Bilstein 5100 shocks

[Yikes1961]

So I am ready to get these shocks for the 2019 Ranger FX4 that makes me car sick if I have to be a passenger for longer than 30 minutes.
What exactly am I buying? 2 shocks/2 struts? 4 shocks? I don't want to order without an exact picture in my mind. I appreciate your help. Trying to currently find a mechanic to put these on, without breaking the bank. TIA.

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[daniel3507]

Stage 3 sells them individually and as a package. 2 front struts and 2 rear shocks.

 

[Fawnbuster]

So I am ready to get these shocks for the 2019 Ranger FX4 that makes me car sick if I have to be a passenger for longer than 30 minutes.
What exactly am I buying? 2 shocks/2 struts? 4 shocks? I don't want to order without an exact picture in my mind. I appreciate your help. Trying to currently find a mechanic to put these on, without breaking the bank. TIA.

All 4 on mine and I love the ride quality!!! The rears are super easy to install, I did mine but paid a buddy at his shop to do the fronts with my help due to needing a spring compressor.

 

[Tom_C]

Also interested. What is the advantage to replacing all 4 instead of the rears? I saw someone post that only rears were necessary for *something* but I don't remember what they said. I don't want to change the rack, or lift on the front.

 

[Langwilliams]

I talked to a repair shop where the kids working there drove trucks an suvs they lifted an was quoted $300 for the fronts. The rears are simple an I did them myself....probably be $50-$100 more to do the fronts. 4 wheel parts has a store near me an they quoted me $600 on the fronts but it would have been less if I bought the kit from them.

 

[Yikes1961]

Stage 3 sells them individually and as a package. 2 front struts and 2 rear shocks.

thanks!

 

[Yikes1961]

All 4 on mine and I love the ride quality!!! The rears are super easy to install, I did mine but paid a buddy at his shop to do the fronts with my help due to needing a spring compressor.

Yes, I watched a youtube video on the fronts and there is a lot to do there. ugh. lol

 

[Yikes1961]

I talked to a repair shop where the kids working there drove trucks an suvs they lifted an was quoted $300 for the fronts. The rears are simple an I did them myself....probably be $50-$100 more to do the fronts. 4 wheel parts has a store near me an they quoted me $600 on the fronts but it would have been less if I bought the kit from them.

I got a quote for over $1000 yesterday just labor. Not.

 

[FoD]

You can take it in stages and get to what you like.

Doing the rears by themselves first, will change your current ride from floaty boaty for sure. Will it be enough, that'll be your call.

I went that route, started with a rear sway bar, about two months later did the rear shocks and waited about 4 months before I did the fronts. I noticed the ride difference right away each time.

Right now, my ride is firm but not rough, drives like an HO slot car for me, goes where it's pointed. Handles washboard, washouts, curves, city pot holes and highway potholes (and fools ).

Still has stock Hannuknuk's for tires and I don't particularly find fault with them (yet)...do the proper maintenance and it's all good.

Good luck!!

PS - I did Eibach shocks and level struts

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Also interested. What is the advantage to replacing all 4 instead of the rears? I saw someone post that only rears were necessary for *something* but I don't remember what they said. I don't want to change the rack, or lift on the front.

Replacing just the rear shocks will give some improvement to ride quality, but not like doing just the fronts or all four.

The reason for replacing the factory shocks/struts is Ford screwed up and setup dampers to have excessively weak rebound resistance. This causes the suspension to extend higher than stock causing excessive bounce or body roll like it's a 1988 Cadillac Brougham land yacht. After market shocks/struts such as the Bilstein's offer similar compression as stock but much firmer rebound and consequently nearly eliminates the bounce and boat like roll. You don't need to do all 4 at once, but you do want to do them in pairs so both rears or both fronts then do the other later if you so choose.

 

[Fawnbuster]

Yes, I watched a youtube video on the fronts and there is a lot to do there. ugh. lol

I also replaced my upper control arms with a set from BDS, they had to be disconnected anyway to drop the coilover easier so it made sense.

 

[Bluestem]

I'll add on to what FoD said. I choose the Icon kit which included rear shocks and front coilovers with new springs as well. I changed the rears on a Monday afternoon after work and waited to do the fronts on a weekend. There are benefits from both. The rears definitely removed the boaty feeling. I really noticed the difference though from the fronts with new springs, the truck doesn't roll at all around corners anymore and the nose of the truck doesn't dive when i hit the brakes anymore. Those were the two big things I didn't like about the stock front suspension and both are gone with new coilovers. It really changes the drive quality of the truck in big way.

 

[Lost19Ranger]

I have all 4 5100 and in the front leveled it out.

I love the ride and handling now it feels like a different truck! If you can get all 4 it's worth it.

Also I paid 300+50 to have the crash bars cut

 

[CollieDog]

I had my local Ford Quick Lane replace mine, back in February. I was surprised they would install them as I bought them from Stage 3 (by the way, they are backordered now). Ford charges $225 for the fronts and $75 for the backs. I installed the backs myself and paid them about $60 after using my 42,000 points. That also included the alignment. Took them about 3 hours.

 

[CollieDog]

I should have added, the ride quality improvement is night and day, plus putting the front shocks at the next to highest setting fixed the downward rake, but still allows for a little give when towing. The stock shocks are some of the worst I have ever seen, very little tension, and the trcuk floats like on feather pillows. It was by far the best modification I have made, except for the tailgate damper maybe. Window tint was a close second.

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