Just FYI,

AutoZone rents spring compressors (Along with many other tools) and recycles oil for free.

You guys have good labor rates. In California and Central Illinois our labor rates are always well more then 2x the price the parts for any work.

Changing the shocks is not hard, but does take the better part of a day in the driveway. Much easier if you had a lift like the shops.

-TheChad

Rear shocks are trivial, but the struts are definitely more work. There's also the bit about the change to the front strut spring perches on the 2011's...

The spring perches need to be removed from the old struts and put on the Bilsteins. Evidently, they previously came right off, but now are tack welded on to the shocks and need to be beaten off with a hammer. Evidently a bit of a puzzler until you've done them once or twice, and perhaps another reason to let a shop do the work and take the responsibility if things go south. For $90 labor, a complete no-brainer.

But forget all of that... no really, it's because I'm lazy according to truckerdude.

replacing off road shocks for std shocks
 

i just got my new F150 supercrew ecoboost 4x4with the "off road" package. I do all of my driving on roads, and the roads here in So Cal are pathetic. It might as well be off road. The ride is a little stiff for me, so i purchased the standard shocks that come on the F150 supercrew 4x4 and am about to put them on. Is this a good decision, or should i be buying after market "non Ford" shocks? Is there another shock that will give me a softer ride, but not mushy?

Ranchos are adjustable in how soft or har they are

Do you have a specific Rancho shock you'd recommend?

Hey guys I'm new to the site but I recently bought a 2003 f150 FX4 and I put a 3 inch body lift and noticed that the shocks weren't in great shape. Is there anything special I have to order when ordering the shocks because it's lifted?

Might get more accurate info in the "1997 - 2003 Ford F150" section, although it probably hasn't changed much for the current generation trucks...

But back on topic, I recently swapped out my 2011 FX4 shocks for Bilstein 5100's. Significant improvement in the kind of mountain driving I frequently do. Haven't had them on higher speed jeep/washboard roads yet, and probably won't get much of a chance until spring. I expect they will be better there as well. The original shocks, as well as most Rancho's are twin-tube design shocks. The Bilsteins are monotube gas pressurized shocks, widely considered to be superior for on and off road applications, but do need to be tuned by the manufacturer more carefully for the given application.

Here are the stock rear shocks from my FX4 next to the Bilstein 5100's. The Bilsteins have the compression strap on them (aids installation), which is why they are shorter in the picture...
http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-M...-MKTN7Sn-M.jpg

Close up of the original FX4 "off road tuned" shocks. Probably engineering numbers, might need to be cross referenced to actual part numbers.
http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-3...-35f9MS2-M.jpg

Very curious to know if you see a difference in the softness if the ride with the new shocks. Please keep us posted.

Roger that! My dealer couldn't figure it out and put the OEM fronts back on. I'll probably just have them take another whack at it next time I need service, but will tell them what to do this time. :glare: