Choice of Front Struts for 2007

[dmont]

I need to replace the front struts on my 2007. I'm running the originals at 215k miles! Can anyone comment on what I should look for, brand, quality, etc on a pair of front struts?

O'Reilly's has MasterPro's for $159 each. Autozone has Duralasts and Sensens for similar prices. I dont' want to pay Ford OEM prices....

Thanks for any advice.

dmont

 

[Trainmaster]

Beware of the Chinese consumer auto-parts store brands you mention. Just garbage.

Labor and sweat is too valuable to waste on installing junk, and I get too aggravated when I fight to install the stuff and it doesn't work .

 

[john smolenski]

I got the Ranchoes from RockAuto and like them. They have an adjuster dial you can tune the shock for soft vs. hard. The also level the truck out and get rid of the rake. I'd say total lift is about an inch. Just a little more than stock. Like them alot. I also made some of those strut mud guards talked of in another thread - used that rubber roof membrane they sell at home Depot. Hope it keeps out the weather. All the goo is a coating of corrosion free 3000. It's a rust proofing that you spray on and is sort of like a wd-40 in honey form that seeps all over, lubricates all rubber, and is safe for electrical. Put it right on any corrosion with no prep.

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[Trainmaster]

How do the Ranchoes deal with the rake? Are the front ones a bit longer than the rears? And how's the ride? Hate the factory rake on the truck!

 

[john smolenski]

How do the Ranchoes deal with the rake? Are the front ones a bit longer than the rears? And how's the ride? Hate the factory rake on the truck!

Yes. Rears are like 3/4" higher and front is like 1 1/2" higher. I think the rancho web site gives you all the specs. Could be a problem if you don't do all 4- might have nose up since stock struts in rear are lower.

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[dmont]

Great information guys, thanks! I'm not sure if I want to lift the front end at all, even though it's only 1 1/2" higher. We have the air suspension in the rear, and it's primarily my wife's truck. However, I'm a fan of Rancho's as we have them on our Jeep.

@Trainmaster, the alternatives on Rock Auto.... Monroe, Moog, Gabriel...are they as bad as the ones I'd buy at a local auto parts store?

 

[Trainmaster]

I believe the name brands, which are supported with good warranties, are far better than the auto-parts store stuff. It seems the chain stores view their their customers as wanting only the cheapest products available, so they often offer their own name brands which are rebadged Chinese knockoffs of name brands at huge markup for their store overhead.

While brands such as Monroe, Moog and Gabriel from time to time have critics, they are tried and true brands that stand behind their products. Their own names are on them and they sell to professionals.

All of them though I consider a gamble compared to OEM Motorcraft products.

Then there are premium brands as Ranchero and Bilstein which have their followers.

I'd like to hear what others think.

 

[Flexpedition]

I dont' want to pay Ford OEM prices....

Motorcaft are less than $100 without looking very hard. I'd buy used Motorcraft before I'd buy new O'Really's house brand.

Ford front part number is 7L1Z-18124-T. Or AL1Z-18124-D.


$83+ shipping at Taska, which your dealer might price match. $97 on Rock Auto + shipping. Easy under $100 shipped on ebay. $99 Amazon shipped.

 

[dmont]

Whoa...I didn't expect OEM Ford parts to be that inexpensive! @Flexpedition thank you for doing that homework for me. I think I'll go that route.

For the ~2-3 hours I'll spend working on this I definitely want good parts.

Thanks everyone for your input.

 

[1955moose]

Think about your first post for a second. I'm running the originals with 215 k. Struts are supposed to be changed every 50-60k. If you rock that boat with any aftermarket struts sir, bend over and let me put my Moose sized 16 foot at your backside. I have tried litterealy every shock/strut on the market, Munroe, Motorcraft, Bilstein, all rode like a tank! Spend the [emoji383], get a discount from your dealer. They'll do it, but put back on Ford, not Motorcraft, different strut. Why do the job twice, or hate the ride/ handling that obviously your happy with. I'm sure I'll get hate mail, but what the hey, I'm running 4 Ford shocks that I and my good friend scoured country wide, after trying 3 other brands, and you know what, now my Eddie rides nice for a solid axle 4x4!

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[Adieu]

I need to replace the front struts on my 2007. I'm running the originals at 215k miles! Can anyone comment on what I should look for, brand, quality, etc on a pair of front struts?

O'Reilly's has MasterPro's for $159 each. Autozone has Duralasts and Sensens for similar prices. I dont' want to pay Ford OEM prices....

Thanks for any advice.

dmont

Oreilly and Autozone "house brand" parts are ALL chinese or korean nonames rebadged, and marked up 2.5x, same crap you buy on ebay for $60 in a different box

Preassembled drop-in coilover readystrut options are:
1. The $60 nonames from ebay etc.
2. Monroe, pretty smooth for highway use
3. Rancho, $200ish, adjustible stiffness... kinda a pain in the azz to dial in, though, and can be kinda weird feel with LT tires for some reason. Provides slight lift and levels out the truck if installed on all 4 corners

 

[Trainmaster]

I never changed a strut without changing the spring. If I change just the strut, are there any other parts in there that I should order, like a spring pad or something else that wears?

 

[Fasttimes]

Just installed Monroe quick struts on all 4 corner and happy so far. Looks and ride great. Amazon had the best price deal for me, delivered in 2 days.

 

[NASCAR Mike]

Bilsteins are the way to go. Firmer drive and a lifetime warranty. I have them on my 05 Excursion and 17 Expy. When the struts/shocks die on my wife's 08 Expy (only has 76k miles) I will install Bilsteins.

 

[Black]

Bilstein. Don’t bother with anything else.

 

[dmont]

Thanks everyone for your input!

 

[Adieu]

It's a wonder why Bilstein STILL hasn't gotten around to offerring prebuilt complete coilover assemblies like everyone else...

 

[john smolenski]

It's a wonder why Bilstein STILL hasn't gotten around to offerring prebuilt complete coilover assemblies like everyone else...

Yeah really....good point.

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[Adieu]

I for one want nothing to do with those big-ass springs.... i've seen a puny and thoroughly trashed bimmer 3series spring take a flying leap into the bushes, and don't even wanna know what'll happen if a beefy and still-useable big truck spring decides to hit you in the head

Also, when I was debating Bilstein vs. Rancho, it turned out that my used truck had an aftermarket quickstrut coilover in one corner that used a somewhat different design and wouldn't transplant onto a Bilstein

 

[Trainmaster]

Put Bilsteins on my 2000, and they were great, though had trouble getting them to fit. A perfect ride: quite firm but not hard enough to rattle anything. I just hope the ones for my 2008 will go in easier when the time comes.