Need new shocks got $1000 spend my money!

[nacanitihs]

Noob Blue Oval Owner here (other than my 1980 Ford Pinto, it was awesome for donuts )...

This is great info, I have not seen this confirmed. I was leaning toward Bilsteins but now going back toward Fox 2.5 (on Amazon for $317). I want a nice smooth DD ride, capable of loads <3% of the time. I have levelers (aluminum block type) in the front and don't intend on doing any more lifting.

I was also thinking of adding Sulastic Shackles. I'm not sure if this changes the ride height. Thoughts?

Does Ford use these types of mods to void warranty for other OEM parts?

Fox- In the past I have had good results running Fox in my Taco, minus some rubbing.
Icon- not buying them ever again (...staying positive in my post)

As for the Shackles read through the Carli Shackles Thread. Here people discuss both Surlastic and Carli. Many have been disappointed with the generic (not specifically designed for our trucks) Surlastic and have changed to the Carli ones. Surlastic are also 2x the cost of the Carli and need replaced instead of rebuilt. Also, the way those are designed, they are just an increased lever arm on a larger vulcanized rubber bushing. I have significant concerns for long term performance when loaded or towing. The design relies on significantly flexing that rubber to support the load.

I placed an order for the Carli shackles with my friend's shop yesterday.

Here Check out this Fox 2.5 HTO Thread

Also a screen shot direct from Apollo Off-Road's Website (Only Applies to the HTO)

 

[Meister71]

I think I’m just gonna go the simple route I reached out to a few vendor DM for quotes and no reply, cheapest I have seen is $381 for the shocks

https://a.co/d/08NRMalp

$105 for the stabilizer bringing a total to $486 shipped, hoping to get a vendor to price match or better and support the forum. Thanks all
https://www.amazon.com/Bilstein-24-274951-24-274968-5100-Monotube/dp/B08KGWH2KJ?ref_=contextualLandingPage_exp_bs_ma_title

Walmart sells a lot for $481 seems pretty solid

Bilstein Set of Front and Rear B8 5100 Series Shocks with Steering Stabilizer Compatible with 2017-2025 F250/F350 4WD w/o Tremor Package with 2-2.5" Front & 0-1" Rear Lift - Walmart.com

Buy Bilstein Set of Front and Rear B8 5100 Series Shocks with Steering Stabilizer Compatible with 2017-2025 F250/F350 4WD w/o Tremor Package with 2-2.5" Front & 0-1" Rear Lift at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

 

[Meister71]

Weird is it says it’s w/o tremor package so now I’m not sure

 

[Hunterman]

Weird is it says it’s w/o tremor package so now I’m not sure

Without tremor package means a regular f250. The tremor package gives you 1-1.5” lift as part of the “package” so those should work for you. Maybe contact a supporting member like Nick @apollo Offroad and see what he has sold to other guys with tremors. He will probably know and/or @gmoon sounds like a guy that sells suspension equipment too. They will have first hand experience with the parts.

If your shopping Walmart just because of price you may want to see what the supporting members can do for you

 

[Meister71]

Absolutely I have reached out to @gmoon amd @Nick@ApolloOff-Road if they can get close to the Walmart price I’m ready to go! I have sent both a DM….standing by to support a vendor

 

[Optimus🤖]

Absolutely I have reached out to @gmoon amd @Nick@ApolloOff-Road if they can get close to the Walmart price I’m ready to go! I have sent both a DM….standing by to support a vendor

Become a supporting member and you'll get a fast reply! It's one of the perks .

 

[rwillia4]

I went with Fox 2.5 front and back. I followed the advise and went with 0-1.5 for both. The fronts have been great. However the 0-1.5" rears didn't work well for me. Over simple dips and humps I could hear them hitting max extension (this was in town <25mph driving). I swapped them out to the next size up 2-3.5". Putting them side by side, compressed they are 1" longer than the 0-1.5". These made the difference. Then I installed the Sulastic Shock Absorber Shackles, SA-06F. I am finally happy with the ride.

People have mixed opinions on the Sulastic. So far they have been great. They give a little cush, removing the shimmy when going over bumps or dips and are very noticeable when going over at an angle, offering a very stable ride and control. The OEM directions leave much to be desired. Independent youtube videos helped. I wonder if folks that have had early failure have installed then correctly. Specifically, not tightening the bolts until the truck is on its rear wheels, putting weight on the leaf springs. If they are tightened before the truck is lowered the Sulastics would become pre-loaded, with a decreased range of motion, and would probably led to an early failure. For me time will tell...

Suspension changes:
Front
2" lower leveler blocks, https://a.co/d/09F04pxz
2.5 Fox Struts- Lift 0-1.5" (987-24-000), https://a.co/d/0erbO2sY

Rear
2.5 Fox Shocks (987-24-003), https://a.co/d/034SFVKt
Sulastic Shock Absorber Shackles (SA-06F), https://a.co/d/0aAZYYYr

 

[ramv]

Dumb question because I don’t know. Is the steering stabilizer an important upgrade? I smashed the OEm one on my 2nd Gen Ram and took it off. I eventually went to hydraulic assist with 37”:s and 42”s. I put the Rancho one on my a Chevy 2500 (no oem one) and it was ok but limited steering and I can’t say it was drastic with 33”s My Ram I had the OEM and then swapped to a Thuren valved King and really didn’t notice a difference. This truck the EAS seems to be a big influence

 

[MrFancypants]

This truck the EAS seems to be a big influence

I think you may be right. I did not find as big a difference with the Carli lower on my 2024 as on my 2022. It also seems like there are a few people with auto steering issues after installing Fox ATS and dual stabilizers. I didn’t have issues but the steering feel did not change noticeably. Granted it was a brand new truck so this was more preventative.

 

[The Evil Twin]

I went with Fox 2.5 front and back. I followed the advise and went with 0-1.5 for both. The fronts have been great. However the 0-1.5" rears didn't work well for me. Over simple dips and humps I could hear them hitting max extension (this was in town <25mph driving). I swapped them out to the next size up 2-3.5". Putting them side by side, compressed they are 1" longer than the 0-1.5". These made the difference. Then I installed the Sulastic Shock Absorber Shackles, SA-06F. I am finally happy with the ride.

People have mixed opinions on the Sulastic. So far they have been great. They give a little cush, removing the shimmy when going over bumps or dips and are very noticeable when going over at an angle, offering a very stable ride and control. The OEM directions leave much to be desired. Independent youtube videos helped. I wonder if folks that have had early failure have installed then correctly. Specifically, not tightening the bolts until the truck is on its rear wheels, putting weight on the leaf springs. If they are tightened before the truck is lowered the Sulastics would become pre-loaded, with a decreased range of motion, and would probably led to an early failure. For me time will tell...

Suspension changes:
Front
2" lower leveler blocks, https://a.co/d/09F04pxz
2.5 Fox Struts- Lift 0-1.5" (987-24-000), https://a.co/d/0erbO2sY

Rear
2.5 Fox Shocks (987-24-003), https://a.co/d/034SFVKt
Sulastic Shock Absorber Shackles (SA-06F), https://a.co/d/0aAZYYYr

So the stock Tremor rear needs shocks for a 2.5” lift?

 

[rwillia4]

So the stock Tremor rear needs shocks for a 2.5” lift?

I know mine needed more travel than the 1.5" offered. I don't know if 2.5" is the sweet spot. Nice part is the Fox 2.5" diameter shocks have a effective range for a 2" - 3.5" lift. I'm sure other companies are similar.

 

[The Evil Twin]

I know mine needed more travel than the 1.5" offered. I don't know if 2.5" is the sweet spot. Nice part is the Fox 2.5" diameter shocks have an effective range for a 2" - 3.5" lift. I'm sure other companies are similar.

Interesting. Not that I know anything about it. Just gathering information for when it comes time.
Did you compare fully extended lengths old vs new?

 

[MrFancypants]

Maybe it’s an HTO thing. The 0-1.5 Performance Elites are perfect length for the back.

 

[S2kstephen]

Dumb question because I don’t know. Is the steering stabilizer an important upgrade? I smashed the OEm one on my 2nd Gen Ram and took it off. I eventually went to hydraulic assist with 37”:s and 42”s. I put the Rancho one on my a Chevy 2500 (no oem one) and it was ok but limited steering and I can’t say it was drastic with 33”s My Ram I had the OEM and then swapped to a Thuren valved King and really didn’t notice a difference. This truck the EAS seems to be a big influence

If you want to keep the stock location, then the Fox ATS is an excellent upgrade. The easy adjustability is the best improvement.

If you want some improvement but have the 'looks', then the dual setup in front the axle is the go to. They are all pretty much the same - the Bilstein 5100/Fox 2.0 are most common besides just dropping the 'cool coin' for King.

But If you want more control, adjustments, and overall improved handling then something like the Carli upper/lower, Icon Centerline, etc are more function over fashion of the duals.

 

[rwillia4]

Interesting. Not that I know anything about it. Just gathering information for when it comes time.
Did you compare fully extended lengths old vs new?

1" longer fully extended

 

[MrFancypants]

1" longer fully extended

I just checked the Fox website and here’s the specs:

2.0 IFP 0-1.5: 18.5” - 30.11” (11.61”)
2.0 IFP 1.5-3.5: 20.2”-32.82” (12.62”)
2.5 PE 0-1.5: 18.35” - 29.83” (11.48”)
2.5 PE 1.5-2.5: 19.85” - 32.33” (12.48”)
2.5 HTO 0-1.5: 18.79” - 29.58” (10.79”)
2.5 HTO 2-3.5: 19.39” - 30.58” (11.39”)

I just measured my truck (2.5 PE 0-1.5) and I have 5-1/4” of travel at rest, which means I have 6-1/4” of extension travel (really good balance). The rear bumpstop has approx 4.5” to the axle, which makes all of this pretty much perfect.

A 2.5 HTO 0-1.5 will have 0.41” less compress travel (bad) and 0.3” less extension travel (also bad). A 2.5 HTO 2-3.5” will have 1.04” less compression travel (really bad) and .7” more extension travel (questionably useful).

I suppose if you don’t tow or carry high payloads, that’s fine, but I personally would never want to sacrifice an inch of compression travel. I also believe you are going to bottom out the shock before hitting the bump stop. All stock height SD aftermarket shocks spec a 19” max compressed length for a reason.

This is starting to look like the HTOs may not be a great choice for the rear of a F350/Tremor, but I get that the PEs are more than twice the price.

 

[The Evil Twin]

I just checked the Fox website and here’s the specs:

2.0 IFP 0-1.5: 18.5” - 30.11” (11.61”)
2.0 IFP 1.5-3.5: 20.2”-32.82” (12.62”)
2.5 PE 0-1.5: 18.35” - 29.83” (11.48”)
2.5 PE 1.5-2.5: 19.85” - 32.33” (12.48”)
2.5 HTO 0-1.5: 18.79” - 29.58” (10.79”)
2.5 HTO 2-3.5: 19.39” - 30.58” (11.39”)

I just measured my truck (2.5 PE 0-1.5) and I have 5-1/4” of travel at rest, which means I have 6-1/4” of extension travel (really good balance). The rear bumpstop has approx 4.5” to the axle, which makes all of this pretty much perfect.

A 2.5 HTO 0-1.5 will have 0.41” less compress travel (bad) and 0.3” less extension travel (also bad). A 2.5 HTO 2-3.5” will have 1.04” less compression travel (really bad) and .7” more extension travel (questionably useful).

I suppose if you don’t tow or carry high payloads, that’s fine, but I personally would never want to sacrifice an inch of compression travel. I also believe you are going to bottom out the shock before hitting the bump stop. All stock height SD aftermarket shocks spec a 19” max compressed length for a reason.

This is starting to look like the HTOs may not be a great choice for the rear of a F350/Tremor, but I get that the PEs are more than twice the price.

That’s kinda where I was going with it. Thanks for the technical details.
It seems that the HTO 2-3.5” are going to bottom out on a stock Tremor fairly easily. That is really really not good.
So far as the extension travel goes, the leaf springs are lightly compressed without a load. The rear of the truck weighs 3500ish pounds. There isn’t as much extension as there is compression travel. Maybe if you launch your truck there would be over extension of the leaf springs.
I’m all curious because this is the first issue I’ve heard of with the HTO on extension. That, and I’m a suspension geek from my racing days.

 

[Grabber]

Just put 5100s (front / back and steering stabilizer) on last week as one of my rear shocks starting leaking/squeaking. Had them on my '15 and loved them.

 

[dzrtdzl]

Ya, Fox doesn't list for the Tremor model. Interesting. Tremor's use a 3.25" block. Aren't regular F250/350 use 2 or 2.25" blocks out back?

 

[Mike1646]

I went with Fox 2.5 front and back. I followed the advise and went with 0-1.5 for both. The fronts have been great. However the 0-1.5" rears didn't work well for me. Over simple dips and humps I could hear them hitting max extension (this was in town <25mph driving). I swapped them out to the next size up 2-3.5". Putting them side by side, compressed they are 1" longer than the 0-1.5". These made the difference. Then I installed the Sulastic Shock Absorber Shackles, SA-06F. I am finally happy with the ride.

People have mixed opinions on the Sulastic. So far they have been great. They give a little cush, removing the shimmy when going over bumps or dips and are very noticeable when going over at an angle, offering a very stable ride and control. The OEM directions leave much to be desired. Independent youtube videos helped. I wonder if folks that have had early failure have installed then correctly. Specifically, not tightening the bolts until the truck is on its rear wheels, putting weight on the leaf springs. If they are tightened before the truck is lowered the Sulastics would become pre-loaded, with a decreased range of motion, and would probably led to an early failure. For me time will tell...

Suspension changes:
Front
2" lower leveler blocks, https://a.co/d/09F04pxz
2.5 Fox Struts- Lift 0-1.5" (987-24-000), https://a.co/d/0erbO2sY

Rear
2.5 Fox Shocks (987-24-003), https://a.co/d/034SFVKt
Sulastic Shock Absorber Shackles (SA-06F), https://a.co/d/0aAZYYYr

I got the ones recommended for the tremor and they are working fine. The truck rides very nicely.