Which shocks?

[Inbred Redneck]

Got an '87 STX that seems to be a red-headed stepchild. Lots of shocks listed for '87 4X4, front & rear, but almost all of them note that they'll fit all except the high rider. Is there that much difference? Is my STX really a high rider also with no markings?
Any suggestions as to what size to get for stock. Don't need to raise the thing, just restore the comfortable ride and keep from it gettin' so bad that they start cupping the tires.
Thanks for any and all replies, but especially correct ones. As always, any smart-ass comments are appreciated.

 

[Uncle Gump]

@Shran

there is some difference with the high rider edition... Shran has one and he will have good info for you.

 

[Inbred Redneck]

Thank you, sir.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I can't say for sure that you will find shock length in this thread... but it will tell you if your truck is a true high rider.

I bought a High Rider...

... and y'all are just gonna have to wait for pics :thefinger: That said, it's an '88, single cab, short box. 2.9, FM146, 1350 electric shift. Has a lot of options, including power windows, AC, and had the factory fog lights and possibly roll bar but those are long gone. It is also a GA...

www.therangerstation.com

 

[Shran]

STX high rider shocks are longer. Look through that thread Gump posted and compare to your truck... if you don't have the fixed yoke front transfer case, high rider drop brackets, etc then you just have an STX and any old Ranger shocks will work for ya. STX was an appearance package, STX High Rider was an appearance package with a factory lift kit.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Bilsteins.

You are welcome.

 

[Inbred Redneck]

Thanks, all. I just need shocks that'll smooth the bumps and not shake the kidneys.
Need an alignment, too, but one local shop says they can't find the specs for my particular truck. First went to a place that rhymes with Big Toe to get tires and oil change, ended up with a with a list of "really needs" stuff like nitrogen-filled tires, shocks, inner & outer bearings, and the wiper blades flipped or some such sh!t. Interesting, since when the pads and rotors were done in November of '18 those bearings were replaced. Last week my mechanic dropped by where I work and adjusted them in about half an hour. Didn't even charge me. Big Toe wanted to fix it all for me for only seventeen-hundred bucks. Needless to say, my new tires were bought a small, local place for about the same price. I ain't likely to darken the door of the chain-store tire place again.

 

[Uncle Gump]

So... we're dying to know.

Is it a High Rider?

 

[Inbred Redneck]

Too dark and cold to go out there and crawl underneath on the frosty ground. I do remember that it has the high pinion differential in the front. Pretty much stock, other than LT235-75/15s. PO put nice tubular bumpers front and rear with a stout grill guard. Oh, and I mounted the spare vertically in the bed on the driver's side. Getting too old to mess around under the bed when there's a flat.

 

[sgtsandman]

Can’t help you with the high rider side of things but brand wise, Bilstien and Rancho seem to be the favorites. 5000 series have a rougher ride than the 9000 series can offer but the 9000s are more expensive because they are adjustable. I haven’t had Bilstien shocks on my Rangers but the ones on my CR-Vs were a stiffer ride.

I would stay away from cheap brands like Monroe. You get what you pay for.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

I've had twin tubes and monotubes on my 1988.

monotubes (bilstein/kyb) are going to give you a more responsive ride. It will be a bit stiffer and youll feel a lot more, but the handling improvements are drastic. they seem to tame the TTB fairly well due to how stiff they are. Sway bars help them immensely.

Twin tubes are OK. They dampen the suspension. And.....thats about it.

I would advise going with Bilstein over all others if for no other reason than their pickup shocks are slightly longer than all others. Their 4600 series are for stock trucks, but can typically accommodate a leveling kit. Also, shock rod extensions are available for them should they be a bit too short for your pickup.

Their 5100 series is for larger leveling kits and mild lift kits.

I have 4600s on the front of mine, 5100s on the rear. Moog HD coils front (are a slight lift - I can fit 31s with them) and a 1" shackle lift and 1750 lb springs in the rear. Overall love the way it rides.

If you have a high rider, I'd suggest trying the 5100s on the front.

If you get them through amazon, they have a hastle free return policy, so no worries if they dont fit.

 

[Shran]

Yeah, a cheap shock is a cheap shock. I bought the top of the line Gabriels for my Explorer last year at Autozone and both fronts were blown out and leaking oil within 3000 miles. Absolute junk.

I have Sachs fronts now and Monroe load levelers in the rear. Skyjacker shocks in my crawler and stepside truck, my DD '88 and '87 trucks have cheapo parts store shocks, which were not much of an improvement over the blown out ones I removed.

The truck I raced the last couple years had four Fox shocks in the front and 2 in the rear, that thing rode nice.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

The truck I raced the last couple years had four Fox shocks in the front and 2 in the rear, that thing rode nice.

Those are on my 'someday' list as my build gets more extreme

 

[4x4junkie]

I absolutely hated my Rancho shocks (rode like shit).

Go with Bilstein or KYB. Can't go wrong with either. Or if you got the $$$, Fox.

As far as finding what length shock you need, I would suggest take one each front & rear off and measure their fully-extended lengths (base of stud to center of eye for front, and eye to eye for rear), and then see if you can match them up in a shock catalog.

 

[Inbred Redneck]

Again, thanks, all y'all. Not a high Rider, but I still like it. Now I have a chance at an '86 4X4, 5sp, extended cab and 4-banger with a camper shell. Five hundred bucks, should I jump on it?