What brand of struts ?

[dziubad]

My 2012 Exp EL decided to leave a puddle underneath the passengers rear strut. I'm having trouble deciding which brand of aftermarket struts to replace both rears. Or to just go motor craft? Wasn't planning on getting preloaded, just the strut.

Really pissed that I can only find Rancho's preloaded with a lift...if I need to do all four, I'd go that route.

What brand do you recommend, or not recommend, and why...how was the ride?

Has anyone done the Rancho kit on just the rear and waited to do the front?

 

[NASCAR Mike]

I would go with a heavy duty Bilstein shocks. They come with a lifetime warranty. I had them on my 2005 Ford Excursion and the difference was amazing. Truck handled better and stopped better because the nose would not dip during hard braking. If they made Bilstein's for my 2017 I would have them already.

Front 24-197717
Rear 24-197724

https://us.bilstein.com/en/product-...22366385160018&SubModelId=1815180533636079760

From the website:

Bilstein B6 4600 shock absorbers are designed as a direct fit upgrade to OE shock absorbers on stock height light trucks and SUV’s. These shock absorbers feature a monotube design which provides consistent fade free performance. B6 4600 shock absorbers utilize a unique, velocity sensitive, digressive piston which reacts to changing road conditions. All B6 4600 shock absorbers are tuned for each specific application to ensure optimal performance is achieved. B6 4600 shock absorbers offer a significant improvement in ride quality, handling, and comfort.

 

[Adieu]

My 2012 Exp EL decided to leave a puddle underneath the passengers rear strut. I'm having trouble deciding which brand of aftermarket struts to replace both rears. Or to just go motor craft? Wasn't planning on getting preloaded, just the strut.

Really pissed that I can only find Rancho's preloaded with a lift...if I need to do all four, I'd go that route.

What brand do you recommend, or not recommend, and why...how was the ride?

Has anyone done the Rancho kit on just the rear and waited to do the front?

Make sure you have stock struts in the back if not the first owner and going strut-only... I hear KYB and possibly others have products with incompatible spring perches

 

[ttriff]

Put Bilsteins front and rear on my 08 Expy a couple of months ago. The 'new' ride is great, not to firm but eliminates "pogoing".
Steering is more accurate and less vague

 

[mjp2]

Note that Rancho doesn't recommend their rear quick lift struts with the EL model. I swapped over my stock springs to the new shocks when installing the rear and it rides nice. It's an easy swap if you've got a spring compressor and pass-through socket set to get the top nut off the strut.

It doesn't lift the rear very much so don't worry about appearances with the stock front.

 

[Qatarguy]

Avoid Motorcraft like the plague....suggest Bilstein is way better.

 

[svfetter]

Avoid Motorcraft like the plague....suggest Bilstein is way better.

+1

 

[sjwelds]

+2

 

[Matt_N]

I would go with a heavy duty Bilstein shocks. They come with a lifetime warranty. I had them on my 2005 Ford Excursion and the difference was amazing. Truck handled better and stopped better because the nose would not dip during hard braking. If they made Bilstein's for my 2017 I would have them already.

Front 24-197717
Rear 24-197724

https://us.bilstein.com/en/product-...22366385160018&SubModelId=1815180533636079760

From the website:

Bilstein B6 4600 shock absorbers are designed as a direct fit upgrade to OE shock absorbers on stock height light trucks and SUV’s. These shock absorbers feature a monotube design which provides consistent fade free performance. B6 4600 shock absorbers utilize a unique, velocity sensitive, digressive piston which reacts to changing road conditions. All B6 4600 shock absorbers are tuned for each specific application to ensure optimal performance is achieved. B6 4600 shock absorbers offer a significant improvement in ride quality, handling, and comfort.

I assume these fit all 3rd gens? I have a 2010. Bilstein's website doesn't seem to list 2010 Expedition.

 

[NASCAR Mike]

I assume these fit all 3rd gens? I have a 2010. Bilstein's website doesn't seem to list 2010 Expedition.

These part numbers are for a 2012 XLT EL. I dont see a listing for your 2010 model. I didn't see anything for my 17 EL either. Bummer!

 

[Adieu]

Summit Racing lists the 4 rancho quicklift 3rd gen coilover part numbers for ELs from 2007 - 2012.... same part numbers as short wheelbase

 

[USMCBuckWild]

Bilstein

 

[jdeshong]

I went with some Monroe OESpectrum front struts on my 2015 mainly because thats all I could find that would fit other than the factory crap that leaks. They ride the same as stock and seem to absorb speed bumps better.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

Avoid Motorcraft like the plague....suggest Bilstein is way better.

I had the rear passenger blow in January 2016. It was covered under the CPO warranty so I let the dealership do it. In January 2017 the rear driver blew. I knew the MCs were crap, but I didn't want non-matching struts so I stuck with MC. Now the rear passenger has blown again, just 29 months after being replaced. This time I am just going to replace both rears with something else (probably Bilstein).

 

[Adieu]

I had the rear passenger blow in January 2016. It was covered under the CPO warranty so I let the dealership do it. In January 2017 the rear driver blew. I knew the MCs were crap, but I didn't want non-matching struts so I stuck with MC. Now the rear passenger has blown again, just 29 months after being replaced. This time I am just going to replace both rears with something else (probably Bilstein).

Monroe smooth ride
Ranchos handling

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

Monroe smooth ride
Ranchos handling

I had considered Rancho, but when I went to their website it said: "There are no products matching the selection."

I've seen too many complaints about Monroe failures to consider them I think. Also have read they tend to be soft? I don't want it to feel like a buoyant Chevy.

 

[Adieu]

I had considered Rancho, but when I went to their website it said: "There are no products matching the selection."

I've seen too many complaints about Monroe failures to consider them I think. Also have read they tend to be soft? I don't want it to feel like a buoyant Chevy.

My used Gator came with Monroe, at least in back, and it's pretty damn refined for city and interstate use.

More body roll than Ranchos, but rides much smoother

No clue how they would hold up to gravel, dirt, or offroad though

PS i have a sneaking suspicion no one at Rancho bothered testing with ELs, or with Lincoln for that matter, which is the ACTUAL reason they only list Expy SWB... because weight differences aren't THAT big, and similar or bigger differences can be accumulated in options alone (wheel options, 5 vs 8 seats, running boards, 4wd, etc)

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

My used Gator came with Monroe, at least in back, and it's pretty damn refined for city and interstate use.

More body roll than Ranchos, but rides much smoother

No clue how they would hold up to gravel, dirt, or offroad though

PS i have a sneaking suspicion no one at Rancho bothered testing with ELs, or with Lincoln for that matter, which is the ACTUAL reason they only list Expy SWB... because weight differences aren't THAT big, and similar or bigger differences can be accumulated in options alone (wheel options, 5 vs 8 seats, running boards, 4wd, etc)

I don't do any real off-roading, but I do a lot of unmaintained dirt/gravel roads, which the crappy Ford struts clearly couldn't handle. I ended up going with the Bilstein 4600s. My main concern is that they will be too firm, but I'd rather that than too soft. After the fact I discovered that Rancho makes an entire assembly (spring + shock) that definitely fits the '11 EL. I had already pulled the trigger on the Bilsteins though so I didn't even bother to research the Ranchos any further.

 

[Adieu]

Yeah when people say Rancho or Monroe, theyre usually referring to the preassembled coilover units (unless indicated otherwise)