raif281

I have a 03 screw fx4 with 2" blocks in the back an the tbars cranked with 160,xxx and it appears to have the stock rancho shocks. so my question is how do I know when it's time to change the shocks? and I read about people switching to the bilstein 5100 will those fit on my truck? I'm wanting a smoother ride and to not feel every bump in the road, will these accomplish that? I know these are very good shocks just don't know if there what i am lookin for. also I put my atv in it 1 once a week usually for the whole weekend. what shocks would you guys recommend for my truck to get that smoother ride I want. thanks for any input guys

oldfloyd

I don't think they make bilsteins for our years for the f150. Go with Rancho or kyb. Anything is better than stock. Live by that.

raif281

I'll look into the ranchos, which ones should i get? i saw they have 5000's an 9000's and yea I bet anything is better than the stocks on here with 160,xxx miles on them lol

NickGlass

I just installed pro comp es9000's about a month ago and they are amazing so far!! handle good and dont feel near as much as i did with the old crap monroes. plus it helped out that they didnt cost near as much as some of the others ive seen for our trucks! i got mine at 4wheelparts.com and they were at my door 2 days later.

raif281

awesome an i don't mind paying alittle more for the shocks as long as there worth it. I just really want a smoother less bumpy ride. how hard is it to change shocks?

sportsfreac

I replaced mine about 2 months ago, and went with the Rancho 5000 series. So far no complaints at all so far much ride. As far as install the hardest one imo was the passenger rear. Because you have to deal with the muffler and were the shock mounts to the frame is at a weird angle.

2003XLT

I replaced all 4 shocks with some skyjacker8000's little bumps I feel nothing and bigger ones dont feel as bad as they look so I'm overall extremely happy with my purchase.

They do make billsteins just so you know they are a little more expensive but I've had them in my 00 and they were definitely not worth anymore money than my skyjackers they handle and eat everything up just the same

I've had ranchos as well and they are great for a while but when they start to go they go and quick

I have had skyjackers in my jeeps and trucks for about 4 years now and have ZERO complaints they last long and exceeded all my expectations

Go with the skyjackers

2003XLT

Sorry for a double post but changing shocks are easy as pie up front and for the rear save yourself te headache and take an acetalene torch and cut that sucker righT off if you don't have access to a torch penetrating oil and a six pack... Scratch that grab a buddy get a rack make it interesting

NickGlass

mine went really quick because i dont have exhast pipes ran its just dumped under the bed, but i just used a big vise grip clamped it down as hard as possible and got the nuts off. for the most part barely even began to get dirty or bust knuckles!!

raif281

as far as the torch an all goes I'll most likely be doing it at my uncles mechanic shop on a Sunday when he's closed and as for shocks I'll have to read more into the skyjackers and ranchos. don't think I wanna go with bilsteins anymore once I saw the price an read some reviews that other shocks (such as the mentioned skyjackers) performed the same and didn't cost as much as the bilsteins.