With numerous options to choose from, some of the best shocks for Ford f150 4×4 are not so easily identifiable, especially for first-time buyers looking at replacing their degraded F150 shock absorber.
Besides dealing with fake and poor-quality products, you may have to contend with mistakenly purchasing poor-fitting shock for your truck model.
If you’re caught in a dilemma like this, don’t worry, our top products recommendation is all you need to get past this and settle for a great and durable shock.
But where do you begin? How do you know what to expect from a shock with specifications aligned to your truck model?
In a later section of this article, we have included what to consider before buying a shock absorber. That’s all you need to purchase rightly.
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Table of Contents
What is the best shock for the Ford f150 4×4?
With the keyword being “performance,” the Bilstein 5100 occupies our number one spot as the best shock absorber for Ford f150 4×4.
Having looked into other great products featured on this list, the Bilstein shock quickly, in terms of stability and superior design, outmatches what they offer to a truck owner of the F150 model.
To arrive at this choice, we considered factors like the monotube design of the shock, which is a superior design style compared to other alternatives.
There is also digressive valving, which contributes to the excellent damping ability of the shock and the high-end manufacturing material incorporated into its design.
For users whose durability is a top priority, a shock absorber like this would also benefit them, suitable for heavy-duty operations.
Top 7 Best Shocks for Ford F150 4×4 Review
01. Bilstein 5100 Shock absorber – Best for performance
Highlighted Features:
- For rear position
- Specifically designed for trucks
- Weighs 15 pounds
- Product dimension is 4 x 8x 28 inches
For f150 drivers looking for extreme driving stability, the Bilstein 5100 is a perfect option.
Are you looking at purchasing a high-efficiency shock that you wouldn’t have to break the bank for? The Bilstein brand is the right shock.
Besides being affordable, it is known to outlast many other shocks available in the market with similar features.
The monotube design is one feature that sets it apart and, very conveniently, places it in the league of shocks that can withstand harsh driving conditions.
Another thing unique to this product is its digressive piston, which is sensitive to velocity and adapts to changing driving conditions.
You could switch between on-road and off-road very flexibly without noticing any severe changes in your driving comfort.
Whether you are constantly commuting on smooth tracks or towing mountainous terrains, this product is suitable for both driving conditions.
It would benefit hikers or families venturing on road trips, as occasional bounces and jerks are minimized and fade swiftly as you drive.
WHAT WE LIKE
- Top-notch adaptivity to changing driving conditions
- Perfect shock for trucks and SUVs
- Inexpensive
- High-end monotube design for fade-free performance
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
- Scanty product description
02. Monroe Shocks and Struts – Top choice for handling performance
Highlighted Features:
- Rust-resistant
- Originally made in China
- Assembled in the US
- Weighs 1.5 pounds
- Features a smooth exterior
Looking to upgrade your ride and handling experience, the Monroe Shock and struts may do just the kind of job your want.
The brand deservedly boasts out-matching other shocks in quality, fit, and durability.
Notable for their straightforward installation procedure, they eliminate the need for a spring compressor, as each product purchased comes in a completely assembled single unit.
One thing many brands can’t match the Monroe shock in is how profoundly they meet the OE flexibility standards and even go as far as surpassing it.
Well, what else can be expected of a shock that features high-quality steel and coil springs that are application-specific, making it possible to preserve the structural integrity of the shock in events of major road impacts.
One area that leaves many buyers second-guessing their choice of a shock is the impact of a shock on the ride height of their truck.
Purchasing the Monroe shock, you wouldn’t have to worry about this.
Every shock produced by the brand is not only calibrated to meet OE design, but the coil springs used for its construction act to support the weight of the vehicle and restore the ride height of your truck once installed.
Talking about vehicle handling and control, the Monroe brand would be on the top of our list.
Installing this shock to a great extent minimizes body sway during driving and vibrations encountered from road harshness and fades it swiftly before it reaches the passenger’s cabin.
With a crucial feature, this product undeniably deserves the second spot as one of the best shocks for the Ford F150 4×4.
This is similar to what it does for the steering. The high-end upper strut improves your truck’s steering precision, preventing noise and providing a steady and smooth ride.
“Many users who had previously purchased the product complained about the bolts that come with the product not fitting the nuts. Others complained of the needless technicality needed to install the shock.”
The Monroe brand has a practice of testing every manufactured shock for its resistance against the elements by spraying them with salt.
They incorporate protective coating to resist corrosion and rust, making the brand one of the best rust-resistant metallic shocks available on the market.
WHAT WE LIKE
- Improved vehicular steering and handling
- Monotube design
- Effective shock dissipation
- Minimal friction
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
- A bit expensive
- Installation is not completely DIY
03. Detroit Axle 4WD Front Shock – Best front shock for heavy-duty operation
Highlighted Features:
- Designed for trucks
- Front shock
- Weighs 24 pounds
- Compatible with 2004 – 2008 f150 4WD
- Made in the US
The ease of installing the Detroit Axle makes it extremely convenient to use, as its working operation is just as easy, while its operational technicality is not compromised.
The shock absorption is solidified with a strut dust boot which protects the strut rods.
Installation wouldn’t be a hassle, as the shock comes fully assembled, comprising everything you need for strut replacement.
The unique grand design of this American shock is its electrophoretic coating.
This is an effective shield against corrosion and oxidation, which increases the performance life of the shock when compared to other shocks of a similar caliber.
Specially reinforced with coil springs, this design pattern serves to restore the ride height of your truck and serves as a support for the vehicle’s weight, offering a driver extremely controlled handling.
WHAT WE LIKE
- Easy installation
- Affordable
- Perfect fit
- Improved handling
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
- Bearing failure
04. Rancho QuickLIFT – Great choice for easy installation
Highlighted Features:
- Shock designed for front
- Features a smooth exterior
- Weighs 14 pounds
- Made in the USA
The US-made Rancho QuickLIFT is a complete solution for low-level F150 trucks liable to heavy underbelly impact and bumps.
It lifts and perfectly levels F150 4×4 trucks and SUVs without the cost of a suspension system.
Installation of this shock is also pretty easy as it features a bolt-on installation that comes completely assembled, with the coils springs being application-specific.
The high point in the design of this shock, which makes it a favorite for many F150 users, is its strut that features a nine-position flexible knob that allows adaptable damping for varying road conditions.
Talking about durability, this shock is at the frontline of shocks built for heavy-duty operation.
Its friction and self-lubricating seal can retain gas and oil, offering a rider a smoother compression.
Its liquid metallic finish also confers an unusual strength that matches harsh utility.
WHAT WE LIKE
- Installation is easy
- Rugged design
- Rust-resistant
- Operates wirelessly
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
- Expensive
05. AUTOSAVER88 – Best shock for rough terrains
Highlighted Features:
- Built for rear position of truck
- Features a machined exterior
- Compatible with 2004-2008 Ford F150 AWD and FWD
- Corrosion-resistant
- Weighs 75.8 pounds
The Autosaver88 is the perfect rear shock absorber for Ford f150 models of 2004-2008, especially for heavy-duty towing.
With a complete strut assembly, a product like this is unique because the buckle holes are removable without a user not necessarily having to collapse the entire shock setup.
With an installation as quick and straightforward as this, there shouldn’t be any hassle assembling the parts.
All components are designed to meet and even exceed OE standards when it comes to performance.
Made from first-grade steel materials, vibrations encountered on bumpy roads are significantly minimized, offering the rider a smooth riding experience, making it one of the best F150 shocks for a smooth ride, regardless of the driving terrain.
One brand you can trust to subject its product to a rigorous standard and quality control testing is the Autosaver88.
Each product undergoes vigorous impact testing, performance testing, and 500,000 fatigue testing before arriving at the market.
This way, problems like uneven tire wear, shaky turning, and long braking distance are ideally kept under control.
It doesn’t end here. This testing practice also ensures that the shocks are fit enough to improve a user’s riding and handling experience after installation.
For metallic shocks, corrosion and rust are common problems encountered by users.
The Autosaver88 controls this perfectly by a surface paint technique that prevents wear-outs and corrosion.
With a shock like this, get ready for not just a smooth ride but a noiseless one. The design components are constructed with minimized friction in mind.
The grease hydraulic circuit system and the excellent coil spring featured in the product’s design function to absorb vibration on bumpy and coarse terrains.
The Autosaver88 is simply our top recommendation for heavy-duty rear shocks for F150.
WHAT WE LIKE
- Excellent design material
- Great fitment
- Offers improved handling
- Corrosion-resistant
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
- A bit technical to install
06. Skyjacker B850 Black Max Shock Absorber – Top choice for heat dissipation
Highlighted Features:
- Exterior is painted
- Weighs 6 pounds
- Made in Mexico
- Designed to fit inside position
With production experience spanning 45 years, the Skyjack brand has left quite an impression in the auto industry.
It asserts quality to be its top priority, and this is perfectly reflected in the performance of the shocks bearing this brand’s name.
The shock observer manufactured by the Skyjack company comes in a tube-like design style with exceptional fluid capacity and runs on fuel-cell technology.
The heat dissipation technique of this brand is also second to none and hardly common among many other kinds of shocks.
In overheating cases that result from the intense operation, the foam-cell insert self compresses, compensating the oil expansion, allowing MAX performance to be maintained at the shock’s temperature range.
This isn’t all about the magnificence of the foam-cell technology. The design also eliminates air trapped inside the shock, allowing possible mounting in any position.
This isn’t all. The end mounts are arc-welded, enabling the selection of specific valving conferring MAX value on the shock absorber and making it the best riding suspension for F150 featured on this list.
WHAT WE LIKE
- Improved ride comfort
- Increased driving stability
- Improved towing stability
- Easy installation
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
- Poor rebound
07. KYB 349108 Excel G-Gas Shock – Best for worn-out shocks
Highlighted Features:
- Shock is for the rear position
- Exterior is painted
- Weighs 4.94 pounds
- Shock type is gas shock
Troubled by the discomfort your tacky or degraded shock is causing your F150 ride handling?
Ideally calibrated to restore your smooth handling, the KYB gas shock is your perfect F150 shocks replacement.
The design components of this shock are special, unusual, and stand out in terms of performance.
The working cylinder together operates with the shock piston, coated with Teflon, offering a buyer not just durability but a seamless, positive seal.
Since wear is a common challenge encountered by many shock users, the KYB adopts the triple chrome plating for the shock piston and multi-lip oil seals that all collectively serve to minimize wear during operation.
It doesn’t end here. To eliminate rattles, the mounting of the eye rings of the product is as seamless as it can be. It also adopts bolt bushings to keep them under control.
In all, if you’re simply looking to restore the handling and driving comfort you once enjoyed with an optimally working shock absorber, we recommend you look in the way of this shock.
WHAT WE LIKE
- Restores optimal truck handling
- Enhances responsiveness of your truck
- Resistant to wear
- Easy installation
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
- Scanty reviews
What to Consider Before Shopping Best Shocks for F150 4×4
If you want to buy a shock but don’t know what to expect, this section is specially written for you.
For potential buyers who also need help with navigating the overwhelming options of shock absorbers available for Ford f150 4×4, this section of the article will show you how to choose the best shocks for Ford f150 4×4.
But before venturing out to buy a new shock, you have to be sure your vehicle has a need for it.
Hence knowing common signs of a need for replacement or installation of a shock absorber is crucial.
Unstable ride, nose dive, body roll, and truck bottom dragging out are common signs your f150 truck needs a shock absorber. These are things to consider before buying one:
Driving conditions
To get a new shock absorber, the first thing to do is to expect what you’re buying. Depending on what your truck does, you may have to follow that to settle for a shock type.
Offroading, towing, hauling, or just caught in normal driving conditions like unpaved roads, muddy roads, and dirt requires you to buy a shock that can stand up to these.
If you are caught in a driving condition like the ones listed above, a monotube shock is the best option for you. A twin-tube low-pressure shock is just perfect for you for softer driving conditions.
However, this has nothing to say about the best shocks for Ford F150 4×4, as it depends on the performance of the shock type and brand.
Cost
Every brand featured in this post has its own unique price tag. Some seem pricier than others.
Even though the products highlighted to give you a good value for your money, it is important to consider cost, especially if you intend to regularly change your shocks.
Pressurized nitrogen gas shocks seem to be the priciest among all shock types on this list.
Heavy-duty shocks seem to cost quite a lot, too, as well as shocks with longer strokes. They are costing based on what they offer at each time and their functionality.
In addition to this, a monotube shock will require you to set out extra bucks too.
Depending on how much you’re willing to spend on a shock, you should be aware of how these designs affect the prices of shock and if they matter to your F150 4×4.
When going through the market, always look out for the price and their functionality to make a more suitable option.
Design material
There are two major materials available in the world of shock absorbers: steel and aluminum. They are simply the materials the shock is constructed from.
Steel shocks are less pricier but come with a few caveats. Before ordering a steel shock, you should also be aware that they are not adjustable and weigh more than aluminum.
On the other hand, Aluminum shocks are lighter, adjustable, and more expensive. This makes them suitable to click into different heights.
Because F150 4×4 shock buyers more widely prefer aluminum, it is the most common design material available in the market. However, if you want something else, there is that option on the market for you to try out.
Related Questions of Shocks for F150 4×4
How do I know my shock needs replacement?
To not jeopardize your safety, you should be aware of common signs of a vehicle in need of a shock absorber. It is typical for bad shocks to permit bouncy trucks.
This is a sign the shock is not good enough to absorb impacts.
They no longer reinforce the support of your coil springs which are crucial parts of your suspension system.
If your vehicle experiences nose dives or the rear end of your vehicle squad-dipping, it is a pointer to a bad shock absorber.
A sign like this tells you you need to urgently replace them, as the car frames can be easily scratched if you ply rocky roads.
In addition to this, heavy loads will be a huge problem for a Ford f150 with bad shocks. Oil leakage and broken seals are also pointers to a need to replace your shocks.
The hydraulic fluid of shocks is often sealed in a tube and a leakage spells faulty shocks.
Do Shocks last long?
Assigning a number of years to the durability of shocks wouldn’t be precise.
This is because the endurance of the shock you buy depends on several factors, ranging from the road you drive on to the weight of the load your haul.
Ideally, most shocks are expected to last up to 5 years, provided your F150 is not subjected to driving extremities. For riders constantly plying smooth roads, they could last up to 10 years.
Rough roads with a handful of potholes are the number one challenge to your truck’s longevity.
Some manufacturers advise buyers to constantly inspect and change shocks after they’ve covered a certain number of miles or on an annual basis to keep them functional.
This could vary based on the brand. However, 50000 miles is a good number to check or replace your shocks.
Hence, even the best shocks for Ford F150 4×4, having covered a distance like this, should be inspected.
Do I need to replace all 4 shocks of my Ford f150 4×4?
There are no hand rules that designate replacing all shock absorbers of your vehicle at the same time. Nonetheless, it is strongly advised you do so.
When replacing the front shocks, a good practice is to do them in pairs. This also applies to the rear shocks. This bumps up the efficiency of the shocks’ damping.
There is no big wear difference in the shocks, unlike other steering system components.
A new shock will definitely absorb more shock than an old one. Hence, replacing a single shock at a time may not really improve the efficiency of the shock’s performance.
Conclusion
Having arrived at the end of this review, hopefully, this leaves you well-informed of the best shocks for Ford F150 4×4 and what each brand/product has to offer your vehicle type, and which is ideal for your driving conditions and the terrain you frequently use.
Features such as the build materials, ease of installation, and shock types are common factors a buyer has to consider before buying a shock for his F150.
With many varieties available, a review like this is beneficial and essential in making the right choice for your truck.