit the 1st gen ST. They are monotube and relatively expensive.

Rancho RS5000X are twin tube. Probably match up to Monroe Reflex, which aren't made anymore. Don't know what the Monroe ~equivalent would be now-a-days (maybe the gas-magnums). They may be starting to differentiate their lines a bit more recently. They probably all tweak the valving but the tech is going to be the same. I can't find the info I found last year, when I was investigating shocks, that detailed the Rancho/Monroe relationship. I'll keep trying

KYB MonoMax is also a good choice.

If you can find Edelbrocks then grab them, they are supposed to be excelent.

Monotubes are superior to twin tube shocks.

 

[curtis james]

not sure if your just freeway or go off trail, i have had good luck with ranchos on lighter rigs, but went thru a set on my excursion and went to bilsteins and they been on for 15 years and ride great, for off roading i like stiffer settings like rancho or fox.

 

[blert]

TBF, I really liked the Monroe Reflex that I replaced with the Bilsteins. They lasted quite a while and had a nice ride, stiffer than original but softer than the Bilsteins. As Curtis said, I really depends on what you do with your truck, how you want it to feel, and of course your budget.

 

[NorgeMan]

I replaced rear Monroe shocks last month with KYB Monomax and like them very much so far. I will replace front shocks with same. Good luck with what you choose!

 

[Tim OLeary]

Thanks for the comments! I use the vehicle onroad, although I might go 4WD on the beach occasionally. The roads in NE Florida are really terrible; one continuous infrastructure project, so I want to smooth out the ride.
TIA

 

[RR-sport trac]

I recently went with the Ranchos mentioned earlier and so far am really happy - have had success with the kyb mono max on a former vehicle - I would recommend either but I like a firmer ride

 

[Andrew Homar]

I have read all of this thread and it seems most of the shock advice is for highway driving. But my 2004 Sport Trac XLT has been driven at least one third of its life (just short of 124k on the odometer now) driving off road. Having said that I would welcome any advice regarding a good set of off road shocks that won't ruin highway driving. I was not impressed with Monroe shocks which did not last long. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Doug Kaye]

replaced the stock ones with KYB Excel-G front and rear, for a good deal of bad dirt road driving, as well as commuting and long road trips. So far so good, just spent a week of elk hunting beating them up over marginal roads, did well on 8 miles of washboard, which is a real test of everything.

 

[blert]

I have read all of this thread and it seems most of the shock advice is for highway driving. But my 2004 Sport Trac XLT has been driven at least one third of its life (just short of 124k on the odometer now) driving off road. Having said that I would welcome any advice regarding a good set of off road shocks that won't ruin highway driving. I was not impressed with Monroe shocks which did not last long. Any suggestions? Thanks.

The extent of my "off-road" driving consists of occasionally cutting across a large field to get to a buddies house and traversing a few poorly groomed dirt roads to get to a fishing hole. The Bilsteins handle it nicely though.

 

[Tim OLeary]

So I think I'll go with Monroe OESpectrums #37122 front and #37035 rear. Parts places get about $65.00 but they're $40.00 online. I'll do the work on the paved driveway. Not exactly sure where to place the jackstands.
Comments?

 

[Todd Z]

Front on frame under doors, Rear on axle tube next to leaf spring each side.

 

[JerryRigour]

I put on rancho 5000s, front and back, this summer. I think they have been great off-road!

 

[JC2008SportTrac]

I need lower ball joints on my '08. I'm looking all over Oklahoma for an Adrenaline. I think I'm going to end up finding a Mustang for me, and end up giving this truck to my girl. I want Adrenaline if I'm going to make it a daily-diver for me, and I can't find it. Looking for a GT or GT500 for me.

 

[JC2008SportTrac]

If anyone has a line on an Adrenaline in OK, let me know. My '08 V-8 4X4 is fine, but if I'm going to keep "this" truck in my life, I really need to find an Adrenaline of the 4x4, 4-8 version. I'm on the lookout, also, for a GT500 of the 2010-2018 version, and a GT of the 2015+, 20K variety.