Looking for information on what rear shocks are available for my Ranchero and where to get them. I'm aware of a E-Bay listing for Gabriel shocks that fit.............just wanting to known all of my options before I make a purchase and have buyers' remorse.
Thanks
John
Quote from: KYBlueOval on 2015-12-14 08:43
Looking for information on what rear shocks are available for my Ranchero and where to get them. I'm aware of a E-Bay listing for Gabriel shocks that fit.............just wanting to known all of my options before I make a purchase and have buyers' remorse.
Thanks
John
John, do a search for the KYB, I think I recall they had some also.
KG5526 at Rockauto
Edit: If I had found KYB for the rear at the time I would have used them rather then the Gabriel..
Haven't bought mine yet but I'm looking through the Rancho RS 9000 catalogue. They don't list specifically for a 57 Ford so you have to find your compressed length, extended length, stud,ring mount etc.. and go from there. I like the 9-way adjustability for tuning for drag racing or for whatever extra weight you may be carrying.
Google PST Suspension..... they list Bilsteins for '57 Rancheros.
Quote from: lalessi1 on 2015-12-14 18:34
Google PST Suspension..... they list Bilsteins for '57 Rancheros.
I checked them out and they list them but only have generic photos, I like to see the actual part. They have KYB listed also at the highest price I have ever seen them..
I thought so too, I don't think their part numbers are Bilstein. I am pretty sure Bilstein has shocks for our cars, the trick is finding them... I found the AK's for the front at Summit but I haven't looked for the rears. I have Gabriel Hijackers now....
I've done some research and here is what I found. I called Bilstein ( 704 663 7563 ) to find out if they had shocks for our applications. No surprise ,they said they had no such listings. They asked if I had the specs. Now, bear in mind I'm inquiring about shocks for a Ranchero, so I'm pretty sure the front shocks are the same across all '57's, but I don't believe that is the case on the rear shocks.
I did not have the O.E.M. specs, but I did have the KYB Specs from the KYB website. Are they spot on the same as O.E.M.? I have no clue. Long story,made short. Bilstein has shocks that are close to the KYB Specs. I'll post the Specs. below.
Front
KYB KG 4515 14.57 Extended Length 13.9 Bilstein 33-230306
9.65 Compressed Length 9.4
4.92 Stroke 4.5
Ranchero Rear
KYB KG 5526 20.43 Extended Length 20.45 Blistein 24-185684
12.48 Compressed Length 12.83
7.95 Stroke 7.62
As I recall,Bilstein also confirmed that the shock mounts were correct for my Ranchero. I'll call them again, and ask the same questions, as I've found that a lot of what you get, depends upon who you talk to. Kinda like calling Medicare. I always call 3-4 times asking the exact same question. It's amazing how different the answers can be. So, I'll do the same thing with Bilstein,over several days and see if I get a consistent answer,as there is no direct fit solution.
Amazon has the Bilstein Fronts @$80.00 and the Rears @ $83.00.
So,now that you have looked all of this over, what is your opinion? Are the Bilsteins close enough to the KYB Specs to work?
John
I went to Summit to see if they had these.... they did. The fronts do not have the same "T" connection at the bottom. The rear shocks should have a "T" connection at the top and a "Pin" connection at the bottom. What is shown doesn't match at all (it seems to be upside down). I am not sure if the cross piece that goes through the eyelet to make the "T" is a separate part. I still believe the AK's are the deal for the front.
I've run into the same situation where the mountings never look correct in the pictures, sometimes they just use a generic picture and without seeing the actual part I pass on them..
Summit is pretty good about accurate pictures....I think.
Quote from: lalessi1 on 2015-12-17 09:35
Summit is pretty good about accurate pictures....I think.
Maybe I'm missing something but I can't even find a rear shock for a Ranchero listed at Summit
Search Summit for Bilstein 24-185684.
Quote from: KYBlueOval on 2015-12-17 05:23
I've done some research and here is what I found. I called Bilstein ( 704 663 7563 ) to find out if they had shocks for our applications. No surprise ,they said they had no such listings. They asked if I had the specs. Now, bear in mind I'm inquiring about shocks for a Ranchero, so I'm pretty sure the front shocks are the same across all '57's, but I don't believe that is the case on the rear shocks.
I did not have the O.E.M. specs, but I did have the KYB Specs from the KYB website. Are they spot on the same as O.E.M.? I have no clue. Long story,made short. Bilstein has shocks that are close to the KYB Specs. I'll post the Specs. below.
Front
KYB KG 4515 14.57 Extended Length 13.9 Bilstein 33-230306
9.65 Compressed Length 9.4
4.92 Stroke 4.5
Ranchero Rear
KYB KG 5526 20.43 Extended Length 20.45 Blistein 24-185684
12.48 Compressed Length 12.83
7.95 Stroke 7.62
As I recall,Bilstein also confirmed that the shock mounts were correct for my Ranchero. I'll call them again, and ask the same questions, as I've found that a lot of what you get, depends upon who you talk to. Kinda like calling Medicare. I always call 3-4 times asking the exact same question. It's amazing how different the answers can be. So, I'll do the same thing with Bilstein,over several days and see if I get a consistent answer,as there is no direct fit solution.
Amazon has the Bilstein Fronts @$80.00 and the Rears @ $83.00.
So,now that you have looked all of this over, what is your opinion? Are the Bilsteins close enough to the KYB Specs to work?
John
Heres what comes up and doesn't look anything like the rear shock.
70 1/2-74 Camaro rear shocks are the same,
Monroe 5005
Gabriel 45067
Motorcraft AB6
Delco 50077
Ford B7A-18125-J, R22-D
Ron.
so just out of curiosity, since am away from my parts manuals, what is the shock configuration? double stud, double eye, one of each or slotted t bracket and stud ? And what makes the ranchero and wagon shocks different from the rest of the line? load capacity?
and why bilsteins? can see them if one is road racing or racing up Mulholland Drive but otherwise don't see the greater value on a street car. guess just need some enlightenment here. understand personal choice but are they really that much better to justify the price difference? again just curious not judging your choice.
Zap- :unitedstates:
Quote from: Zapato on 2015-12-17 15:14
so just out of curiosity, since am away from my parts manuals, what is the shock configuration? double stud, double eye, one of each or slotted t bracket and stud ? And what makes the ranchero and wagon shocks different from the rest of the line? load capacity?
and why bilsteins? can see them if one is road racing or racing up Mulholland Drive but otherwise don't see the greater value on a street car. guess just need some enlightenment here. understand personal choice but are they really that much better to justify the price difference? again just curious not judging your choice.
Zap- :unitedstates:
Rancheros have slotted T top, stud bottom on the rears by the manual.... I have had limited experience with Bilsteins, but they were impressive in the way they seemed to tranform ride quality and steering response. I always wanted to try a set on an older car.
This is the Gabriel air shock, regular shock mounts the same way. Stud at bottom, cross bar on top. If I really had a choice I think I would use Koni but I don't think they make them for our old cars. I use KYB or Gabriels because I wouldn't put Monroes on a lawn mower :003:
I have those on my car now except stud on top, stud on bottom. I put 'em on for adjustable height. I am in the planning stages to redo my rear suspension now.... 6 leaf springs, lowering blocks, sway bar, maybe traction bars, narrowed rear end???
Due to the extreme angle (45 degree, is my guess) that the rear shocks are mounted, the air shocks have very little effect on the vehicle ride height. It was about "one inch" higher on my Ranch Wagon, from zero air pressure, to fully inflated.
When the rear springs were rebuilt we added one leaf and re-ached them for trailer towing it made a much larger difference. My instructions to the spring shop was, "make them stiffer", but do not increase "the ride height" any more than absolutely necessary. I still have the air shocks installed, but only air them up when trailer towing. The ride comfort is just fine with the stiffer rear springs.
I will add a rear sway bar at some point and hope it clears my aftermarket dual exhaust.