Tremor Shock Absorber Dimensions [Reference Guide]

[GREYWOLF]

Hello everyone!

Ford advertises ‘20% increased suspension travel’ for the F150 Tremor. Up front, this is achieved using two Tremor-specific components:

1. Longer (5.5”) stroke front struts.* **
2. Taller knuckles*** ****

*Regular F150 struts are 5” stroke.
**Thanks to @DRJ
***taller knuckles allow for increased down-travel so the UCA doesn’t max-out/bind/explode.
****I have not confirmed if the knuckles are the same as the 2021+ Raptor but both use the same 3-bolt eIWE.
*****the UCA used on the Tremor is not specific to Tremor and is the same as a 4x4 F150


Out back the Tremor has longer (+1”) stroke rear shocks.


Aftermarket Suspension

Most of the aftermarket suspension options available for or specifically advertised as ‘Tremor’ actually reduce your travel.

Front —
Ford F150 — 5”
Ford Tremor — 5.5”
Bilstein 5100 (F150): 16.91” collapsed; 22.41” extended; Travel: 5.5”
Blistein 5100 (Tremor): 16.85” collapsed; 22.22” extended; Travel: 5.37”
Falcon (F150): 18.5” collapsed; 23.5” extended; Travel: 5”
Bilstein 6112 (F150): 16.9” collapsed; 22.47” extended. Travel: 5.57”
Bilstein 6112 (Tremor): 16.3“ collapsed; 22.23” extended. Travel: 5.93”
Bilstein 8112 (F150): 18.45” collapsed; 23.22” extended; Travel: 4.77”
Bilstein 8112 (Tremor): 18.45” collapsed; 23.22” extended; Travel: 4.77”
Icon CDXS (Tremor): Travel: 5.36”

Rear —
Ford F150: 18” collapsed; 29.875” extended; Stroke: 11.875”
Ford Tremor: 17.625” collapsed; 30.5” extended; Stroke: 12.875”
Blistein 5100 (+0-1”): 17.52” collapsed; 28.75” extended; Travel: 11.22”
Bilstein 5160 (F150): 17.52” collapsed; 29.50” extended; Travel: 11.98”
Bilstein 5160 (Tremor): 17.52” collapsed; 29.50” extended; Travel: 11.98”
Falcon: 18.2” collapsed; 30” extended; Travel: 11.8”
Icon CDXS (97721XP): 17.65 collapsed; 29.5” extended; Travel: 11.85”




- Colin

 

[deepblack]

On my 2024, the OEM fronts are 22.75” extended and still have the spring on so no compressed measurement.

My Bilstein 6112s are 23” extended 6” of shaft and a 2” bump stop which is very soft and will probably compress to 1/2” or less. Bilstein 5160 are 17.6 - 29.5”. When the rear axle hits the bump stop the shocks are 29.5” and 18.5” give or take that measurement probably wasn’t the best. That bump stop is hard and might compress 1/2” on a hard hit.

 

[pittman]

I know the front suspension on the Tremor hasn't been fully described by Ford, but from what I gather the lift is due to a longer front strut (~1''). Similar to a puck lift but the length is added below the perch for the coil. The steering knuckles are adjusted to correct tie rod angles (and maybe ball joints?). In any case, I'm not sure the front has more travel - downward travel is usually limited by the UCA and this is the same across F150s.

Regarding the rear end, the rear shocks are longer to compensate for the bigger blocks. Leaf springs are the same. I'd be surprised if there was any increase in the travel here too. Different bump stops might allow for slightly more compression but again, not much...

Where did you source your information on suspension travel?

 

[GREYWOLF]

I know the front suspension on the Tremor hasn't been fully described by Ford, but from what I gather the lift is due to a longer front strut (~1''). Similar to a puck lift but the length is added below the perch for the coil. The steering knuckles are adjusted to correct tie rod angles (and maybe ball joints?). In any case, I'm not sure the front has more travel - downward travel is usually limited by the UCA and this is the same across F150s.

Regarding the rear end, the rear shocks are longer to compensate for the bigger blocks. Leaf springs are the same. I'd be surprised if there was any increase in the travel here too. Different bump stops might allow for slightly more compression but again, not much...

Where did you source your information on suspension travel?

This is incorrect.

Front lift height is +1” and that is achieved with use of a higher rate spring. Most 4x4 F150s have a 553lb spring but the Termor is approximately 600lbs. I was unable to find a Ford technical document confirming the exact spring rate but I did take measurements of the thickness of the coil.

Rear travel is achieved by the longer shocks. Technically, it would still be longer travel without the rear lift blocks so perhaps I’ll amend my original post for clarity purposes. The only difference the lift blocks make is ride height and how much of the increased travel is positive versus negative (also known as ‘droop travel’).

I got these measurements because I had Tremor suspension on my truck for about a month but I had less than 24-hrs to purchase Bilstein 5100s, swap the springs over from my original F150 shocks, and install them on the the truck before the new owner of the Tremor suspension arrived to pick them up and I simply didn’t have time to pull the Tremor shocks apart to measure them myself (and they were driving in from 3.5hrs away, so I didn’t want something to go wrong with them en route).

Edit — I removed any mention of rear axle blocks from my original post. I also forgot to address the knuckle — it’s appx. 0.75” taller compared to a standard knuckle. It’s the same idea as the Raptor knuckle (which actually has ‘LONG’ debossed on it). The longer knuckle does not have anything to do with tie-rod angles. Also, down travel is limited by the shock reaching maximum extension (if it was limited by the UCA, they would explode almost immediately).

 

[pittman]

I suppose you could check your spring measurement inference with part numbers.

Blocks don't change leaf spring travel - just ride height. It's generally not a good idea to have your shocks as the limiting factor for articulation - they designed to provide dampening only.

I believe some Ford changed a few things on the front end of the Gen 14 trucks. Might not be an apples to apples comparison for your 2016.

 

[GREYWOLF]

I suppose you could check your spring measurement inference with part numbers.

Blocks don't change leaf spring travel - just ride height. It's generally not a good idea to have your shocks as the limiting factor for articulation - they designed to provide dampening only.

I believe some Ford changed a few things on the front end of the Gen 14 trucks. Might not be an apples to apples comparison for your 2016.

Shocks are your limiting factor for negative (aka ‘droop’) travel, not the leaf springs.

If you jump a truck, you’ll often hear a ‘knock’ sound from the shocks. This is called ‘topping out’ and the knock is the piston reaching full extension inside the tube of the shock. Bilstein uses a secondary piston in their 8112s they call their Rebound Cut-Off (RCO) which has a much higher compression shim stack to reduce the top-out force. Falcon uses a mechanical spring. It’s low-tech, but it’s a much less expensive solution and perfectly appropriate for the price point, especially given the 6112s and 5160s don’t have any top-out control.

 

[pittman]

I'm well aware of "topping out". I've also heard of limit straps. Good luck.

 

[pittman]

Plenty of literature out there on the importance of preventing your shocks from topping out - but it sounds like you know everything already. Like I said, good luck.

 

[DRJ]

I have a front strut without a spring off my 2023 f150 tremor.

I measured on a bench from the bottom of mounting ear (part that sits on LCA)
25 inches extended to the very tip of shaft.

Collapsed (compressed by hand using the the floor) I measured from the floor to the same ear for 19.5 inches.

 

[GREYWOLF]

I have a front strut without a spring off my 2023 f150 tremor.

I measured on a bench from the bottom of mounting ear (part that sits on LCA)
25 inches extended to the very tip of shaft.

Collapsed (compressed by hand using the the floor) I measured from the floor to the same ear for 19.5 inches.

You are amazing! Thank you! 5.5” stoke length is exactly what I wanted to confirm.

I have to ask (and absolutely no judgment here; I measured the rear Tremor shock lengths using a concrete wall and my foot lol), what would you say your margin of error is? Or put another way, how confident are you in your measurements?

Reviewing the aftermarket options it’s clear to see only the Bilstein 5100s for the regular F150 actually have the same travel as the Tremor stock shocks. This doesn’t surprise me because another YouTuber (@TinkerersAdventures) confirmed 5100s are actually longer stroke than stock on other applications. However, this now has me wanting to confirm what the stock F150 front strut travel is. I guess I know what I’m doing this afternoon… lol I’ll reply to this thread with that info once I have it.

Thanks again @DRJ

 

[DRJ]

You are amazing! Thank you! 5.5” stoke length is exactly what I wanted to confirm.

I have to ask (and absolutely no judgment here; I measured the rear Tremor shock lengths using a concrete wall and my foot lol), what would you say your margin of error is? Or put another way, how confident are you in your measurements?

Reviewing the aftermarket options it’s clear to see only the Bilstein 5100s for the regular F150 actually have the same travel as the Tremor stock shocks. This doesn’t surprise me because another YouTuber (@TinkerersAdventures) confirmed 5100s are actually longer stroke than stock on other applications. However, this now has me wanting to confirm what the stock F150 front strut travel is. I guess I know what I’m doing this afternoon… lol I’ll reply to this thread with that info once I have it.

Thanks again @DRJ

Haha. No worries. I’m super confident in the measurements. I measured 3 times. I had a buddy help me measure while I compressed the strut. It was surprisingly easy to compress and I’m only 210 pounds. lol.
Edit: a slim 210lbs.

 

[GREYWOLF]

It was surprisingly easy to compress and I’m only 210 pounds. lol.
Edit: a slim 210lbs.

You weren’t kidding. I put my full body weight on mine and it went straight to the floor. Seriously, I was able to hold it with one arm while I measured myself. lol For reference, they had 125,000km on them.

That said… I measured exactly 5” of travel.

What’s interesting for my application is I have the shorter/standard F150 knuckles, yet it does not appear I’m maxing-out the UCA at full droop. That makes me think the Tremor can probably handle a 6” stroke shock.

 

[BlackMamba]

Hey. I have a 2023 3.5 and I did a leveling kit from Rough Country that is a 2.5 upfront and comes with a smaller block for the rear. On the rear I changed the shocks to Bilstein 5100. (0-1"). Part Number: 33-318950
Before getting the rear part I called Bilstein and gave them all the information and they said for sure the rear sock replacement was this one.
Was this wrong then?

 

[GREYWOLF]

Hey. I have a 2023 3.5 and I did a leveling kit from Rough Country that is a 2.5 upfront and comes with a smaller block for the rear. On the rear I changed the shocks to Bilstein 5100. (0-1"). Part Number: 33-318950
Before getting the rear part I called Bilstein and gave them all the information and they said for sure the rear sock replacement was this one.
Was this wrong then?

No one makes a rear shock that maintains the Tremor suspension travel. Everything on the market -that I’m aware of- reduces it. That’s why I started this thread: https://www.f150tremor.com/threads/legitimate-tremor-suspension-pre-order.5118/page-2#post-76010

 

[pittman]

I appreciate your enthusiasm Colin. I'm a bit confused as to the two listings for 6112 shocks. As far as I can see there is only one Bilstein 6112 kit for 2021+ F150s. What part numbers are you referencing?

I've got 6112 and 5160s installed right now. Unfortunately I recently sold my tremor OEM shocks but I recall the 5160s actually being longer than the OEM shocks when fully extended (despite the measurements). Perhaps the OEM shocks weren't fully extended. I'll look for a picture.

 

[GREYWOLF]

I appreciate your enthusiasm Colin. I'm a bit confused as to the two listings for 6112 shocks. As far as I can see there is only one Bilstein 6112 kit for 2021+ F150s. What part numbers are you referencing?

Hey, thank you.

In the interest of keeping the list minimal I didn’t include part numbers, but all those can all be found using the Bilstein product selector on their website.

It’s entirely possible your factory shocks were not fully extended and Bilstein uses an enthusiastic amount of nitrogen in their shocks. lol

 

[pittman]

There is only one 6112 system listed for 2021+ F150s. It's the same for Tremors and everything else. I'm still unclear as to why your list suggests otherwise. Are you including the previous generation?

Part numbers would clarify things.

 

[deepblack]

I measured 18-30.5 OEM and 17.5-29.5 5160. I’ve never seen anyone fully flex the OEMs to see if you really need all of that.

 

[deepblack]

I’m also planning to take the springs off of my front OEMs and 6112s in the next couple weeks after my spring compressor gets here (and if it works). I got the $150 version instead of the $1000 version. I figure I can just throw the $150 tool away if it doesn’t work and get the other one. My 6112s were 23” long and my OEMs were 22.75” long from top hat to the lca mount point.

 

[MCO]

I measured 18-30.5 OEM and 17.5-29.5 5160. I’ve never seen anyone fully flex the OEMs to see if you really need all of that.
View attachment 39969

I’ve got to take the dust boot off one of mine and get some measurements at full bump and full flex to see. But I’m sure the trucks are capable of using most if not all of it!