Best shocks that give a comfortable ride for lowered Rangers?

[BrunoTrk]

Adjustable shocks in the front is the ticket!

BrunoTrk

 

[99streetranger]

I've had alot of different shocks on various rangers with various drops both static and bagged. The Beltech NitroDrops are a great all around good choice, I've had quite a few pairs in the past 27 years of having many lowered rangers.

If you have a flip kit or shackle flip, your truck shouldn't be bouncy in the rear as it's still stock suspension? Unless you don't have a bolt-in c-notch and are tapping the bumpstops/frame? I've had calmax/djm/toxic/Doetsch and they all ride relatively fine.

The Beltech NitroActive I found were very stiff for the rear of the truck, I put them on all 4 corners of a 96 i-beam splash truck years ago, and after a few months I switched the rear back to nitro drop and the truck so much better with an empty bed. The stepside are waayyy lighter beds than the fleetside, and with empty beds stiff shocks is a bit rough. Splashes came with rear sway bars though, as most ranger do not have rear sways. So on a splash with a sway bar, no bed load, no spare tire, and roll pan instead of bumper the rear body roll is really non-existant once its lowered with just pretty much any twintube shock.

The belltech nitrodrops are about 12" when collapsed, so you can put them on some pretty low trucks. I have found that on a fleetside bed Bilstein 4600 yellows ride terrific, and prefer to use them, I have them on a lowered static ranger currently.

I had Bilstein fronts and Nitrodrop rears on this 06 truck. I switched the rears to Bilstein and although they are monotubes the ride is not bouncy by any means.

The Bilstein part number is 24-026758 (the application they are listed for is 97 Tacoma 2wd) and they are 12.11" collapsed and 18.8" extended. Which is comparable to the Lengths of a Belltech Ranger application and is a perfect length for any combination of rear lowering techniques on a ranger from a 2" drop to a 7", for any year ranger both i-beam or sla.

Of course Bilstein's are more expensive than most all other shock options, but they are a high quality brand and have lifetime warranties.

If anyone is interested I suggest to purchase them from Autozone.com (they don't carry them in-store), as they are about the lowest price online, have FREE 1-2 day shipping, and if you don't like them you can return them to any store, and still be $0 dollars out of pocket.

https://www.autozone.com/suspension-steering-tire-and-wheel/shock-strut/p/bilstein-monotube-46mm-shock-absorber-24026758/385450_0_0

What is the part number for the Bilstein fronts? I have a 3" drop in the front and the current shocks don't have nearly enough damping.

 

[3.0LoweredRanger]

^^^ exactly, and just to correlate this concept to my above posting, the Bilstein's rebound twice as fast when compressed manually on the bench side-by-side with the Nitrodrops. I can verify that first hand.

The Nitro Drop 2s say they are for a 2-4 inch rear drop. Would they still work even though I have a 5 inch rear drop?

 

[6770shelby]

I would like to re-ask the original posters question as it would apply to the DJM 4/5 drop. The ride quality with the calmax shocks is way too stiff.

 

[JoshT]

I would like to re-ask the original posters question as it would apply to the DJM 4/5 drop. The ride quality with the calmax shocks is way too stiff.

You're better off starting a new thread. OP's truck had beam suspension. His answers are going to be different that your answers.

 

[Ab_Reed]

I just changed yesterday to KYB Excel-G's all around. The front are KYB PN 344268 and rear are 344097 (originally for Nissan Hardbody). I thought it was good before (except for the bouncing), but with the KYB's it's even better with no bounce of course. Its a good combo of soft/firm that makes it so much more pleasant for daily driving. I'd say for anyone with a 3/4 drop these are the shocks to go for.

I ordered the Nissan Hardbody KYBs. Im doing an ebay 3/5 drop. Hoping these will ride well.

 

[Ranger850]

I ordered the Nissan Hardbody KYBs. Im doing an ebay 3/5 drop. Hoping these will ride well.

Some of the lowered Nissan guys run 4wd spec shocks. Don't know if that transfers over to Rangers but I don't see why not.

Here's an excerpt from the InfamousNisssan.com Forum

Front: D21 4WD OEM - Cheap and good: Monroe Sensa-Trac: #37047 - 8.125" (nice tight valving)

The 4WD shock is about the same compressed length as the Pinto shock, but requires correct sizing of a replacement bumpstop to work correctly. I recommend "swizz-cheesing" the bumpstops instead of cutting them - it makes for a more progressive (less abrupt) bottoming.

Rear: 2000 Nissan Quest - Cheap and good: Monroe Sensa-Trac: #37098 - 11.75" (tested: nice tight valving)

The Monroe #37098 is a "truck" shock (5/8" shaft) from a 2000 Nissan Quest (11-3/4"). Allows roughly 1-1/2" to 2-1/2" drop (re-drill or leafs, not blocks, depending on what your stock shock length was).

The cheaper Monroe shock for the Quest is #32207 (1/2" shaft) which is 11-1/4". Allow roughly 2-1/2" to 3-1/2" drop (leafs, not blocks). SlamdTaco tried them - glowing report!

NOTE: If you're just running blocks, you can use stock shocks in the back for sure, no need to change anything.

I don't run any bumpstops in the back at all.


FOR THE CHEAPSKATES OUT THERE

If you can't afford Dropped Spindles, but want super low all-torsion-drop:

70-80's Chrysler Cordoba, Imperial, etc.... - Monroe Monro-Matic: #31176 - 7.125". Requires modification to control arm to fit. (tested: fairly soft valving - yucky) Select a decent bumpstop to keep the tires from hitting the inner fenders.

I no longer recommend the Ford Pinto shocks - the 4WD shocks are shorter, are valved better, and fit right in with no modification. For super low, I recommend an appropriately-sized bumpstop.

All the detail I removed is still at MY WEBSITE

 

[Ab_Reed]

@Ranger850

???

 

[Ranger850]

@Ranger850

???

Sorry for the confusion.
You stated that you got "Hardbody" shocks for your lowered Ranger. I was just letting you know what the "lowered hardbody" guys are using, since they aren't even using HardBody shocks. the last hardbody was built in 1997 and OE parts are getting harder to locate.

 

[Ab_Reed]

Sorry for the confusion.
You stated that you got "Hardbody" shocks for your lowered Ranger. I was just letting you know what the "lowered hardbody" guys are using, since they aren't even using HardBody shocks. the last hardbody was built in 1997 and OE parts are getting harder to locate.

i quoted the response for what shocks i got. He posted part numbers for KYBs. Theyre not OE parts.

 

[Ranger850]

i quoted the response for what shocks i got. He posted part numbers for KYBs. Theyre not OE parts.

Let us know if the Nissan KYB shocks are better

 

[Ab_Reed]

Let us know if the Nissan KYB shocks are better

Ill report back after some decent miles on them. I know they'll absolutely be better than the rusted out blown ones which I'm assuming are stock with 160k on them. I drove the ranger about 5 miles before i parked it and started lowering it. Ive never drove a lowered ranger so im expecting a little harsh of a ride, good shocks or not, but hoping they will mellow out the ride a little bit.

 

[superj]

I know i am all ears on the outcome