Don't Discount the Value of Front Shocks

[ctechbob]

Everyone always recommends replacing the rear shocks on trucks for serious towing duty. That never really sat quite right with me as I'm usually in the 'I prefer a matched set' camp. When I first started towing seriously with the Ranger I upgraded the rear like a lot of other people and figured I'd get around to the fronts sooner or later.

Don't wait.

Do all 4 at the same time.

Yesterday we took a short trip up to the TN mountains just west of Chattanooga. Heavy wind most of the way. With the new Bilsteins in the front of the truck to match the rear it was so much better than the stock FX package shocks in the front. I had figured it would be, but I was surprised at the difference. Wish I'd done them all at the same time.

I still can't figure out how the Ford engineers managed to make a shock too soft, yet crashy over bumps all at the same time.

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[Frenchy]

Just remember that a shock that is too soft simply will not control the load as intended

 

[ctechbob]

Just remember that a shock that is too soft simply will not control the load as intended

No kidding? That's why upgrading the fronts with the rear is a good idea.

And why FX package shocks are garbage for towing. The valving they are made with is both too soft and too abrupt. How they managed that only Ford knows.

 

[RedDakooter05]

No kidding? That's why upgrading the fronts with the rear is a good idea.

And why FX package shocks are garbage for towing. The valving they are made with is both too soft and too abrupt. How they managed that only Ford knows.

Ford gonna ford.

 

[ctechbob]

Ford gonna ford.

Indeed.

I should clarify. I always knew when buying the truck that 'off road' shocks wouldn't be suitable for towing work. You pretty much want the exact opposite when towing as you would off road.

But I think the FX shocks are pretty much junk all the way around.

 

[Frenchy]

Indeed.

I should clarify. I always knew when buying the truck that 'off road' shocks wouldn't be suitable for towing work. You pretty much want the exact opposite when towing as you would off road.

But I think the FX shocks are pretty much junk all the way around.

Yes and no. It really comes down to the entire suspension. Shocks will definitely determine how the load is going to be controlled. Also many OffRoad shocks do well with towing just for the fact they are designed to handle a good amount of weight. Depending on how you set the vehicle up(whether it's to tow or not) chances are it may have the same shocks either way

 

[got3fords]

But I think the FX shocks are pretty much junk all the way around.

Stock XLT shocks are junk as well. That was my first mod, new Eibachs all around. HUGE difference even for daily driving.

 

[Superspirit]

Bilstein 5100's on all 4 corners at 300 miles on the truck.

 

[paval3]

Bilstein 5100's on all 4 corners at 300 miles on the truck.

Is it as easy a swap out for the fronts as it was for the rear shocks?? Obviously I know nothing about what is involved. I had a local small shop down the street from where I work swap out the rears sand it took him all of 10 minutes.

 

[ctechbob]

I'd have to disagree with that. Offroad shocks are going to have weak rebound compared to something you'd want for controlling a heavy load. You want an offroad shock to extend to its limit quicker than you would something having to control a heavy load.

Is it as easy a swap out for the fronts as it was for the rear shocks?? Obviously I know nothing about what is involved. I had a local small shop down the street from where I work swap out the rears sand it took him all of 10 minutes.

Fronts are anywhere from a little more involved to a bit more than that involved. 2WD trucks you need to break the upper ball joint, 4WD ones you also have to pull the CV Axle out. Plus you will need to compress the springs to get them back assembled with the new shock.

Doable by a home gamer, but you need to be comfortable dealing with big springs and you will need at least a set of spring compressors. Of course, you could always pull the assembly yourself and pay a shop to put them back together.

 

[Frenchy]

I'd have to disagree with that. Offroad shocks are going to have weak rebound compared to something you'd want for controlling a heavy load. You want an offroad shock to extend to its limit quicker than you would something having to control a heavy load.

It's really going to depend on the shock. Even with a longer travel you still want to have the load controlled. Too little and it will bounce all over. Too much and you will feel like having 20 ft pole shoved up the wonderful place.

For a vehicle that has a good bit of weight vs one that doesn't but tows a fair amount OffRoad can have the same shock for the load control alone.

With the shock dampening be the same as factory? Not necessarily, but sometimes it's not a bad idea

 

[ctechbob]

It's really going to depend on the shock. Even with a longer travel you still want to have the load controlled. Too little and it will bounce all over. Too much and you will feel like having 20 ft pole shoved up the wonderful place.

For a vehicle that has a good bit of weight vs one that doesn't but tows a fair amount OffRoad can have the same shock for the load control alone.

With the shock dampening be the same as factory? Not necessarily, but sometimes it's not a bad idea

That wasn't supposed to have been posted, it was something I started typing and then stopped since I wanted to verify some things, must have gotten sent with the disassembly question..

Either way, I still disagree that a shock designed for high speed road use would be close to the same as an offroad shock, I just don't have the data in hand since I'm camping at the moment. Offroad might get you part of the way there, but something optimized for road use will be better.

 

[Frenchy]

That wasn't supposed to have been posted, it was something I started typing and then stopped since I wanted to verify some things, must have gotten sent with the disassembly question..

Either way, I still disagree that a shock designed for high speed road use would be close to the same as an offroad shock, I just don't have the data in hand since I'm camping at the moment. Offroad might get you part of the way there, but something optimized for road use will be better.

Notice the part where I mentioned it Depends on the Shock? It also depends on the type of OffRoad Driving you are doing since there are many different types. Most of us do what you would like to call Touring or Overlanding as it is also known. Others like to do the BAJA style desert running. Some like to do Rock Crawling with dedicated Rock Crawlers(some not so much with a dedicated Rock Crawler). Different applications like such will require different shocks.if going for Touring(which is what I do) then you still need a shock that is going to handle high speeds on the Highway. Simply put the vehicle has to be balanced. A Rock Crawler on the other hand will most likely have shocks that don't like to handle the high speeds.

Certain companies like ARB(Old Man EMU) and Dobinsons will focus on Touring. Others like Fox and Kind will most likely focus on the BAJA type of stuff, but at the same time are almost universal in a way. Some companies like Rough country and Skyjacker focus on nothing but how high they can get a vehicle so the male counterpart can compensate for what they are lacking.

Put simple it still depends on the application

 

[Superspirit]

Is it as easy a swap out for the fronts as it was for the rear shocks?? Obviously I know nothing about what is involved. I had a local small shop down the street from where I work swap out the rears sand it took him all of 10 minutes.

Not really, if you paid someone to do the rears then you will want to pay to have the fronts done. Now for me it was simple as I'm a retired master auto tech and have all the necessary tools in my garage including the needed compressors. I'm not saying you can't do it. But it's not a super simple job like the rears.

 

[paval3]

Not really, if you paid someone to do the rears then you will want to pay to have the fronts done. Now for me it was simple as I'm a retired master auto tech and have all the necessary tools in my garage including the needed compressors. I'm not saying you can't do it. But it's not a super simple job like the rears.

Oh no, I am not thinking of attempting the job myself. I'm not saying some women couldn't, but I couldn't... I can't even open a jar anymore!

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