I installed a full set of Bilstein B6 4600 Monotube Shocks on my 2017 F150 SCREW 4X4. I had read a bit about them how they were great on the F150s. I am not impressed with them. The truck used to have a car like ride. Now, if I am on a perfectly smooth road, it rides very smoothly. No complaints. However, ANY interruption in the pavement, be it a small rut or a divider strip, the ride is very harsh. Smooth road, car ride. Mildly rough road, truck with square wheels ride.
I contacted Bilstein because the dealer said those were the correct OEM equivalent. Bilstein confirmed those were the correct shock for my truck. They suggested putting weight in the bed to improve the ride. Between the price of the shocks and the installation costs, I am into them for $1000. Very disappointing.

 

To some degree suspension performance is subjective. What one person likes another might not. Sounds like you enjoy the Factory components, should have replaced them with OEM if they were in need of replacing.

 

Bilsteins have a higher dampening rate, which makes them great for load handling, and reducing rear axle hop. The payoff is they have a slightly harsher ride. You can adjust your rear tire psi a bit to compensate.

It's good you didn't go with the more ubiquitous 5100, they are even more heavily damped to handle a higher center of gravity.

 

Sacrilege, non-believer. Them's fightin words round these parts.

 

people like them because they are cheap...youll find the same with LED bulbs...

 

Thanks for the review. I have ben on the fence, I'd like to firm up my 2020 for towing my travel trailer, but want my pavement princess all other times, seems I can't have both. Anyone with a recommendation for a bit more dampening than oem, not as much as bilstein?

 

Koni STR.T.

 

Id get these:

https://www.stage3motorsports.com/05...ng-system.html

 

They are cheap, but they work as advertised and do their thing quite well, much like some LED bulbs.

 

yup, they absorb shock.

my point was that the cheaper things are, the more they get purchased by the masses and the more “suggestions” one might get when inquiring about shocks. Sometimes that skews the results when one might be looking for an upgrade.

LEDs are a little easier to test based on lumens, cutoffs, and other things that you can see and aren’t as subjective as “ride quality.”