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  #1  
Old 12-03-2018, 02:54 PM
SBh2oMan SBh2oMan is offline
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Default "High Ryder Option w/ FX4 Bilstein Suspension"

OK... at 206,000 miles it is time to replace the shocks on the Ranger. Its a 2006 FX4 Level II with the Alcoa wheels and 31" BFG tires.

It is 90% used for weekend hunting trips, but they usually involve 2 to 4 hours of pavement followed by dirt & gravel and sometimes (if I'm lucky) genuine off-road travel. All of this loaded down with gear. When my son is home from college, he uses it as a daily driver (its actually his truck, but I'm using it while I wait for the new Ranger to come out (or possibly the ZR2 Bison if Ford doesn't deliver on the Ranger Raptor) .

Because of the age of the truck, I'm not planning to dump $400 into a set of Bilsteins, but looking at other options (like KYBs) I find references like the following:

"Excludes High Ryder Option w/ FX4 Bilstein Suspension"

Huh? I thought the "High Ryder Option" was a late-80's STX thing with dropped brackets and pitman arms that added 1.5" of height, but there was no such thing as an FX4 back then...

Does this mean that the FX4 came with something called "High Ryder Option" and therefore normal Ranger 4x4 shocks will not be the right length? KYB (as an example) does not however list a shock for vehicles WITH the "High Ryder Option w/ FX4 Bilstein Suspension"

So.... What essential knowledge am I missing here...?

(BTW, anyone else with a late model FX4 with shock recommendations, please let me know).

Looking at Ford parts tables, it appears that the correct part is 6L5Z-18124-A and the images look a lot like a Bilstein shock...



at $90 each, they are not inexpensive, but if they are Bilsteins its probably a fair price.

Thanks,

Brent

Last edited by SBh2oMan; 12-03-2018 at 03:56 PM.
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  #2  
Old 12-04-2018, 11:11 AM
SBh2oMan SBh2oMan is offline
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Default Re: "High Ryder Option w/ FX4 Bilstein Suspension"

After doing a bit more research, I found a lot of people recommending KYB MonoMax shocks. I contacted KYB about them and here's what they said:

Quote:
Originally Posted by KYB
Hello,
Thank you for contacting KYB. We appreciate this opportunity to assist you. After reviewing our catalog we do not list the Monomax shocks for the 2006 Ford Ranger FX4 (4WD). The items you mention are not designed for the FX4. Our apologies for any inconvenience."
so that leaves me with three options I've found so far:

1. KYB Gas Adjust Front KYB-KG54309 ($40 ea) . Rear: KYB-KG5493 ($39 ea)

2. Bilstein B6/4600 Front: Bilstein PN 24-188241 . ($73 ea) Rear: 24-188258 ($73 ea) .

3. Factory OEM Front: Motorcraft PN 6L5Z-18124-A . ($90 ea) Rear: 6L5Z-18125-AA ($68 ea) (or maybe 6L5Z-18125-AMA which are $32 each)


Interestingly, the Motorcraft/Ford parts lookups refer to these shocks as the application for the "Premium Off Road" shock absorbers... Which is not to be confused with a different shock that is referred to as "Off-Road Package, Std Duty Torsion Bar Suspension"

oye, confusing....
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  #3  
Old 12-04-2018, 01:30 PM
djfllmn djfllmn is offline
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Default Re: "High Ryder Option w/ FX4 Bilstein Suspension"

The AMA is no longer a good number, if you wanted to post your VIN I can give you the part number
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  #4  
Old 12-04-2018, 02:34 PM
SBh2oMan SBh2oMan is offline
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Default Re: "High Ryder Option w/ FX4 Bilstein Suspension"

Quote:
Originally Posted by djfllmn View Post
The AMA is no longer a good number, if you wanted to post your VIN I can give you the part number
VIN is 1FTZR15E46PA38368

Thanks!
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  #5  
Old 12-04-2018, 02:37 PM
djfllmn djfllmn is offline
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Default Re: "High Ryder Option w/ FX4 Bilstein Suspension"

Front
BU2Z-18V124-H
Rear
AU2Z-18V125-BJ

looks like the bilstein options have long been discontinued through ford . They are now a standard Motorcraft "value" line shock
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  #6  
Old 12-04-2018, 02:49 PM
SBh2oMan SBh2oMan is offline
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Default Re: "High Ryder Option w/ FX4 Bilstein Suspension"

Quote:
Originally Posted by djfllmn View Post
Front
BU2Z-18V124-H
Rear
AU2Z-18V125-BJ

looks like the bilstein options have long been discontinued through ford . They are now a standard Motorcraft "value" line shock
Interesting. Googling the part #6L5Z-18124-A finds a lot of hits on companies selling Ford parts, but you're saying that this part is no longer available through Ford?

For example, Summit Racing *appears* to be offering this part:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/m...0aAm8QEALw_wcB

I wish I could get the MonoMax shocks, but I'll probably end up going with the KYB Gas-a-Just based on price point...
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Old 12-04-2018, 02:58 PM
djfllmn djfllmn is offline
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Default Re: "High Ryder Option w/ FX4 Bilstein Suspension"

Quote:
Originally Posted by SBh2oMan View Post
Interesting. Googling the part #6L5Z-18124-A finds a lot of hits on companies selling Ford parts, but you're saying that this part is no longer available through Ford?

For example, Summit Racing *appears* to be offering this part:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/m...0aAm8QEALw_wcB

I wish I could get the MonoMax shocks, but I'll probably end up going with the KYB Gas-a-Just based on price point...
that number isn't even a good number for your truck, the original number is 3L5Z-18124-MA. The 6L5Z is for the premium off road shocks(which I assume are bilsteins) which according to your vin your truck does not have

that number is still a good number but not the correct application for your truck


according to your VIN your truck is just an FX4 off road AKA FX4 level one on this forum. and very similar to my ranger.

----------

The FX4 was always tricky as the LVL 1 was often called the offroad package
The level 2 is the premium off road
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Last edited by djfllmn; 12-04-2018 at 02:57 PM.
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  #8  
Old 12-04-2018, 03:02 PM
SBh2oMan SBh2oMan is offline
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Default Re: "High Ryder Option w/ FX4 Bilstein Suspension"

Quote:
Originally Posted by djfllmn View Post
that number isn't even a good number for your truck, the original number is 3L5Z-18124-MA. The 6L5Z is for the premium off road shocks which according to your vin your truck does not have

that number is still a good number but not the correct application for your truck
So there is a description of "Premium Off Road" and also "Off-Road Package, Std Duty Torsion Bar Suspension"

As far as I can figure out, there are three possible configurations for 2006:

1. Regular 4x4 (such as an XL or XLT)
2. FX4
3. FX4 Level II

I assumed that "Off Road Package, Std Duty" = FX4 and "Premium Off Road" = Level II

The original shock still on the truck are yellow body with a blue metal hood (IIRC). It has Alcoa Wheels, center console, 2-tone paint, two-tone bucket seats, etc so I've assumed it was a Level II but maybe it is just an FX4 with some custom-ordered Level II pieces (I bought it from the original owner and he bought it off the lot at the Ford dealer)

Here's the original window sticker:

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Old 12-04-2018, 03:09 PM
djfllmn djfllmn is offline
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Default Re: "High Ryder Option w/ FX4 Bilstein Suspension"

yes it could be...06-08 became very tricky for the lvl 2/FX4 in general. You could mix and match stuff. if you got a level 2 from 02-05 you got all the level 2 goodies. 06-08 you could now get some lvl 2 stuff on a standard FX4.

----------

the 2 tone bucket seats were an XLT thing. I assume they are black and gray? My 03 had that and so does my brothers 2010
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  #10  
Old 12-04-2018, 03:10 PM
SBh2oMan SBh2oMan is offline
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Default Re: "High Ryder Option w/ FX4 Bilstein Suspension"

Quote:
Originally Posted by djfllmn View Post
the 2 tone bucket seats were an XLT thing. I assume they are black and gray? My 03 had that and so does my brothers 2010
Yea, black and gray bucket seats, cruise control, tilt leather-wrapped wheel, etc.
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  #11  
Old 12-04-2018, 03:14 PM
djfllmn djfllmn is offline
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Default Re: "High Ryder Option w/ FX4 Bilstein Suspension"

and if I run an axle seal number I get LESS FX4 OFF ROAD PACKAGE LVL 2. so you only have the 28 spline rear axle. The actual level 2 had a 31 spline rear

----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by SBh2oMan View Post
Yea, black and gray bucket seats, cruise control, tilt leather-wrapped wheel, etc.
that to me sounds like a regular old XLT
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  #12  
Old 12-04-2018, 03:15 PM
SBh2oMan SBh2oMan is offline
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Default Re: "High Ryder Option w/ FX4 Bilstein Suspension"

Another thing I'm wondering about - the window sticker shows "OPtional 4.10 Ratio Limited Slip axle".

I know that was standard with the Level II, but it was a 31 spline 8.8 axle with Torsen LS.

Would this mean that my Ranger has the same rear end as the Level II?
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Old 12-04-2018, 03:17 PM
djfllmn djfllmn is offline
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Default Re: "High Ryder Option w/ FX4 Bilstein Suspension"

Quote:
Originally Posted by SBh2oMan View Post
Another thing I'm wondering about - the window sticker shows "OPtional 4.10 Ratio Limited Slip axle".

I know that was standard with the Level II, but it was a 31 spline 8.8 axle with Torsen LS.

Would this mean that my Ranger has the same rear end as the Level II?
no it does not. you have the ford trac-loc LS rear. not the torsion unit. I also get the less lvl 2 package when I run that number and 28 spline axle
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  #14  
Old 12-04-2018, 03:18 PM
SBh2oMan SBh2oMan is offline
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Default Re: "High Ryder Option w/ FX4 Bilstein Suspension"

Quote:
Originally Posted by djfllmn View Post
and if I run an axle seal number I get LESS FX4 OFF ROAD PACKAGE LVL 2. so you only have the 28 spline rear axle. The actual level 2 had a 31 spline rear

----------



that to me sounds like a regular old XLT

Are you able to see the Window sticker that I posted? It lists it as "2006 FX4 Off-Road SC 4x4 XLT 126" Wheelbase..."

So when you say "plain old XLT" you mean XLT with the FX4 "upfitting"?

Also, where did you get an "axle seal number"?

Thanks again for all the help, btw!
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  #15  
Old 12-04-2018, 03:19 PM
djfllmn djfllmn is offline
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Default Re: "High Ryder Option w/ FX4 Bilstein Suspension"

Quote:
Originally Posted by SBh2oMan View Post
Are you able to see the Window sticker that I posted? It lists it as "2006 FX4 Off-Road SC 4x4 XLT 126" Wheelbase..."

So when you say "plain old XLT" you mean XLT with the FX4 "upfitting"?

Also, where did you get an "axle seal number"?

Thanks again for all the help, btw!
correct, XLT with the FX4 appearance stuff...and I got that number through my parts catalog at work(see my sig if you have any questions)
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