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Which shock for a street-driven X/Mounty?

S

SVO LOU

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City, State
Greenville, SC
Year, Model & Trim Level
97 Mountaineer AWD
Guys,

My Mounty now has 70K on it and I'm looking at shocks. My front is lowered an inch and the rear is stock height. I have 275/60-17's on it which really helped the handling. Which shock do you guys think would be best, my Mounty is street-only driven. I don't mind a slightly harsh ride for a good-handler. Bilsteins sound nice, what are your thoughts?

Thanks.

Lou.
 



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ive had both bilsteins and the edelbrocks. my tires are 285 60 r17, so im in the same boat as you (street driven also.) bottom line: bilsteins handle slightly better, but the ride is terrible on anything other than a perfectly smooth surface. the edelbrocks dont handle as well as the bilsteins, but they ride much better. either way, theyre both MUCH better than stock shocks.
 






I'm running the Monroe Reflex. The difference in ride and handling was night and day. I would expect that these are essentially the same as the Edlebrock twin tube w/o the expensive red paint. I won't get 17's and big treads till spring so can't comment as far as tire size.
 






koni_logo.jpg
 






i am currently running the Edelbrocks for lowered X's, and really like them. however, i have had both Bilstein's and Koni's on previous vehicles, and really liked them also. its your call... i recommend all three.
 






Thanks for the input guys.

Being that my Mounty is lowered only an inch in the front should I look for a shock that works for a lowered vehicle or do they mean slammed?
I've always heard good things about Bilsteins but I never knew about the Koni shocks for X's.
Thanks.

Lou.
 






they mean a significant drop, like 2" or more (depending on which brand youre talking about.) you want shocks for a regular ol' stock height X.
 






i'm gonna have kyb's for sale this week. they are only 2 mos. old. i already got edelbrocks and they are going on my x early this week. the kyb's handle amazing, but i want a more comfortable ride, thats why i switched.
 






out of curiosity, why are you looking for replacement shocks?

my truck has 71k on it right now, and as best as I can tell.. the shocks are still working just fine, are yours worn out or are you seeking just overall better road handling?

just outta curiosity :P
 






Originally posted by DarkFox1
out of curiosity, why are you looking for replacement shocks?

my truck has 71k on it right now, and as best as I can tell.. the shocks are still working just fine, are yours worn out or are you seeking just overall better road handling?

just outta curiosity :P
Click to expand...

DF - I replaced my stock shocks at 30K with VSTs. Oh my, a 200% difference in ride and handeling. You're ready for them as well, and you'll know the difference!

Ry.
 






my suspension handles great.. if I hit a bump the truck jumps 1 time and thats it.. the only thing I have heard that I dont like is the fact that I get a really loud groan when I go over speed bumps.. I'm guessing its just the cold..

I would think the only reason to replace my shocks would be because they can no longer function, I'm more concerned about lateral acceleration right now than handling around curves heh
 






Originally posted by DarkFox1
my truck has 71k on it right now, and as best as I can tell.. the shocks are still working just fine, are yours worn out or are you seeking just overall better road handling?
Click to expand...

Are those 71k shocks the original?
 






yop, oems, came on the truck, I was told shocks lasted well into 100k miles

what kind of areas would a shock improve in? I thought all they did was supress the bouncing effect that a spring gives you
 






Most oem shocks need to be replaced bu at least 50k.

Quality shocks are extremely important in the handeling characteristics of a vehicle.

YOU need NEW SHOCKS.....
 






Originally posted by DarkFox1
out of curiosity, why are you looking for replacement shocks?

my truck has 71k on it right now, and as best as I can tell.. the shocks are still working just fine, are yours worn out or are you seeking just overall better road handling?

just outta curiosity :P
Click to expand...

Just trying to stiffen it up a little. I don't see any oil on the shocks and I'm not getting excessive bouncing, I just want to get rid of that yacht feeling. :p

Lou.
 






ah IC..

hey nice truck btw, why'd you cut out the trademark mounty grille tho? now people will think you own an X.. heh, even tho technically you do :P

wel I guess if I need new shocks I need new balljoints too

the inside ring of tread on my tires is worn like the tires are ancient yet the rest of the tires are fine, when I turn I get a rubbing sound yet no rubbing can be seen.. and at upper speeds I get a bad vibration as if theres an alignment problem... yet I just had my alignment done..
 












huh? whats that hafta do with anything? I dont put a huge stressor on how my vehicle handles.. the way it handles now is just fine, my main problem with the vehicle is its total lack of power and acceleration, it can do anything it needs to just fine at the moment..

you think I'm stupid or something because my #1 priority in life isn't my shocks?

and if you're concerned about my use of the word lateral.. thats your fault :P I mean in a line, I guess linear would be more appropriate but its not a huge bit of difference
 






Never mind.....

I deleted the pic instead.....it was a joke.....sorry to pi$$ you off....
Lateral acceleration and handling are the same thing.



Oh yeah.....I bet my Explorer i slower than your.....I got smoked by a Honda DelSol!
 



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oh I've gotten smoked by a beat up old ford LTD with no paint heh

np, I guess I get pissed too easily, I used the wrong word there, I meant LINEAR acceleration..

I was thinking for a whlie about getting some of those edelbrock IAS shocks if/when mine go bad on me, but've been told those tend to leak, so I'm not so sure.

I have KYB on my c10 right now, but uh.. its just a frame so I can't say about performance of them.

I think the X handles pretty d@mn good as it is.. I mean for an suv.. it'll outhandle my parents towncar no prob lol
 






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