2019 - Final Gut Check Before Fixing Broken Rear Shocks

[smurfslayer]

If the shock dampens the spring motion, the system works. If the spring keeps boing-boing-boinging after a bump, you replace the shocks. You can see that, and feel that.

I do mostly agree about the “hard and fast” guidance to rebuild or replace the shocks at 50k miles. That said, I would point out:

How do springs wear out?
How does the shock oil wear out?

And yes, I agree use case has an effect on how fast you get to “worn out” but just because you baby the truck doesn’t mean the assembly isn’t moving enough to fatigue.
As you point out, the wheel/tire combo is 100 pounds-ish and the truck is 3 tons.

I’m not outright disagreeing with you here, but I would point out that unless you’re comparing your truck to another truck that has just gotten new shocks, you really don’t know for sure that you’re feeling the symptoms of worn shocks. You can be lulled into a false sense of security on whether the truck is riding right or not if you don’t have a comparison vehicle.

Your truck may well be fine, but it could also have some signs of shock fatigue that are subtle or onset very subtly over time and you’ve gotten acclimated to them.

 

[New recaros]

I do mostly agree about the “hard and fast” guidance to rebuild or replace the shocks at 50k miles. That said, I would point out:

How do springs wear out?
How does the shock oil wear out?

And yes, I agree use case has an effect on how fast you get to “worn out” but just because you baby the truck doesn’t mean the assembly isn’t moving enough to fatigue.
As you point out, the wheel/tire combo is 100 pounds-ish and the truck is 3 tons.

I’m not outright disagreeing with you here, but I would point out that unless you’re comparing your truck to another truck that has just gotten new shocks, you really don’t know for sure that you’re feeling the symptoms of worn shocks. You can be lulled into a false sense of security on whether the truck is riding right or not if you don’t have a comparison vehicle.

Your truck may well be fine, but it could also have some signs of shock fatigue that are subtle or onset very subtly over time and you’ve gotten acclimated to them.

As you stated, the use case is important here. Few need new factory performance. True racers rebuild each big race not only for performance but also reliability. Most of the raptors never leave the ground and probably never get bottomed out so run to failure is common.

 

[dsiggi]

I do mostly agree about the “hard and fast” guidance to rebuild or replace the shocks at 50k miles. That said, I would point out:

How do springs wear out?
How does the shock oil wear out?

And yes, I agree use case has an effect on how fast you get to “worn out” but just because you baby the truck doesn’t mean the assembly isn’t moving enough to fatigue.
As you point out, the wheel/tire combo is 100 pounds-ish and the truck is 3 tons.

I’m not outright disagreeing with you here, but I would point out that unless you’re comparing your truck to another truck that has just gotten new shocks, you really don’t know for sure that you’re feeling the symptoms of worn shocks. You can be lulled into a false sense of security on whether the truck is riding right or not if you don’t have a comparison vehicle.

Your truck may well be fine, but it could also have some signs of shock fatigue that are subtle or onset very subtly over time and you’ve gotten acclimated to them.

This is a fantastic reponse

 

[Badgertits]

My truck has 69k miles now…original shocks, they do seem to still perform just fine & ride is comfortable & I have test driven new gen3’s not too long ago so I have same frame of reference & haven’t “forgotten” what these raptors should ride like

And for the price? Im definitely NOT rebuilding em im just gonna buy new OEM live valves & sell the originals to the highest bidder. There would only be a few hundred bucks difference from having rebuilt w/ core swap

 

[pavendort]

My truck has 69k miles now…original shocks, they do seem to still perform just fine & ride is comfortable & I have test driven new gen3’s not too long ago so I have same frame of reference & haven’t “forgotten” what these raptors should ride like

And for the price? Im definitely NOT rebuilding em im just gonna buy new OEM live valves & sell the originals to the highest bidder. There would only be a few hundred bucks difference from having rebuilt w/ core swap

At 80K I felt like mine were still great. Great ride, handled off road well. After the rebuild though? Damn. Mine were worn... I certainly had forgotten what it should feel like.

 

[raptor_tecate]

My truck has 69k miles now…original shocks, they do seem to still perform just fine & ride is comfortable & I have test driven new gen3’s not too long ago so I have same frame of reference & haven’t “forgotten” what these raptors should ride like

And for the price? Im definitely NOT rebuilding em im just gonna buy new OEM live valves & sell the originals to the highest bidder. There would only be a few hundred bucks difference from having rebuilt w/ core swap

Where are you guys buying the OEM LV shocks?

 

[Basil S2K]

Thanks for all of the help, Springtime has me doing a lot of house projects and other hobbies. I still haven't fixed my rear shocks. The guys at TSW are nice and helpful enough but the logistics, risk and price of sending shocks to Texas by UPS and back boggles my mind against simply buying new shocks putting them on myself and keeping the old ones as spares.

Simple, eh? No. I can't seem to find new shocks or at least the part numbers anyplace, I'm just looking to buy them from Ford directly, but the websites won't take my VIN and every time I search I either end up with standard 2019 F-150 shocks or the blue fox shocks from 2017 to 2018.

I need part numbers or someplace to buy the orange "live" rear shocks, can't believe how difficult this is. Been at it for hours today.

Thanks for the help!!

 

[EastEndAngler]

Pulled from another thread - so don't hold me to the P/Ns

Rears:
KL3Z-18125-G
KL3Z-18125-J

Fronts:
LL3Z-18124-E
LL3Z-18124-F

 

[Basil S2K]

Correct part numbers! Thanks these are tough to find.

 

[EastEndAngler]

Let us know where you find the best deal.