replacement shocks

[jar2187]

I have a 92 EB, and I dont know what shocks to get. I want a shock that will reduce body roll and give me a not so bumpy ride. What shock should I get?

 

[X~FACTOR]

What's your budget?
Under $100 people usually get Gabriel VST. Under $300- Edelbrock IAS. Anything in between you could get Monroe Sensatrac, Reflex, ...

 

[Alec]

Rancho 9000, Bilstein

 

[Ru Dawg]

I LOVE my Bilstein's!!!!!!!!!

 

[jar2187]

whats the difference between the Bilsteins and the Ranchos? Are there noticable difference between them? Which one controls body roll more?

 

[X~FACTOR]

I don't thing shocks can control body roll, that's the sway bars job.

 

[Alec]

Originally posted by X-factor
I don't thing shocks can control body roll, that's the sway bars job.

They can, but the stiffer they are the harder the ride is gonna be.

If you get Ranchos, get 9000s at least in front. Their benefit is adjustability.

 

[jar2187]

What do you mean adjustablety?

 

[Alec]

The Rancho 9000s and a few other shocks have a little knob with which you can adjust their firmness. Takes 10 seconds to take my truck from dumptruck to caddy

Look at the knob on the top of this picture, on the Explorer the knob ends up easily accessable above the lower Aarm:

 

[jar2187]

Forgive me for asking, but why would you want to make your truck ride like a dump truck. I know you don't mean literarily, but does it make it handle or ride better when towing, or when carrying 200 lbs of brick. I guess what I am asking is what is the point of having adjustable shocks. I know you can get out and change the setting so you can go off road. Or you can make the ride more comfortable. But I can just see it now I will have to be stoping every 15ft and keep adjusting them, till I get them the way I like it.

 

[Alec]

If you want you can get the 9000s with an in-cab controller so you can adjust them on the fly

It took about a week to find the settings that I like. I'll stiffen them up when I want more precise handling or for a long highway trip where I don't want to float too much. I soften them up for offroad, when my back hurts a lot, or when I'm on really bad roads.

I don't change them that often, maybe for a day or 2 every few months but I usually keep it on the same setting.

 

[Pissant22]

I'd like shocks that won't be absolute hell on the road and will perform solid off-road, which I do fairly often. Also, the adjustable doesn't mean anything to me because I don't see it as practical for me, so what are the best shocks besides of course the Rancho9000s.

 

[Alec]

Originally posted by Pissant22
I'd like shocks that won't be absolute hell on the road and will perform solid off-road, which I do fairly often. Also, the adjustable doesn't mean anything to me because I don't see it as practical for me, so what are the best shocks besides of course the Rancho9000s.

I'd ride in a vehicle with Bilsteins and see if you like them. Otherwise I'd go with the Gabriel VSTs.

 

[Rhett]

You could get the Rancho9000's anyway and never adjust them, if you don't want to mess with the knob you don't have to....

The Gabriel VST is a good shock but the ones I have had didn't last beyond about 25000 miles, and after that they were mushy. But when they were pretty new they gave a good ride and they held up to light offroading too.

 

[Alec]

The reason I've been recommending the R9000s is that everyone has different tastes. With the 9000, you're not stuck with a shock you don't like if it's too hard or too soft. Like I said above, I don't change it that often, but it's very nice to be able to.

 

[Mbrooks420]

I installed some Rancho 9000's last week. I love them.($210 shipped for 4) I doubt I will play too much with the adjustments, but like Alec said, you get to choose the damping your shocks have. If you but a non adjustable you get whatever damping the factory decided on.

I don't thing shocks can control body roll, that's the sway bars job.

If mine are set above 6(which isn't at all overly firm) My body roll isn't as bad, and front end dive during braking isn't nearly as bad.

 

[RammaR]

I'm looking at either the Rancho 9000's or the Bilsteins, but am having trouble locating a part number for one with a 1 1/2" to 2" lift ( TT and shackles).

Does everyone just run the "stock" size shock after their lifts or can you help me out with a part number?

Any help would be great.

Thanks.

 

[Mbrooks420]

I got my shocks from www.samsoffroad.com and they had a box that asked if, and how much lift you had. I'm not sure, but I believe the Ranchos come longer than stock.

 

[RammaR]

well I was gonna have my mechanic put them on - but he was having trouble finding them supposedly - just trying to figure out now if you actually order a special part number or maybe its something like an F150 shock that's longer and happens to work?

 

[FLYIN 5.0]

Im running Bilsteins on all four corners stock length. My torsions are twisted all the way up. about 3+ inches of lift from them and have no problems.