Looks like shock replacement is on the horizon for me. A few questions:

1) Do I have to replace all 6 at once?

2) Are all 6 identical?

3) Will it make a difference if I replace the shocks before/after/during leveling the truck?

4) A friend mentioned seeing if I could find some decent used shocks - is that a viable option?

5) Any favorite brands and products?

Thanks!

 

1. 6? you must have a 4wd? Best to do all at once generally.

2. rears will be a different mounting style, and probably longer then the fronts

3. if you lift the front you may need longer front shocks (depending on how you lift it, please elaborate)

4. eh. up to you, I would go new.

5. bilstien 5100 are hands down the best stock replacement shock.

 

I would probably be using coil spring spacers. How are the bilsteins on cost?

 

I would ask when you buy the spacers what shock length is reccomended. Stock length would be too short with spacers installed.

Thier about 50-80 a piece, but they truley are awesome bolt in shocks - noticable ride impovement even over new stock shocks.

 

Agree...Bilsteins are great shocks...

when it comes to shocks you really get what you pay for...a 9.99 shock wont last very long. maybe a year.

a 30.00 shock may last 2 years. I like the good ones if I can get them....Bilsteins....

I bought 35.00 Monroe Magnums and they are decent but nothing to brag about

 

I'm not going to be doing anything high performance or any offroading with this thing, just want it to handle safely in all weather including heavy snow. would the bilsteins be overkill?

 

rockauto has some motorcraft shocks at a wholesale price, I didn't see the bilsteins. Do I want to be looking in the "Original Ride Quality" category or the "Heavy Duty/Load Assist" category? And I won't be able to use the original size shocks on the front after I level it, correct?

 

I was in a bind when I replaced mine, or I would have went with Rancho or Bilstiens, but I was replacing my spring tower and broke the mount bolt on my stock shocks, so I went with these from Advance Auto

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web..._1106384563___

They are Monroe Sensa-Trac - they ride pretty nice and were a breeze to install, and were in stock locally. But since you have time to plan (I should have been thinking ahead), do what others have said, and spend a little extra on Bilsteins.

I have to still replace my rear shocks, so I'll have Bilsteins on the back and in a few years replace the Monroes in the front

 

I just put on a set of KYB Gas-A-Just on the front since they had buy 3 get one free and loads better. I prefer KYB to Monroe since I've had to warranty out quit a few Monroe's but no KYB's yet.

 

how are the ranchos compared to the bilsteins? is it necessary to get matching springs for the stock height rear end?