F250 FX-4 shocks

[waiting2retire]

I bought a new 2016 8 foot bed F-250 FX-4 last Aug. I hauled my fifth wheel from NY to Florida. While I was there I noticed the ride had gotten real bouncy. I had to take a trip back to NY without the fifth wheel and the ride was terrible. Is it possible the shocks went bad after just 5000 miles? I have done a little reading about the quality of the Ford Rancho shocks on the FX4 being junk. Has anyone else had this same problem? Recommendations?

[ford_truck_guy]

rhagfo wrote:

Old Days wrote:
My F-250 FX 4 rides rough when empty, you could drop the air pressure from 80 pounds to 70 pounds that will help a little.

Don't know the size of the OP's 5er, but with about a 2,300# pin I tow at 70 psi in my rear tires (265/75-16E), to smooth the ride empty more like 45 to 50 psi. Yes the shocks could be shot, look at Bil's 4600 or 5100's.

Russ,

Not to hijack but i have a question.. what is the difference between the 4600's, and the 5100"s. ??

I am due for an upgrade myself..

Joe

[FishOnOne]

I ran my stock Rancho's to about ~112k miles and replaced them with another set of Rancho's. I would take it to the dealer and have them replaced with another set.

Some have had good luck with them and some have not.

[OH48Lt]

Had a 2005 F250 with the FX4 package with Rancho shocks. Worked great to about 60K miles, and the ride quality just wasn't there anymore. Wallowing around, etc. Local dealer talked me into getting the MonroeMatic HD shocks. Used them one week and took the truck back and told the dealer to get that junk off my truck. We then installed a set of Bilsteins 5100's. Great shocks.

The original Rancho's were good for a while, but the 5100's are better.

[Old_Days]

My truck camper is on my truck almost the entire year, the only time I unload it is to haul plywood or drywall. With my stableloads locked in I know it will ride rough but that's OK. Someday I will get rid of the Rancho Shocks. I am glad to know not to buy them again, Thanks.

[RedRocket204]

If those are the same "Rancho" shocks Ford has been using for years, got news for you, those were bad the minute you drove off the lot.

Per the previous post, change them to Bilstein 5100 shocks. While you're at it, change the front stabilizer to a Bilstein too.

When I removed my FX4 "Rancho" shocks, they were stamped Motor Craft. Seems all you get with the FX4 "Rancho" shocks are fancy Rancho stickers.

[rhagfo]

Old Days wrote:
My F-250 FX 4 rides rough when empty, you could drop the air pressure from 80 pounds to 70 pounds that will help a little.

Don't know the size of the OP's 5er, but with about a 2,300# pin I tow at 70 psi in my rear tires (265/75-16E), to smooth the ride empty more like 45 to 50 psi. Yes the shocks could be shot, look at Bil's 4600 or 5100's.

[Old_Days]

My F-250 FX 4 rides rough when empty, you could drop the tire air pressure from 80 pounds to 70 pounds that will help a little.