Shocks for a HD Truck?

[911boost]

I am looking for everyone's thoughts. My 2012 F350 came standard with Rancho shocks and a few years ago with 75,000 miles on it they were completely shot.

Did some research and had been happy with some Fox products in the past so I went with the Performance Series 2.0 adjustable shocks by them. I liked the concept of being able to adjust them depending on if I was towing etc.

They. Are. Junk.

It has been a couple of years and two of them are leaking and just not good. To the point I do not want to even mess with them anymore and plan on replacing them.

Bilsteins, Ranchos something I am not considering?

Now that I have the LC I do not drive this as often, but it does tow often and I do drive a mix of highway and in town.

Thanks!

[908/930]

I put in Bilsteins on the front of my 2500HD about 8 years ago, still working well.

[herr_oberst]

Are Bilsteins still guaranteed for "life"?

[Rawknees'Turbo]

I've had Bilsteins on my 1990 E350 box truck for about 12 years - no problems with them.

[upsscott]

If you want to break the bank you could go the King route.

[upsscott]

Also, I have the Fox 2.0 on all four corners of my Gladiator. 8k on the odometer and it’s going in Friday because the driver rear is puking oil.

[Racerbvd]

I put Bilsteins on my 2500 4x4, happy so far.

[unclebilly]

My tundra came stock with bilstiens. There is a slight weep on one of the rears with 421000 kms on it. They seem to work fine still.

[upsscott]

Originally Posted by upsscott

Also, I have the Fox 2.0 on all four corners of my Gladiator. 8k on the odometer and it’s going in Friday because the driver rear is puking oil.

I take it back, mine are Fox 2.5, still leaking however, just more expensive.

[look 171]

My go to shocks was Rancho from my old days of playing out in the desert. Still old habits do not die, so I installed a set of adj Rancho 9000s on my Duramax. I don't dislike them, but wouldn't buy them again. I can't tell the difference between setting 1(soft) compare to 3. But I can tell if I get it up to max. That's barely able to tell the differences. I hear they only last around 50,000 miles. Next stop, Billsteins for sure. I had them on my Land Cruiser and it performed great. No issues for many happy miles.

[cabmandone]

If it's just a towing vehicle just put a good set of shocks on and add air bags. Shocks on a F250 or F350 don't make any difference in ride quality. It'll ride like you have bricks for tires no matter what shocks you put on due to the springs

[Nickshu]

Bilstein 4600 or 5100 are very popular for us Ford SuperDuty owners. 4600 is a bit softer, 5100 is a bit stiffer. Ignore the lift requirements for the 5100 fronts, you can use them at stock ride height.

[asphaltgambler]

Originally Posted by 908/930

I put in Bilsteins on the front of my 2500HD about 8 years ago, still working well.

+1 on that - they are quality and have different valving series for same application. Highly recommend

[billybek]

I put Bilstein 5100s on my old 3/4 ton GMC hd truck after I had asked this same question a few years back. It was recommended by most of the truck owners here and worked well on my truck.
They were a bit stiffer in ride but I was ok with that and an amazing upgrade from the old worn out stock shocks that were on the truck.

[911boost]

Thanks everyone.

I have the Fox's turned up to the highest setting, my initial thought was the adjustable shocks would help mitigate some of the bouncing on the cement sections of highway around here when it is unloaded, but that is more a factor of the length of the vehicle than the shocks I have learned.

The Bilstein's are a lot cheaper and I will be going that route.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by 911boost

Thanks everyone.

I have the Fox's turned up to the highest setting, my initial thought was the adjustable shocks would help mitigate some of the bouncing on the cement sections of highway around here when it is unloaded, but that is more a factor of the length of the vehicle than the shocks I have learned.

The Bilstein's are a lot cheaper and I will be going that route.

If you want to stop the bouncing, get rid of the F350.
It's the springs, not the shocks. That and Ford Super Duty trucks just ride like a truck. I've driven a few Chevy 25 and 3500 and they don't ride as stiff as Ford trucks do.

[911boost]

Oh its only one section of highway. The 8 foot bed crew cab set up is just so damn long....

It does not really bother me, I like having the ability to drop my bumper pull toy hauler on it without being forced to use the weight distribution bars all the time. My Excursion was too softly sprung.

[monoflo]

Bilsteins on my one ton --nice

[look 171]

Originally Posted by 911boost

Oh its only one section of highway. The 8 foot bed crew cab set up is just so damn long....

It does not really bother me, I like having the ability to drop my bumper pull toy hauler on it without being forced to use the weight distribution bars all the time. My Excursion was too softly sprung.

Don't feel bad, my crew cab with 8' bed Druramax ride like siht over those bumpy fwys too that shakes me like a rag doll at speed. I have been complaining about that and no one seems to have an answer as to why they do that to newly poured concrete sections. Around here, all new sections (concrete) or newly patched fwy are that way but none of the older concrete fwy are remotely that rough.

[Dan J]

Another vote for Bilstein The rest IMHO are shiite