B177y
Well-known member
- First Name
- Bill
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2024
- Threads
- 18
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- 830
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- 1,158
- Location
- Olympic Peninsula, WA
- Vehicles
- '24 Pro SSV ER Max Tow, '23 MME Premium, '20 Bolt
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- #1
2024 Lightning Pro SSV ER (131kWh battery) with max tow package. 56,300 miles.
I solicited opinions or experience about KYB shocks in this thread. I received a couple of recommendations from forum members based on their KYB installs in other vehicles, not Lightnings. The Eibach shocks were unavailable, so I went with the KYB Monomax front and rear shocks from Rockauto, $475 for all four shocks with WA tax and delivery.
When the installer at Strait Alignment in Port Angeles, WA looked under my truck to see what was up, he exclaimed "They're leaking!". I don't think he expected that my OE shocks were toast barely over 50,000 miles. Both fronts were blown and leaking, he said the rears were still good but based on the front he agreed that changing them was a good call. I re-used the original springs. No other other suspension parts changed other than the shocks.
Initial impression on my 25 minute 15 mile drive home is that the ride is much better than the two blown front shocks, no surprise there. Handling is back to feeling crisp and the bounce on overpass transitions is gone. The side to side wobble over patches and road construction is also gone. Everything feels taught and tight like it should.
I can't really remember what it felt like at delivery, over 56,000 miles ago. I do remember feeling like the Lightning had an incredible ride compared to the Mach-e California Route 1 trim that I traded for the Lightning. The Mach-e felt harsh after a two hour drive. My wife's Mach-e Premium has a nicer ride than my Cal Rt 1 did, but it is still a "sporty" ride more than a "luxury" ride. I would describe the new Monomax on the Lightning feeling like a half-ton truck "should" feel. Not floaty luxury like I seem to think the OE shocks felt like when new, but not harsh and jumpy like my 2001 F350 with leaf springs on all four corners felt. It was an enjoyable drive home from the shop with an obvious and noticeable difference from the blown OE shocks.
The old shocks likely transition to crap slowly so I never felt a transition to the poor ride, but the ride home with the new shocks is dramatic. I just started to notice the side to side wobble and extended bounce on road transitions with the OE shocks. The reports on the forum of other's shocks going bad around 50,000 miles clued me in and sure enough, mine were toast too. Add the shocks to your "high suspicion" list like the 12 volt battery at 3 years old. Around 50k, start paying attention to your shocks, look for leaks (wet spots on the tubes), just like at 3 years old, suspect that your 12 volt battery is going to die.
Overall, the KYB Monomax shocks seem like a fine alternative to OE Ford shocks. I was looking at the Eibach shocks which seem to be a popular mod or repair for the Lightning, but they are more expensive than the KYBs and seem to regularly be out of stock. I'll update this post as time goes on and miles start adding up to add some long-term good and bad of the KYBs. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Front shock, from driver side front:
Rear shock, from driver side rear behind the bed:
I solicited opinions or experience about KYB shocks in this thread. I received a couple of recommendations from forum members based on their KYB installs in other vehicles, not Lightnings. The Eibach shocks were unavailable, so I went with the KYB Monomax front and rear shocks from Rockauto, $475 for all four shocks with WA tax and delivery.
When the installer at Strait Alignment in Port Angeles, WA looked under my truck to see what was up, he exclaimed "They're leaking!". I don't think he expected that my OE shocks were toast barely over 50,000 miles. Both fronts were blown and leaking, he said the rears were still good but based on the front he agreed that changing them was a good call. I re-used the original springs. No other other suspension parts changed other than the shocks.
Initial impression on my 25 minute 15 mile drive home is that the ride is much better than the two blown front shocks, no surprise there. Handling is back to feeling crisp and the bounce on overpass transitions is gone. The side to side wobble over patches and road construction is also gone. Everything feels taught and tight like it should.
I can't really remember what it felt like at delivery, over 56,000 miles ago. I do remember feeling like the Lightning had an incredible ride compared to the Mach-e California Route 1 trim that I traded for the Lightning. The Mach-e felt harsh after a two hour drive. My wife's Mach-e Premium has a nicer ride than my Cal Rt 1 did, but it is still a "sporty" ride more than a "luxury" ride. I would describe the new Monomax on the Lightning feeling like a half-ton truck "should" feel. Not floaty luxury like I seem to think the OE shocks felt like when new, but not harsh and jumpy like my 2001 F350 with leaf springs on all four corners felt. It was an enjoyable drive home from the shop with an obvious and noticeable difference from the blown OE shocks.
The old shocks likely transition to crap slowly so I never felt a transition to the poor ride, but the ride home with the new shocks is dramatic. I just started to notice the side to side wobble and extended bounce on road transitions with the OE shocks. The reports on the forum of other's shocks going bad around 50,000 miles clued me in and sure enough, mine were toast too. Add the shocks to your "high suspicion" list like the 12 volt battery at 3 years old. Around 50k, start paying attention to your shocks, look for leaks (wet spots on the tubes), just like at 3 years old, suspect that your 12 volt battery is going to die.
Overall, the KYB Monomax shocks seem like a fine alternative to OE Ford shocks. I was looking at the Eibach shocks which seem to be a popular mod or repair for the Lightning, but they are more expensive than the KYBs and seem to regularly be out of stock. I'll update this post as time goes on and miles start adding up to add some long-term good and bad of the KYBs. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Front shock, from driver side front:
Rear shock, from driver side rear behind the bed:
Sponsored
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. Can't wait to feel the original ride again.
