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Bronco suspension:

FRONT:
3 different types- Standard, Special and High Ride

11 different spring part numbers, same 11 for all three types. (only 5 are active in the parts system, prices range from about $88.00-$120.00 each)

Standard has 3 shock choices: Big Bend, Outer Banks, Base #6, WildTrak #7 or 4 door Black Diamond or 2 door Black Diamond

Special has 2 shock choices: 2 door or 4 door

High Ride has 2 shock choices: 2 door or 4 door Big Bend, Black Diamond, WildTrak #7, Outer Banks, Base #6, Preferred Series, Badlands


REAR:
3 different types-Standard, Special and High Ride

6 different spring part numbers, same 6 for all three types. (all 6 are active in the parts system, prices range from about $147.00-$165.00 each)

Standard has 3 shock choices: 2 door WildTrak #7, Base #6, Big Bend, Outer Banks or 4 door Big Bend, WildTrak #7, Outer Banks, Base #6 or Black Diamond

Special has 2 shock choices: 2 door or 4 door

High Ride has 1 shock choice: 4 door Big Bend, Black Diamond, WildTrak #7, Outer Banks, Base #6, Preferred Series, Badlands



This was taken from the MicroCat, on-line parts catalogue. The part descriptions are accurate with the exception Ford calls the two door a 3 door and a four door a 5 door. I changed those to not add additional confusion. Shocks are technically “struts” but Ford calls them a, “Shock Absorber Assembly” so I’m going to use the term shock which is universally known as a suspension dampening device. If a specific VIN was used to look up these parts, it would (should) know the correct part for that application since it uses a version of historical vehicle bill of materials provided by Ford.

Spring descriptions appear to use the engineering number which would most likely be a tag attached to the spring itself. If using a VIN, the system should be able to pick the correct one or at least narrow it down to a couple of choices. No other specifications (coil heights, number of coils or coil diameters) are in the catalogue descriptions.

I'm not going to speculate on what "Preferred Series" means.

Front spring part numbers: MB3Z-5310-A,B,C,D,E,F,J,K,L,M,N

Front Shock: STD-MB3Z-18124-A,B,C Special-MB3Z-18124-D,E High-MB3Z-18124-J,K

Rear spring part numbers: MB3Z-5560-A,B,C,D,E,F

Rear Shock: STD-MB3Z-18125-A,B,C Special-MB3Z-18125-D,E High-MB3Z-18125-K
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Aragonite

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Maybe preferred series is the annual special edition?

2021: first edition
2022: heritage edition
2023: etc.
 

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Special is likely non-sas Badlands. maybe?
 

88to21bronco

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So I'm mostly suspension illiterate. Am I correct, though, in taking from this that one could order, say, the "Special" shocks/springs and have the ride height of a non-squatch Badlands on a Big Bend?
 

BAUS67

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Shocks are technically “struts” but Ford calls them a, “Shock Absorber Assembly” so I’m going to use the term shock which is universally known as a suspension dampening device.


Ok so I am going to be "that guy" here.

No offense flip, but I have covered this a year ago so we can call what the Bronco has correctly. It has even been mention in some videos I have watched.


One correction here, it is NOT technically a "strut". It is a coil over. which is a shock with a coil spring "over" it. Hence the name coilover.

A "strut" is an integral part of the suspension. It does the job of the upper control arm by locating the upper part of the knuckle.

"Technically" Ford is the most accurate. "shock absorber assembly" because that is what it is.

This is a "strut" suspension.

Ford Bronco More 2021 Bronco Suspension Info & Part Numbers: Standard, Special and High Ride 1623358117424



THIS is a coil over suspension.

Ford Bronco More 2021 Bronco Suspension Info & Part Numbers: Standard, Special and High Ride 1623358162519



As you can see there is a BIG difference. In a coil over it only has to support the vehicle and dampen the bumps. It is a shock with a coil spring over it. It does NOT locate the upper part of the knuckle. That is the job of the upper arm.


I just want the B6G community to understand what it is they have.


F-150 Coil over, Explorer strut.
 

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Dads_bronze_bronco

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@flip I am curious: Why is Wildtrak listed under Standard? You sure on that one? (Interesting implications.)
 

rtsherry73

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A pure McPherson strut uses the anti-roll bar as one of the 2 lower control arms. The original US Escort had this suspension. I'm surprised more people weren't killed. The compliance allowed by the bushings caused all sorts of issues.
 
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Ok so I am going to be "that guy" here.

No offense flip, but I have covered this a year ago so we can call what the Bronco has correctly. It has even been mention in some videos I have watched.


One correction here, it is NOT technically a "strut". It is a coil over. which is a shock with a coil spring "over" it. Hence the name coilover.

A "strut" is an integral part of the suspension. It does the job of the upper control arm by locating the upper part of the knuckle.

"Technically" Ford is the most accurate. "shock absorber assembly" because that is what it is.

This is a "strut" suspension.

Ford Bronco More 2021 Bronco Suspension Info & Part Numbers: Standard, Special and High Ride 1623358162519



THIS is a coil over suspension.

Ford Bronco More 2021 Bronco Suspension Info & Part Numbers: Standard, Special and High Ride 1623358162519



As you can see there is a BIG difference. In a coil over it only has to support the vehicle and dampen the bumps. It is a shock with a coil spring over it. It does NOT locate the upper part of the knuckle. That is the job of the upper arm.


I just want the B6G community to understand what it is they have.


F-150 Coil over, Explorer strut.
I intentionally didn’t post the pics to avoid menutia. Sorry I over thought it.
 
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flip

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@flip I am curious: Why is Wildtrak listed under Standard? You sure on that one? (Interesting implications.)
Dunno. Many times the part description in both the Ford and MicroCat catalogues has completely different wording compared to what the shop manual has. I have the fender badge part numbers and the descriptions will cook your brain trying to figure out what the hell it is.
 

5280Bronco

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So I'm mostly suspension illiterate. Am I correct, though, in taking from this that one could order, say, the "Special" shocks/springs and have the ride height of a non-squatch Badlands on a Big Bend?
We don't know the specifics of anything else that may be different between the two, but I'm sure takeoffs will be available from BL owners wanting to go with a lift kit, so it's just a matter of time before that question is answered.
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