Advice/guidance for 2017 shock replacement

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Meat2022

FRF Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2022
Posts
745
Reaction score
1,513
Location
Alabama
So is it true true the rock auto ones have set around forever and might not be trust worthy? I'm debating on this route for mine vs exchange program this next go around. Could've sworn someone in the forum mentioned this being an issue before.
 

2slo4u

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2017
Posts
640
Reaction score
1,305
Location
Utah
So is it true true the rock auto ones have set around forever and might not be trust worthy? I'm debating on this route for mine vs exchange program this next go around. Could've sworn someone in the forum mentioned this being an issue before.
I feel that Rock Auto is out of stock on these shocks on a fairly regular basis so I'd be surprised if they have been sitting around collecting dust. I purchased a full set from them and didn't have any problems. I don't recall reading about someone getting bad shocks from rock auto but I have read lots comments about people having bad experiences with the exchange program. Granted, I've also read many comments about people being completely satisficed with their experience as well.
 

Meat2022

FRF Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2022
Posts
745
Reaction score
1,513
Location
Alabama
I can't remember who said something about this really, again I like RA and have had 0 issues with anything I've ever purchased from them, I think the next set..if I keep this gen1 will be new from RA...but springs also are getting replaced this time
 

Pacific Wheel

Supporting Vendor
Supporting Vendor
Joined
May 19, 2016
Posts
2,972
Reaction score
2,409
Location
Reno, NV
@Meat2022 the 2017/18 shocks I just installed seem great on the road. Haven't been offroad with them. And I can only compare them to GEN1 shocks since I just did the conversion the G1 to G2 conversion mount with KHC. But they're nicer than rebuilt G1 rears they replaced. I personally think it's best to have two sets if you can so you can send one set back for rebuild and use the other set. Nothing against the exchange programs but you don't always get shocks that are as nice as the ones that you send back as cores.
 

dsiggi

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2017
Posts
310
Reaction score
183
Location
Detroit
@Meat2022 the 2017/18 shocks I just installed seem great on the road. Haven't been offroad with them. And I can only compare them to GEN1 shocks since I just did the conversion the G1 to G2 conversion mount with KHC. But they're nicer than rebuilt G1 rears lol. I personally think it's best to have to sets if you can so you can send one set back for rebuild and use the other set. Nothing against the exchange programs but you don't always get shocks that are as nice as the ones that you send back as cores.
Exactly why I have 2 sets. Rebuilds on my shocks are about 150 a piece locally here in MI.
 

TomDirt

FRF Addict
Joined
Jan 3, 2022
Posts
2,292
Reaction score
6,325
Location
Hesperia CA
@Meat2022 the 2017/18 shocks I just installed seem great on the road. Haven't been offroad with them. And I can only compare them to GEN1 shocks since I just did the conversion the G1 to G2 conversion mount with KHC. But they're nicer than rebuilt G1 rears they replaced. I personally think it's best to have two sets if you can so you can send one set back for rebuild and use the other set. Nothing against the exchange programs but you don't always get shocks that are as nice as the ones that you send back as cores.
So you removed the stock shock tabs and replaced them with the KHC but kept the oem leaf springs? Even with the KHC moving the shock bolt up a little bit, it seems like the longer Gen 2 shocks might bottom out at full compression. I'm waiting to see someone confirm this. I know that if you bolt Gen 1 shocks on a stock F150 you need a taller block or it will bottom out.
 

Attachments

  • 20221206_125130.jpg
    20221206_125130.jpg
    198.5 KB · Views: 14
  • 20221212_154504.jpg
    20221212_154504.jpg
    175.4 KB · Views: 14

Pacific Wheel

Supporting Vendor
Supporting Vendor
Joined
May 19, 2016
Posts
2,972
Reaction score
2,409
Location
Reno, NV
So you removed the stock shock tabs and replaced them with the KHC but kept the oem leaf springs? Even with the KHC moving the shock bolt up a little bit, it seems like the longer Gen 2 shocks might bottom out at full compression. I'm waiting to see someone confirm this. I know that if you bolt Gen 1 shocks on a stock F150 you need a taller block or it will bottom out.
I used Deaver stock height springs but yes. The KHC mount moves the shock mount up quite a bit (1" roughly) so up travel remains the same due to the bump stops/ride height. The mount just keeps the shock from being overly compressed at ride height. Up travel on GEN1/2 is roughly the same. It's down travel that is gained from what I understand. It's basically like the RST16 from RPG. Higher shock mount for longer shocks.


Talk to Dale at KHC. I'm sure he can give you a better explanation.
 

TomDirt

FRF Addict
Joined
Jan 3, 2022
Posts
2,292
Reaction score
6,325
Location
Hesperia CA
" I used Deaver stock height springs" Yup. The deavers fix the problem, unless the cost of deavers is the problem.
 

Pacific Wheel

Supporting Vendor
Supporting Vendor
Joined
May 19, 2016
Posts
2,972
Reaction score
2,409
Location
Reno, NV
" I used Deaver stock height springs" Yup. The deavers fix the problem, unless the cost of deavers is the problem.
I'm not sure how deavers fix the problem? "Unless the cost is the problem."? The Deaver +2 aka stock height spring sits at the same exact height as OEM leaf springs with the block. So up travel remains the same with deaver or OEM leafs. Or maybe I don't understand the question...
 

TomDirt

FRF Addict
Joined
Jan 3, 2022
Posts
2,292
Reaction score
6,325
Location
Hesperia CA
Since KHC basically makes the shock mount specifically for Raptors I'd like to know if they ever cycled Gen 2 shocks to confirm that they don't bind on a Gen 1 with the oem springs, shackles & blocks. I'll contact them tomorrow and see if they have actually tested it. I'm sure it probably does, (since I've already bolted them on), but I'd like to see it. You need to pull apart the leaf pack, keep the main spring then make up the difference with a short block, then use a chain to secure it, load up some ballast in the bed, then jack it up slowly until it bottoms out. And you need to dump the nitrogen so the shock won't fight you. That's too much work for me.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
92,817
Posts
1,946,182
Members
56,075
Latest member
Arizona Free
Top