Shocks for 99 F150 XLT SC SB

Marlin Singer wrote:

> I have had excellent results with Bilsteins. Used to use Monroe or
> Gabriel, but will stick with Bilsteins from now on. As for the shocks
> lasting 87k, I wouldn't be surprised if they were gone at 30k. OEM's
> just don't last and with the stiff springs, it is very difficult to tell
> they are bad without removing them.

My truck is a 99 F150 4x4 Supercab with the offroad package. I've got almost
175,000km on the beast with the original shocks. I haul firewood and stuff so
I am putting a good load in now and then. I notice that my ride is still very
solid. What is the best way to tell how the shocks are holding up without
actually removing them? Would I still be seeing a solid ride due to the stiff
springs as you say?

Cheers,
Lawrence
 >> Stay informed about: Shocks for 99 F150 XLT SC SB 

Lawrence wrote:
> Marlin Singer wrote:
>
>> I have had excellent results with Bilsteins. Used to use Monroe or
>> Gabriel, but will stick with Bilsteins from now on. As for the shocks
>> lasting 87k, I wouldn't be surprised if they were gone at 30k. OEM's
>> just don't last and with the stiff springs, it is very difficult to tell
>> they are bad without removing them.
>
> My truck is a 99 F150 4x4 Supercab with the offroad package. I've got almost
> 175,000km on the beast with the original shocks. I haul firewood and stuff so
> I am putting a good load in now and then. I notice that my ride is still very
> solid. What is the best way to tell how the shocks are holding up without
> actually removing them? Would I still be seeing a solid ride due to the stiff
> springs as you say?
>
> Cheers,
> Lawrence
>
>
Change them. They will feel like a new vehicle. You just don't notice
them going bad because it is gradual. As to a solid ride, yes it will
still feel solid. Maybe a little more bounce than when new, especially
with a load. Also maybe a bit more vibration if you hit something like a
pot hole. I remember I replaced the rear shocks on my first pickup,
thinking I would try air shocks. When I took of the OE, I could
literally slide them in and out with no resistance. Shocks have gotten
better since then, especially gas shocks, but I always change them out
at 30k miles and always feel a big differences in the ride and how the
truck corners.
 >> Stay informed about: Shocks for 99 F150 XLT SC SB 

Marlin Singer wrote:

> Change them. They will feel like a new vehicle. You just don't notice
> them going bad because it is gradual. As to a solid ride, yes it will
> still feel solid. Maybe a little more bounce than when new, especially
> with a load. Also maybe a bit more vibration if you hit something like a
> pot hole. I remember I replaced the rear shocks on my first pickup,
> thinking I would try air shocks. When I took of the OE, I could
> literally slide them in and out with no resistance. Shocks have gotten
> better since then, especially gas shocks, but I always change them out
> at 30k miles and always feel a big differences in the ride and how the
> truck corners.

So you didn't put air shocks on? What is the deal with gas shocks?
I've been considering putting either air shocks or air levellers on.
Had any experience with these?

Stephen N.
 >> Stay informed about: Shocks for 99 F150 XLT SC SB 

Marlin Singer wrote:

> Change them. They will feel like a new vehicle. You just don't notice
> them going bad because it is gradual. As to a solid ride, yes it will
> still feel solid. Maybe a little more bounce than when new, especially
> with a load. Also maybe a bit more vibration if you hit something like a
> pot hole. I remember I replaced the rear shocks on my first pickup,
> thinking I would try air shocks. When I took of the OE, I could
> literally slide them in and out with no resistance. Shocks have gotten
> better since then, especially gas shocks, but I always change them out
> at 30k miles and always feel a big differences in the ride and how the
> truck corners.

Thanks for the info. I'll put that on my list of truck stuff to do next month.

Cheers,
Lawrence
 >> Stay informed about: Shocks for 99 F150 XLT SC SB 

"Stephen N." <Steelystephen RemoveThis @coldmail.com> wrote in message
news:xaW1g.1387$FY1.882@clgrps12...
>
> So you didn't put air shocks on? What is the deal with gas shocks?

The deal is thus, as the hydraulic oil in a shock is forced through the
valveing that provides the dampening, it wants to foam, if it foams, the
shock is just a useless piece hardware along for the ride. By pressurizing
with an inert gas, such as nitrogen, we eliminate the foaming. The fine
balance is in the amount of pressure, the more pressure the stiffer the
ride, but the more stress it can handle, think baja racing.

> I've been considering putting either air shocks or air levellers on.
> Had any experience with these?
>
shock mounts on 90 percent of vehicles are not designed to handle loads.

A shocks' main job is not to give a good ride, its main job is to keep the
tire in contact with the road surface. A spring is just like a tuning fork,
once "struck" it wants to keep oscillating, the shock absorber's job is to
control the oscillations. In days of old they were called suspension
dampers which is really an more apt description.

Whitelightning
 >> Stay informed about: Shocks for 99 F150 XLT SC SB 

Stephen N. wrote:
> Marlin Singer wrote:
>
>> Change them. They will feel like a new vehicle. You just don't notice
>> them going bad because it is gradual. As to a solid ride, yes it will
>> still feel solid. Maybe a little more bounce than when new, especially
>> with a load. Also maybe a bit more vibration if you hit something like
>> a pot hole. I remember I replaced the rear shocks on my first pickup,
>> thinking I would try air shocks. When I took of the OE, I could
>> literally slide them in and out with no resistance. Shocks have gotten
>> better since then, especially gas shocks, but I always change them out
>> at 30k miles and always feel a big differences in the ride and how the
>> truck corners.
>
> So you didn't put air shocks on? What is the deal with gas shocks? I've
> been considering putting either air shocks or air levellers on. Had any
> experience with these?
>
> Stephen N.
>
That was a lot of years ago on my 78. I wouldn't do air shocks again. If
I needed more height due to weight, I would use air bags. The shocks of
yesteryear were oil charged. If you over worked them, the would foam
inside and become almost useless. Gas charged shocks of today seem to do
a better job and last longer than the old. I have noticed that when I
change OE shocks at 30k now, that even though to me they are worn, they
are better than the old type shocks at the same mileage. I may even go a
little longer than 30k from now on, but the aftermarket shocks are so
much better than OE, I may not.
 >> Stay informed about: Shocks for 99 F150 XLT SC SB