Best Shocks for front end

[Garageguy60]

Good morning everyone. could anyone tell me the best shocks to put on the front end of my 2004 Ford Ranger XLT 2wd/4wd 6cyl. ? I dont do any 4 wheeling just normal driving and hauling. Brand names and where to buy ? Thanks for any help.

 

[Dirtman]

Bilstein.

Discussion over.

 

[racsan]

nearly any new shock is better than a blown one, I replaced the original worn out shocks on my 94 with some $12 rock auto monroes about a year ago and it was a noticeable improvement. How you use the truck dictates how “good” of a shock you need, a daily driver doesnt need the same suspension dampening as a prerunner in the desert doing high speed & jumps.

 

[Dirtman]

nearly any new shock is better than a blown one, I replaced the original worn out shocks on my 94 with some $12 rock auto monroes about a year ago and it was a noticeable improvement. How you use the truck dictates how “good” of a shock you need, a daily driver doesnt need the same suspension dampening as a prerunner in the desert doing high speed & jumps.

I SAID DISCUSSION OVER!

 

[gw33gp]

I agree with Bilsteins, but it in not a good idea to just put them on the front. Shocks should match in all four corners or you can get some strange handling characteristics. Just like putting different tires front and back. Sometimes you can get lucky and make it work and other times it can get funky.

 

[truckfan]

Love my Bilsteins! Worth the extra cost.

 

[StevenK]

Does anyone know the part numbers for the front Bilsteins that would work with a 2009 4x4 with about 3 inch extra lift in the front from the torsion bar leveling kit?

 

[rubydist]

The Bilsteins are much better than the Ranchos on the Rangers.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Does anyone know the part numbers for the front Bilsteins that would work with a 2009 4x4 with about 3 inch extra lift in the front from the torsion bar leveling kit?

Technically stock length shocks work. By cranking the torsion bars... you just pushed the the lower control arms down... it still has the original down stop which is the upper control arm contacting the frame. It did nothing to change the distance the suspension travels from full extend to full compress.

 

[Shran]

I've had four sets of front shocks on my Explorer - OEM, Autozone special (Monroe I think), Sachs, and now finally Bilsteins. The Autozone ones lasted less than 3000 miles of backroads in CO before they were blown out and leaking oil. The Sachs ones are still alive but were never anything to write home about... super impressed with the Bilsteins, I should have bought them years ago, they ride soooooo nice.

Have also run Skyjacker, Rancho and some others on daily drivers. They're OK, held up fairly well. I had Fox smooth body on the old race truck, two per corner on the front and singles on the back. Was very pleased with them, very expensive though.

 

[SideStepRanger]

Bilstein is the only way to go if you're going to get anything better than whatever is cheapest at Autozone.

 

[Roert42]

I don’t want to derail the Blistein circle jerk here, but I have installed KYB shocks on multiple vehicles and been very happy with their performance.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I agree... I've sold piles of KYB's and run them on everything I've driven for years. Only a couple of failures.

I still need to send back my failed front.... I'm pretty sure they will ship me back a new one.

 

[rubydist]

My experience with KYB in the SHO world is they are nice shocks while they last, but they don't last very long.

 

[Shran]

I have never run KYBs. I was under the impression that they had sold out and were now basically cheap junk... Not true?

Whatever Duff sells with their lift kits are good shocks too. I was pretty impressed with the ones my buddy got with his lift, very nice ride.