Hi Guys. I need to decide which options for refreshing the front suspension of my F150:

All options will be done by a shop, instead of doing myself, which would otherwise save me some labor dollars, but I can't have the downtime with this vehicle.

Option 1) Replace old shocks and strut caps with new shocks and new caps. This would require complete removal of old strut assembly which requires safely compressing the spring, disassembling the unit, and reassembling with new shock and strut cap. With this option I would buying the excellent OEM spec Bilstein brand shocks, and a new decent quality strut cap recommended by the shop (they don't use crap parts).

Option 2. Replace old strut assembly with a completely new pre-assembled unit. This is a simper swap out job, avoiding the extra labor of compressing the old spring, reassembling with new parts, clocking the spring seats properly etc. That saves on labor over option #1, but a decent quality pre-built strut assembly costs more than a new shock and strut cap, but the advantage of the prebuilt unit is that everything is new, including the spring, entire strut, strut cap, new shock, etc. The downer is that there are only two or so companies making decent units, Monroe and KYB, though it appears KYP is the clear winner, though a costlier unit than a Monroe.

Option 3) This option is a little more exotic, don't know if it's practical or not: Buy new Bilstein shock, new spring, new strut unit, put all together for sort of a best of breed combination. If this means Ford parts, it would obviously be more expensive than buying an assembled KYB unit. I just imagined this combination because I don't know how the relative quality between a new Ford spring and the new spring included in a new KYB assembled unit. I thought this up only because I heard that the Ford spring may be the best of breed for a new spring, but I don't really know if that's true for all practical purposes, though I've learned that the quality the spring itself is more important than someone might otherwise realize.

And if it makes a difference, this truck is a daily driver, occasional hauler (but now tower), and is and will remain 100% stock.

So, what would you guys do between these options, or something else ?

Year of F150 and 2wd or 4wd would be helpful.

But for stockish trucks I have found that the Eibach 2.0 kit is excellent. It is an adjustable preassembled coilover.
Have them set the Coilovers to the lowest height setting.


I had Bilsteins on my Expedition and they were not good riding at all.

What year?
I have a 2013 F150
Put KYB on front and back, easy as shit to do
Rides like dream
KYB lifetime warranty

2010 RWD bone stock 4.6L XLT F150.

And fwiw, I didn't know the Ford engineers and the factory which made the truck weren't smoking dope the day they designed and built it, it's really a damn fine truck and friend. I say "friend" because once you go truck, you never go back.

quote:

Option 2. Replace old strut assembly with a completely new pre-assembled unit.

I like that one. It's the one I'd recommend to clients (I work in a repair shop). Why reuse an old spring and upper mount? Around here, those are likely to be severely rusted anyway. I recall one, I think it was a 2008 model, where the spring actually rusted through and fractured.