I’m helping a friend’s son who wants to change the front strut assemblies to standard ones and also replace the rear shocks. What’s the best approach here? The Raptor has a single horizontal bolt on the lower control arm, while the standard F150 uses dual vertical bolts. I found Fox front assemblies for $490 each. Anyone have any suggestions or thoughts on how to handle this without breaking the bank? Appreciate any advice!
Why not just get those shocks rebuilt? You’ll get the same performance without spending as much. Trying to use parts that aren’t meant for the truck might cause more problems in the long run.
Frances said:
Why not just get those shocks rebuilt? You’ll get the same performance without spending as much. Trying to use parts that aren’t meant for the truck might cause more problems in the long run.
I agree. Thanks for the suggestion!
Why buy a Raptor and try to put standard F150 shocks on it? If he wants to save money, tell him to rebuild the existing shocks or get the right ones. If he can’t afford them, maybe he should’ve thought twice about the truck purchase. Standard F150 shocks won’t work on a Raptor.
Those Fox shocks are the standard for Raptors, and at $400-$500 each, that’s pretty much the cheapest you’ll find. Aftermarket options are usually even more expensive. If you’re looking to save, you can try rebuilt Fox shocks from places like Texas Shock Works, but if $400 per shock is too much, your friend’s son might be better off with a regular F150.
@Jem
Thanks for your input. That definitely helps!
Don’t try cutting corners with Raptor parts. The whole point of owning a Raptor is to have top-quality off-road performance. Go to a professional shop and get the shocks rebuilt properly. Don’t skimp on the important stuff.
Maybe he should just sell the Raptor and get an FX4 instead.
Uma said:
Maybe he should just sell the Raptor and get an FX4 instead.
He just picked it up and drove it all the way from Colorado. Not sure why he wants to change the shocks already.
Sounds like those shocks have been rebuilt before. Might as well send them back after replacing them.
I think you’re better off sticking with original parts. Aftermarket will likely cost you more in the long run.
Greer said:
I think you’re better off sticking with original parts. Aftermarket will likely cost you more in the long run.
Greer said:
I think you’re better off sticking with original parts. Aftermarket will likely cost you more in the long run.
I couldn’t get the gif to work… so frustrating!
He seems to be clueless. Raptors aren’t cheap, and neither are the parts. Let him figure it out himself.
Just buy new shocks. Rebuilt ones won’t last. Owning a Raptor isn’t cheap, he should’ve known that.
You can’t just swap standard F150 shocks in place of the Raptor’s front shocks. The geometry is different and the shocks are shorter. Best option is to get them rebuilt.
Oakley said:
You can’t just swap standard F150 shocks in place of the Raptor’s front shocks. The geometry is different and the shocks are shorter. Best option is to get them rebuilt.
Thanks for the info! The geometry difference makes sense now.
That lower front shock bolt requires 406 foot pounds of torque to tighten.
Griffin said:
That lower front shock bolt requires 406 foot pounds of torque to tighten.
You’ll see for yourself if you try to do it yourself or not!
Try looking at Ford dealers who offer online parts ordering. I replaced all my shocks for $450 each in 2021. Sold the old ones for $50 each. Might be a bit higher now with inflation, but worth checking out.