Shock Replacement

It looks like I will be replacing my factory shocks on my 98 F-150. I was curious if anyone could recommend a good set of shocks that matched my stock shocks pretty closely(without actually ordering factory Ford replacement shocks). Thanks for any input.

Anything aftermarket will outlive/outperform your OE shocks.  The best on the market right now are the Monroe Reflex shocks and they are costly.  You will pay about  $35-$45 a piece for them, but they are well worth it.

I am not a fan of the Monroe, Look to pay a little more for a nice set of Bilstiens. They are a kick ass shock for most anything you do.

Do you know if the Monroe Sensa trac shocks are any good?

I install a bunch of sensa a tracs, and they are good for the money, but what makes the reflex so much better is the vavlving is controlled by a spring sensative actuator at bottom of shock that reacts much wuicker to road conditions.

Thanks for the advice. I just received the reflex shocks today in the mail. Any good advice on installing them?

There are really no big tricks to installing them.  I gues the simplest thing I can advise is to not unload the suspension when replacing.  When doing back Jack up on differential and leave pressure there don't let it down on the jack stands.

One I got my Monroe Reflex shocks, one othe shocks came with hardware that two nuts while the other one had one nut? So which is it? I figured on the bottom side of the top mount that I should have the rubber bushing and washer. And on the top side of of the top mount that I should have a bushing, washer, and nut?

Okay, here you go from bottom to top it goes washer, bushing, through hole, bushing, washer, nut.  Your extra nut is probably just a jam nut and is not really necessary.