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  #3496  
Old 11-06-2015, 07:10 PM
Big 4.0 power Big 4.0 power is offline
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Originally Posted by Areyouforcereal? View Post
The level 2 bilstiens were specially valved for the ranger.. According to ford at least. If you go to a dealership and price them, you will shit yourself. Now what do I hate about my ranger today? I started my 200 mile trip home and the e fan decided to quit on me. Stopped at my usual junkyard but couldn't find a Taurus or mark VIII fan. I did find a very nice looking fan out of a mustang. Looks like it might work better than the Taurus fan. Guess I'll find out tomorrow.
wow that sucks about the fan quitting on you, how'd you fix it on the side of the road? How much are bilstiens from the dealer?
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  #3497  
Old 11-06-2015, 07:19 PM
Areyouforcereal? Areyouforcereal? is offline
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The fan isn't need for highway speeds so I made it home fine. When passing through a small town I just turned the heater on full blast to keep the temps at bay untill I got out of town.

It's been many years since I looked into the shocks. I'm not positive but I'm wanting to say it would cost me $800 for new ones. That was when I decided that they were not worth it. I tried pro comps. They sucked and didn't last long. Now I'm using Monroe overloads in the rear. (ones with the coil springs) and Monroe air shocks up front. I also don't have a sway bar. Ride is a ton smoother, just lots of body roll. The air shocks help with that though.
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2003 Ranger FX4 level II. 3" BL, 33x12.50 GT Radial Mud Claws, Custom front and rear bumpers with winch hookups, custom flatbed, with hi-lift, and full size spare mount, 12,000 lb winch mounted under bed, Electric fan, and of course a flowmaster.
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  #3498  
Old 11-06-2015, 07:45 PM
Tyler46 Tyler46 is offline
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Originally Posted by Big 4.0 power View Post
wow that sucks about the fan quitting on you, how'd you fix it on the side of the road? How much are bilstiens from the dealer?
Anything from the dealer will cost 3x over something from rock auto or summit.
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  #3499  
Old 11-06-2015, 08:02 PM
Areyouforcereal? Areyouforcereal? is offline
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The problem with having a level II is that no parts store offers the package as option when entering in vehicle info. So you usually have to go with a generic trim level when searching for parts. When searching for shocks on rock auto it gives you every brand they sell that will fit a 4x4 ranger. Just because they fit and say bilstien on them, doesn't mean they are the same as the OEM shocks.
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2003 Ranger FX4 level II. 3" BL, 33x12.50 GT Radial Mud Claws, Custom front and rear bumpers with winch hookups, custom flatbed, with hi-lift, and full size spare mount, 12,000 lb winch mounted under bed, Electric fan, and of course a flowmaster.
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  #3500  
Old 11-17-2015, 03:04 PM
GreenH3LL GreenH3LL is offline
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Default Re: The "what do you hate about your Ranger today" thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Areyouforcereal? View Post
The problem with having a level II is that no parts store offers the package as option when entering in vehicle info. So you usually have to go with a generic trim level when searching for parts. When searching for shocks on rock auto it gives you every brand they sell that will fit a 4x4 ranger. Just because they fit and say bilstien on them, doesn't mean they are the same as the OEM shocks.

Exactly, the Bilsteins OEM are almost 500$ for PAIR!!!!! They must be other solution, other brand, for that price for 4 shocks it's almost a full set of 33'' or a front coil-over conversion !!! lol
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  #3501  
Old 11-17-2015, 04:58 PM
02RangerFX4 02RangerFX4 is offline
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Originally Posted by GreenH3LL View Post
Exactly, the Bilsteins OEM are almost 500$ for PAIR!!!!! They must be other solution, other brand, for that price for 4 shocks it's almost a full set of 33'' or a front coil-over conversion !!! lol
I highly doubt they are.. The OEM shocks that come on the Level II are Bilstein B6-HD's. They're like 75$ a shock. I just replaced the Bilstein's that came with the truck about two years ago with B6-HD's and they were literally exactly the same, I just ordered the ones with the rubber boot instead of plastic, which is what came stock.
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  #3502  
Old 11-17-2015, 05:31 PM
Areyouforcereal? Areyouforcereal? is offline
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Originally Posted by 02RangerFX4 View Post

I highly doubt they are.. The OEM shocks that come on the Level II are Bilstein B6-HD's. They're like 75$ a shock. I just replaced the Bilstein's that came with the truck about two years ago with B6-HD's and they were literally exactly the same, I just ordered the ones with the rubber boot instead of plastic, which is what came stock.
Are you 100% positive they are the same? Do you have any evidence to back these claims up? I'm not saying you're wrong, I just want to know what information you are basing the claims from. Just because they are both blue and yellow and fit the mount locations, does not mean they are the same internally.

Honestly I don't think the average driver could feel the difference. I know I sure can't. I've just all ways heard that they were specially valved for the rangers. It'd be cool if someone could cut them up and compare the internal design with a standard off the shelf billstein.
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2003 Ranger FX4 level II. 3" BL, 33x12.50 GT Radial Mud Claws, Custom front and rear bumpers with winch hookups, custom flatbed, with hi-lift, and full size spare mount, 12,000 lb winch mounted under bed, Electric fan, and of course a flowmaster.
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  #3503  
Old 11-17-2015, 05:40 PM
Logan03CO Logan03CO is offline
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I remember this "argument" from ten years ago......
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  #3504  
Old 11-17-2015, 07:58 PM
Areyouforcereal? Areyouforcereal? is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Logan03CO View Post
I remember this "argument" from ten years ago......
Lol what was the final verdict?
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2003 Ranger FX4 level II. 3" BL, 33x12.50 GT Radial Mud Claws, Custom front and rear bumpers with winch hookups, custom flatbed, with hi-lift, and full size spare mount, 12,000 lb winch mounted under bed, Electric fan, and of course a flowmaster.
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  #3505  
Old 11-17-2015, 09:20 PM
02RangerFX4 02RangerFX4 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Areyouforcereal? View Post
Are you 100% positive they are the same? Do you have any evidence to back these claims up? I'm not saying you're wrong, I just want to know what information you are basing the claims from. Just because they are both blue and yellow and fit the mount locations, does not mean they are the same internally. Honestly I don't think the average driver could feel the difference. I know I sure can't. I've just all ways heard that they were specially valved for the rangers. It'd be cool if someone could cut them up and compare the internal design with a standard off the shelf billstein.
I mean, I just don't see why ford would valve them differently than they already came.. My ride improved because the factory Bilstein's were so gone. Truck would shimmy all over the road whenever I hit a pothole, now it doesn't do it as much. The B6's are already a simple as it gets (but effective) single chamber design.. I don't see how re-calving them would change much anything. The only other Bilstein that I know of that is yellow and blue are the B8's and B12's and they're for sports cars.. I'll do some research on it.

----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Logan03CO View Post
I remember this "argument" from ten years ago......
First time I've heard of this.
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Last edited by 02RangerFX4; 11-17-2015 at 09:19 PM.
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  #3506  
Old 11-18-2015, 04:39 AM
Logan03CO Logan03CO is offline
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Default Re: The "what do you hate about your Ranger today" thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Areyouforcereal? View Post
Lol what was the final verdict?
Quote:
Originally Posted by 02RangerFX4 View Post
First time I've heard of this.
Well, for starters buying anything direct from Ford will indeed cost a ton more than an aftermarket equivalent - pretty basic info there. Secondly, an aftermarket Bilstein shock will never have "the same part number" as the OEM version (even if everything else is the same). Manufacturers would give the OEM version a unique part number (usually available only to OEM retailers - AKA: Ford).

Back in the day...most Ranger guys would go after the Bilstein setup generally regarded as being "as close as possible if not identical" to the FX4 lvl 2 shocks.

Seems to be overall well liked and were used for years & years by not only the lvl 2 guys looking for replacements but also non-lv2 guys looking to 'upgrade'.

I haven't looked at these part #'s is probably 8 years, but here is what the OG's were using back in the mid to late 2000's.

Prior to switching to the coilovers - this is what I installed on my truck.

I would bet you'll see it posted on numerous Ranger forums if one were to 'Google Search' the part numbers.

BILSTEIN - FORD RANGER 4WD HD FRONT SHOCK -- Part Number: F4-BE5-2794-H0
BILSTEIN - FORD RANGER 4WD HD REAR SHOCK -- Part Number: F4-BE5-2795-H1

I'm not even sure they are made anymore as we need to remember these were regarded as the factory replacement for a truck that came out over 12 years ago - they might have part #'s that supersede the above numbers by now.

I'm a part number type of guy...I don't purchase anything online that doesn't give me the exact part number that I can cross reference with the manufacturer website to verify exactly what I'm getting.
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Last edited by Logan03CO; 11-18-2015 at 04:42 AM.
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  #3507  
Old 11-18-2015, 05:31 AM
GLH GLH is offline
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Will they fit a 2WD Edge ?
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  #3508  
Old 11-18-2015, 11:25 AM
Genisis Genisis is offline
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Default Re: The "what do you hate about your Ranger today" thread

Today HATED the location of the oil PSI switch on the 3.0 Vulcan!! 2 or 3 inches from the fire wall...real smart. WTF were they thinking with the location of this?? Got it done with a lot of cursing and perseverance.
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  #3509  
Old 11-18-2015, 09:00 PM
02RangerFX4 02RangerFX4 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Logan03CO View Post
Well, for starters buying anything direct from Ford will indeed cost a ton more than an aftermarket equivalent - pretty basic info there. Secondly, an aftermarket Bilstein shock will never have "the same part number" as the OEM version (even if everything else is the same). Manufacturers would give the OEM version a unique part number (usually available only to OEM retailers - AKA: Ford). Back in the day...most Ranger guys would go after the Bilstein setup generally regarded as being "as close as possible if not identical" to the FX4 lvl 2 shocks. Seems to be overall well liked and were used for years & years by not only the lvl 2 guys looking for replacements but also non-lv2 guys looking to 'upgrade'. I haven't looked at these part #'s is probably 8 years, but here is what the OG's were using back in the mid to late 2000's. Prior to switching to the coilovers - this is what I installed on my truck. I would bet you'll see it posted on numerous Ranger forums if one were to 'Google Search' the part numbers. BILSTEIN - FORD RANGER 4WD HD FRONT SHOCK -- Part Number: F4-BE5-2794-H0 BILSTEIN - FORD RANGER 4WD HD REAR SHOCK -- Part Number: F4-BE5-2795-H1 I'm not even sure they are made anymore as we need to remember these were regarded as the factory replacement for a truck that came out over 12 years ago - they might have part #'s that supersede the above numbers by now. I'm a part number type of guy...I don't purchase anything online that doesn't give me the exact part number that I can cross reference with the manufacturer website to verify exactly what I'm getting.
Interesting.. It says HD shock. I wonder if there was a standard B6 Bilstein back in the day, and a B6 HD version that was put on Rangers and similar vehicles. That would make sense when some people talk about the different valving.

The factory shock looked like the smaller one with the plastic "dust boot" which I never liked in the first place because it's open at the bottom, too easy for debris to get in the piston area. I searched high an low for rubber booted ones like the bigger shock in the picture so that it wouldn't collect as much debris. Almost all of the websites I've been to have the plastic booted ones.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg image-765315659.jpg (21.0 KB, 23 views)
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2002 ford ranger FX4 Off Road | 4.0l v6 | Flowmaster 40 S/I D/O | JBA Headers | Rebello Racing cams | port and polished heads | K&n Drop-in filter | TwinStick | 31 Spline 4.10 Torsen rear diff | Alcoa rims | Sitting on 31's|

Last edited by 02RangerFX4; 11-18-2015 at 09:08 PM.
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  #3510  
Old 11-18-2015, 10:05 PM
irishranger irishranger is offline
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I got my bilsteins from 4wheelparts.com and they look like the bigger shock you posted.
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