Originally Posted by Fx4_5.0Man

Ive been trying to get Rancho to give me their spring rate for these, but they wont seem to budge. I don't want to end up with a one size fits all spring, so I havn't bitten the bullet yet.

I do know they list two applications, 2wd and 4wd. 4wd is probably stiffer, but FORD has a ton of spring rates for these trucks.

Originally Posted by Kytann

Well when I made this list they were the only ones that were adjustable. At least in the lower price range.

However just by virtue of it's triple tube design it's going to be harsher and less controlled at the same time than a Mono-tube design. Look up some videos on youtube comparing a twin-tube to a mono-tube. Then imagine the triple tube design, and you'll see why some people hate them.

What the Rancho does have gong for it are an extreme ease of installation. It's already assembled with the spring, so you just unbolt your springpack and bolt these in. It can be a 2 hour job max in your driveway (provided you have the strength to turn the 200 ft-lb bottom bolts). And they are good enough for most people.

The Bilsteins I would recommend professional installation. If not the whole thing than at least the changing of the spring packs.

It seems like the Bilstein failures were really limited to using the highest setting (2.5") and off-roading. Even gentle off-roading. If you plan on using a lower setting and staying on-road you should be fine with the Bilsteins.

If I had to do it over again I'd do the Icon Coilovers. If I couldn't afford that, I'd go with the Rancho, even though they are not a mono-tube design. I want to like the Bilsteins, as I've used them in the past and loved them. Loved them way better than the Old Man Emu shocks, if you are familiar with those. But just too many failure rates on the Bilsteins.

As for whether they'll be stiff enough for you or not, none of us can answer that. We can say that others have found the soft setting too soft and the hard setting too stiff. So there does seem to be enough adjustment.

Originally Posted by Kytann

Also something to consider when we are discussing hard and soft shock settings. There is a distinct difference between high speed damping and low speed damping. Which has nothing to do with vehicle speed, but the speed the shock moves in and out.
Low speed is when the shock is moving slow, which is usually large movements. Like cresting a hill on the highway, controlling your cornering forces, things of that nature.
High speed damping is when the shock is moving fast. Like when you drive over expansion joints on the road. Harsh square edges that you drive over are the most extreme example of this.

Cheap twin tube shocks, or triple like the Ranchos typically have soft low speed damping and stiff high speed damping. The worst of them feel floaty and un controlled, while at the same time busy over the small stuff and harsh. This can rattle your teeth out on the dirt washboard roads, yet still have alot of body lean when cornering.

Well designed Mono-tube shocks like the Bilsteins, or especially the ones used by Icon, tend to have very stiff low speed damping. This makes them feel controlled at all times, like when towing, cornering, driving at high speed. Yet at the same time soft on the high-speed damping, so that all of the little business of say our dirt road example, just disapears underneath the truck.


If the Bilstiens were made more physically solid (so they didn't break), and sold in a kit form with the spring already attached, they would totally dominate the market.

Originally Posted by NOLAGT

Great info THANKS! I have a spring compressor and have changed springs and installed the 5100's before on a friends tacoma...but I probably wont install anything on my truck....no time nad have grown lazy lol. I am not sure what height I will need thats why i like the idea of the coil overs really. I want to be able to clear the rim and tire setup im looking at so im guessing 2-2.5". I also want the back a tad higher than the front and I want to cure wheel hop...its no fun with the supercharger. So where the 5100 might work for me...hearing about the braking worries me...I dont want to be limited or worried. I will have to look at youtube for the mono vs the twin tube but it doesnt sound good. and what im looking for as far as stiffness is like you said...controlled in corners and towing not the other way around. The rancho 4" life felt mushy...like a caddy...not what im after. I may look at the icon setup....sounds interesting.