Are the factory FX4 lv2 Bilstein shocks painted blue and yellow like the aftermarket ones? I'm just curious. There are some used ones for sale locally and they are solid black. I would hate to pay to "upgrade" to the same regular OEM shocks that I have now. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

On my 03 and every other LII I have seen, the factory shocks have painted yellow bodies with blue plastic covers.

 

Yeah, mine are yellow and blue..

 

Mine too.

 

I think they might be selling the "offroad" package shocks as bilsteins.
(or fx4 l1)

Rand

 

Mine are the 'heavy duty off road' and they are grey.

 

I appreciate the replies. These shocks are black. The guy is saying they're Bilsteins, but I think I'm going to pass on them.

 

my stock shocks are black


they suck

 

ok from my knowledge it goes like this....

FX4 was introduced with Rancho shocks...F-150's only....
Later Ranger FX4 came out..
by this time Ford gave up the Rancho contract due to too many problems with the Rancho's so they picked up Bilstein as a primary.
Rancho = Black or Grey
Ford Factory = Black
Bilstein = Blue and yellow

Now as i understand it from an insider ford has given up bilstein and picked Rancho back up due to new and cheaper developments.

Ford also used their own "heavy duty" shocks depending on option packages.

Hope this helps

 

Well I have the Gray Shocks on my 2003 FX4

So that means I have "heavy duty" Ford shocks or Rancho cheapies???

 

more than likely ford heavy duty...i think the first rancho deal was cast out in late 01 early 02...i'll make some calls on that tomorrow

 

Where are you building that opinion from? I ask because I was under the impression that the 'FX4' package started in the Ranger, in 2002 as what is now the FX4 LII package. I thought that Ford muddied up the Ranger package names in 2003 to bring the Ranger package inline w/ the F150.. I'd have to say it was pretty dumb on their part to build the 2002 Ranger FX4 model and call it 'FX4' if they already had a (arguably) lesser equipped F-150 FX4 and were going to equalize them later. Maybe '02 just slipped through the radar of the marketing force.

What year was the F-150 FX4 package introduced? Has it ever had Blistens?

 

The F150 FX4 and the Ranger FX4 were both introduced in fall 2001 as 2002MY models. The 150 had Ranchos and the Ranger had Bilsteins.

When I bought my 2003 LII, it was the end of the model year in August 2003 and the new 2003 F150 FX4's on the lot still had Ranchos standard and the 2003 Ranger FX4 Level II still had Bilsteins.

 

So this is just **** poor planning on the part of the marketing folks? They just didn't think very far ahead and decided to re-designate the Ranger packages for 2003MY!? (I'm learning the jargon here!) How annoying! .. Somehow I am not suprised.

 

Just as an aside, the Edge Plus package for 2003, which I have ,(but not the Edge package) came with heavy duty shock absorbers, which I don't believe are Bilsteins.

 

For 2003:
FX4 Off-Road came with "premium" gas-charged shocks
FX4 Level II came with Bilstein brand gas-charged shocks

 

will these bilsteins fit (front) my truck with a spindle lift?

 

i would talk to Mr. Griggs about that. (Ne3lz). i know he has a 2wd edge that has almost every conceivable mod and bunch that no one thought about...

 

It is my understanding that the pro comp spindle lift does not change the spacing between the lower and upper control arms, it only moves the posistion the wheel sits on the spindle.

 

Yup. An Edge takes the same dimension shock as a Level II, regardless of whether it has a spindle lift or not.

 

what about an XLT with a 3" spindle? can it still use the bilsteins that come with the FX4s?