2002 Ford F-150 FX4 Shock Question

[Dragonsm]

I had a couple days off so my truck had the chance to sit in the driveway for a few days. 2002 F-150 FX4 package with the 5.4 motor.

Tonight my neighbor appoached me and noticed there was some small liquid on the driveway underneath my driver side rear shock.

I crawled underneath and it definately doesn't have that "water" smell to it and it the bottom of the rear shock is where it dripped from so I am assuming my rear shock finally rusted out and leaked the liquid? I did see a little bit of it hanging ready to drip and it looked green to me.

Anyway, my assumption is new shocks all around? If so, anybody have a recommendation? (Currently it has the stock Rancho's that came with it)

Initiially I was either thinking Rancho's or Monroes....but that is just an initial uneducated assumption.

Thanks!

Steve

Also, I have installed rear shocks on a car before....would this be something someone could tackle in an afternoon or am I better off taking it in?

[blakeb]

Depends, how long you will have it ?

If the first ranchos lasted this long good chance the next ones will last that long,

If you only see yourself owning it i little while longer, search for cheapies to get you by for now,

I persnally have had the monroe's they were the "good" gold or whatever and they were kinda crappie.

[blakeb]

Ohh yeah you can definatly do it on your own, short work basid tools possily even easier than a car, dont forget the saftey glasses, rust and sand will be waiting to fall into your eyes, thank me later,

[Dragonsm]

Good Question.....I probably should have addressed it. The truck itself only has around 90,000 miles on it and I have no plans to trade it anytime soon. Mostly do onroad driving with it, with the occassional off the road either around hunting time or out on the lakes in the winter. No lifts or anything like that.

Initially, I read on the forums someplace the Rancho 5000's were what most people replaced the oem's with. (though I also read the OEM's that came on the truck were nothing more than a white painted shock with some rancho stickers to make it look good)

[Powerstroke]

The stockers are a Ford spec shock made by Rancho. I've had Rancho RSX and Bilsteins. Personally, I think the Bilsteins are the tops but they also cost more.

Even those the factory shocks "lasted" 90K miles, I doubt they've been doing much dampening in the last 30-40K miles.

[skolfoppa]

Bilsteins have a lifetime warranty. They will easily outlive every other part on that Ford. Skol.

[Dragonsm]

Alright, so I have the rear shocks and the front shocks will be in tomorrow morning so I can pick them up.

I was pretty jazzed up tonight to at least get the rears off and new ones put on. (especially since the one rear is the one leaking)I ran into a road block though in trying to figure out how to exactly unscrew the nut off the top stud of the shock. The stock nut is an 18 mm and at an angle. A shallow well socket is to shallow and a deep well is to tall with even a swivel socket.(the bottom of the box interferes) I didn't have an 18 mm wrench at the time but from what I see there is a small opening in the side of the frame (6 or so inches) to allow for that?

Any ford mechanics out there that could help point me in the right direction with a few tips/tricks?!?!?! I am either think rachet box end or sawzall?

Thanks

Steve

[Jeremy airjer W]

You need a long reach box end wrench and a large pair of channel locks. Just like a big hammer it works on all Fords!