Shock absorber recomendations

[ADQ K9]

it is time to replace the shocks on the Ghost Rider. Got 50 K out of the factory Rancho RS5000's I like the ride they give when not towing and the seem to do fine under load . What have the rest of you had success with?

[NH_Bulldog]

If the Rancho shocks treated you right, why not go with them again and stick with what works?

I am approaching the end of life for my factory shocks on my F250 FX4 at 56k but no oil leaks from the shocks yet and the ride is still good. When it’s time, my go-to is Bilstein B8-5100 series shocks front and rear (they have different models for anywhere from 0”-6” lift). I used them on two previous trucks and they have good manners on and off road and towing or empty.

[ADQ K9]

I am just doing research to see what others are running I have heard good things about Blistien 5100's The rears are the ones leaking and there is a bounce running empty.

[Stircrazy]

I put Billsteins on my 2014f350, they are amazing.

[sourdough]

I've ran Rancho 5000s and 9000s. I've also ran Bilstein 5100s and they are a better shock.

[rlh1957]

RoadMaster

[NH_Bulldog]

Originally Posted by rlh1957

RoadMaster

I wasn’t aware they made heavy-duty truck shock absorbers. Are you sure about this?

[rlh1957]

Bilstein for truck

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by rlh1957

Bilstein for truck

I agree, Bilstein.

[pawpaw]

Originally Posted by ADQ K9

it is time to replace the shocks on the Ghost Rider. Got 50 K out of the factory Rancho RS5000's I like the ride they give when not towing and the seem to do fine under load . What have the rest of you had success with?

Stock Rancho's made it to 102K miles so I replaced them with new RS5000X front and rears on my '17 F250. Nice ride with them even running 20 inch wheels and tires. Ran the 4600 and the 5100 series Bilsteins on some past F150's I had and they were good shocks.

[hondapro87]

Originally Posted by ADQ K9

it is time to replace the shocks on the Ghost Rider. Got 50 K out of the factory Rancho RS5000's I like the ride they give when not towing and the seem to do fine under load . What have the rest of you had success with?

Just a FYI if you truck is the FX4 and has the factory Rancho shocks. They are just Rancho branded shocks. They are just a Motorcraft shock painted white and red. If I remember right they even have a Motorcraft part number stamped on them. When I had my 16 F350 mine lasted about 40k

[NH_Bulldog]

They (Ford) must have stopped using Rancho shocks at some point. My 2022 FX4 just has plain looking black shocks front and rear. It was a Covid build so I am lucky to have even gotten the order at all, but neither the sales literature nor build sheet mentioned Rancho shocks, just “off-road-tuned shocks”.

My brother ordered a GMC Sierra AT4 around the same time and his did have the Rancho shocks from the factory, so I am thinking Ford just dropped the co-branding and went with their own.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by NH_Bulldog

They (Ford) must have stopped using Rancho shocks at some point. My 2022 FX4 just has plain looking black shocks front and rear. ...

According to the Ford SuperDuty Build Guides, the 2017 FX4 package specified "Rancho® branded shocks – colored front and rear" and in 2018, that was replaced by "Off-Road Specifically tuned front/rear shock absorbers".

So, it looks like SuperDuty trucks 2017 and prior with the FX4 package had Rancho shocks and those built in 2018 and after had "off road tuned shocks" which may or may not be Rancho branded. They "could be" Rancho shocks or they "could be" made by some other manufacturer to MotorCraft specifications.

I've seen a lot of Ford's "name brand parts" get changed to "less expensive stuff" but the customer is still paying "premium pricing"....

Here's the 2017 and the 2018 FX4 package contents. First part is 2017, second part is 2018:

[Brantlyj]

I would not be surprised if Ford had a licensing deal with Rancho that they choose to not renew in 2018

Originally Posted by JRTJH

According to the Ford SuperDuty Build Guides, the 2017 FX4 package specified "Rancho® branded shocks – colored front and rear" and in 2018, that was replaced by "Off-Road Specifically tuned front/rear shock absorbers".

So, it looks like SuperDuty trucks 2017 and prior with the FX4 package had Rancho shocks and those built in 2018 and after had "off road tuned shocks" which may or may not be Rancho branded. They "could be" Rancho shocks or they "could be" made by some other manufacturer to MotorCraft specifications.

I've seen a lot of Ford's "name brand parts" get changed to "less expensive stuff" but the customer is still paying "premium pricing"....

Here's the 2017 and the 2018 FX4 package contents. First part is 2017, second part is 2018:

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Brantlyj

I would not be surprised if Ford had a licensing deal with Rancho that they choose to not renew in 2018

Just like the 2002 contract for the 7.3L diesel with Navistar that wasn't renewed in 2003 when Ford changed to the 6L Navistar diesel. At least shock reliability isn't as critical or as costly as the engine reliability...

[wiredgeorge]

Had Rancho shocks on my 2006 F350 and they were shot and were replaced with Monroe Gas Magnum shocks. The Monroe shocks are much less expensive and work very well. Thought I would toss this out there as everyone gave cudos to whatever they choose to use.