The Best Shocks for the 2017-2026 Ford F250/F350 Super Duty (Comparison)

The best shocks come down to your use case — there's no universal answer. If you want a basic stock replacement with upgraded control and longevity, it's hard to go wrong with the Bilstein 4600. Options like the KYB Excel-G aim to be direct factory replacements, but they won't go the distance like Bilstein can. As you move up in budget, the Fox 2.0 is the ride-comfort leader, and the Fox 2.5 HTO is where most heavy-use trucks end up.

The Bilstein 5100s are geared toward lifted Ford Super Duty trucks, but you could technically run the 2″ 5100s on a factory-height truck without much consequence if it's just a daily driver with light trail use. The 5100s are valved for more control with bigger wheels and tires, heavier loads, or the taller center of gravity from a lift kit. If you're going for a straight factory replacement, grab the 4600s.

The typical 30–50k miles holds true for the factory black shocks, but from our experience these shocks can deteriorate much faster if you're in areas with a lot of snow or dirt. Salt, grit, and constant contamination accelerate seal wear. If you're in the southwest on dry pavement you may squeeze more life out of them, but don't push it past the symptoms.

If you notice excessive bouncing on the road — more than 2 bounces off a driveway or highway joint — or if there's more side-to-side slop than usual when going through a dip, the shocks are probably toast. You can also do the bounce test: push down hard on each corner of the truck. A good shock rebounds once and settles. More than that and it's done.

New shocks aren't required — but they're heavily recommended. Shock extenders are available for the front shocks which help limit issues with droop travel. But leveling kits usually come with bigger wheel and tire packages that the stock shocks aren't designed for. You're adding unsprung weight, changing the geometry, and stressing components sized to a minimum. Save yourself the headache and upgrade them at the same time.

Bilstein 4600 and 5100 shocks are the go-to for good reason — digressive valving produces improved control under load. The Fox 2.5 HTO also earns best-in-class marks for haul and tow stability. KYB Monomax is another solid option for those who don't mind a weird red shock. Avoid twin-tube designs for serious towing — the rebound control just isn't there when you're moving weight.

Yes — and noticeably so. One of the biggest differences with upgraded aftermarket shocks is the larger bore of a monotube. This always comes with better rebound damping. You'll notice it immediately after going over big bumps, up driveways at an angle, or on back roads — better rebound damping means less side-to-side slop and a truck that settles faster and feels more planted.

At stock height, almost everything in this guide applies — you have the full range of options. With a 2–3″ level, the Bilstein 5100 is specifically built for this application. As the vehicle height increases beyond 3″, aftermarket options narrow to Bilstein, Fox, Rancho, Skyjacker, and others built specifically for lifted trucks.

This is a pretty straightforward job if you're mechanically familiar. The rear shocks are simple — two bolts, swap it out. Up front you have to deal with the coil spring. There are ways to manipulate the spring back into the spring seat beyond using a spring compressor, but it all comes down to your comfort level under the truck. If you've done struts before, this isn't a stretch.

Big heavy trucks undoubtedly benefit from beefier shocks. Twin-tube shocks typically have small pistons — 37mm on the RS9000XL — and suffer from poor rebound damping when the suspension extends after a bump. Monotube shocks come with a larger piston (46mm), allowing far better valving across the full range of inputs. The result is noticeably better handling straight away, and the advantage grows under load and on rough terrain.