I cannot put shocks costing that much on this truck, no matter how good Bilsteins are :(


So, with that in mind, i've heard KYB's aren't good/don't last very long?

I've heard people reference Rancho's and Gabriel Ultras.

Any preference? or order of best to worst for the available shocks? I'm trying to hit a best bang for the buck price point.

 

Subscribing. I want the Bilstein's too but the price hurts. For what it's worth I've found them as low as $280 for the set but that's still crazy.

 

I'm actually starting to suspect too many people in their "reviews" or comments on dampers, fail to mention the model, and only the brand. I can find many mentions of the upper models of otherwise maligned brands, being recommended.

Makes me think KYB ExcelG's might be a good choice.

 

You get what you pay for when it comes to shocks, just like anything else in life. Look at the price point, and think of your budget. Stay towards the high end of your budget and you should end up with a decent set of shocks. Warranty makes a difference as well. If it doesn't have a lifetime warranty, don't get it.

 

Well, for what it's worth, i just ordered a set of ExcelG's, so i'll see what happens, rears arrive Saturday.

 

Agreed completely ^.

I went with Monroe OESpectrum twice when I did my truck's shocks (first to replace the worn out old, and 2nd when I started my little lift).. Thought oh wow, this is a great price. $30 each, not bad.

Then the last go around I went with Bilstein's. Yes they are slightly more expensive at about $65 per shock but wow... sooooo much better than the Monroes that I had. I didn't realize how the Monroe's were not that great until I installed the Bilsteins.

I look back and see that I wasted $120x2= $240 total by replacing crappy shocks with crappy shocks instead of just getting the better ones off the bat.

Honestly most things for our truck is cheap. I could be biased because my STi things are expensive and shocks for our MB start at $500 per corner.... so getting away at $70 to me is cheap for the ranger...lol

My friend had Rancho's not sure on the model but it rode way too stiff, and the ride was not comfortable.

-Nigel

 

I hear you on the Jap stuff being expensive to shock up, bought the TSX some new ones too.

I figure with the KYB's being at the price point they're at, as well as the company actualy being a fairly decvent Jap company, they should be good.

Ironically, the truck has Monroe Spectrums on it now, i figured based on them not releasing the Spectrums for the Ranger until late 2014, that these can't have more than 20k on them, but i'm not convinced on the ride quality - not sure how a truck should ride though.

 

I always run Bilstein when I can get them for the vehicle. If Bilstein doesn't make them for the application, I go to KYB Gas-A-Just shocks. I have had good results with the KYB shocks on two different vehicles. One was a 73 FJ55 Landcruiser and the other on my 69 Fairlane Cobra. They were excellent on my Landcruiser and lasted a long time. I think they are slighly stiff on the Cobra but could just be the suspension rubber bushings need to be replaced. The only time I notice them being stiff is when I hit a pot hole or something that jerks the suspension quickly.

 

That's good to know, and it looks like i should be able to do them all this weekend. Hope i can tell the difference!

Does anyone know the torque specs for front and back shocks?

 

I have Gabriel's on the front and air load leveler Gabriel's on the rear of my explorer and air load leveler Monroe's on my ranger. honestly they look exactly the same. I have a slight air leak on my explorer after 13 years...

 

Still after torque settings if anyone has them? or knows where i can get them?

I also thought it interesting that the rear shocks are made in Mexico and the fronts are made in Japan. I only have 3 right now, so can't fit them yet.

 

i'm running Monroe spectums on my Ranger. Have them on for about a year 10000 miles or so. I think they have been pretty decent.

 

I've owned my 2007 4wd Ranger for four months now, my first upgrade was to replace the worn OEM shocks with Rancho shocks, last weekend I replaced the Rancho shocks with Bilstein shocks -- don't be like me, just do it right the time!

 

What were the noticabile differences between the two shocks when driving?

 

The overall ride comfort with a vast improvement in the damping. Two weeks ago I unbolted both bottom rear shocks to paint the differential and one of the shocks only extended about two inches on its own while the other fully extended. Last weekend after I replaced all for Rancho shocks with the Bilstein shocks, I noticed the movement on the two front Rancho shocks was very notchy. I also do high performance driving events with my BMW so I might be a bit more sensitive to shock performance than most.

 

Went with Gabriel Ultras from Rockauto for front shocks. Old ones were badly rusted, had to cut the top nut out when removing them. I expected a world of difference in driving feel but did not really get that.
That is ok though, I hear these trucks have stiff suspensions so I should not expect buick like ride.
Maybe next month I will replace rear also and see what happens.

 

Smoother ride, much improved damping, which is very noticeable when driving over multiple bumps, as the truck does not bounce around like it use to. When I first installed the Rancho shocks, there was a vast improvement, but that improvement deteriorated very quickly. Two weeks prior the the shock change, I disconnected the rear bottom shock mounts to paint the differential and one of the shocks fully extended on its own and the other only extended about two inches on its own. When I removed the front shocks when replacing them, the movement was very notchy. From what I've read, this is a common occurrence with Rancho shocks, they fail prematurely.

 

Where are you guys buying the bilsteins? Summit? Vendor on the forum?

 

Tire Rack's prices were the best I found at a large vendor by a long shot. $285 for a set on my '99 4wd.
https://www.tirerack.com/suspension/...9&autoModClar=

I ended up finding them for the same price from a reputable vendor and was able to buy them when they had an eBay bucks promo going on to save a few dollars. Still didn't beat them by much.

 

I bought my Bilstein shocks from Summit Racing.

 

I bought my Bilstein's from Amazon.

-Nigel