If you are wanting an OEM ride, you can buy Motorcraft shocks/struts and reuse your existing springs. You will need a spring compressor to remove the springs from the old front struts. There are other methods that involve jacking the car up, compressing the strut assembly with a jack below the control arm, then unbolting the strut from the tower then slowly lowering the control arm that I have used, but it’s not the “correct” way, so YMMV. Though, I am more nervous around coil spring compressors than jacking the car up.
If you want slightly stiffer/more controlled, Bilsteins are a great premium option, Koni’s are a good mid-tier (I currently have the oranges) and you can get to more budget options too. Really up to what you want to spend. I have also used Monroe’s OESpectrum line and honestly they were fine for a DD. Only had them on the car a year before going to Konis though, so can’t speak to longevity.
While you are in there, you will want to replace the strut mounts (easy upgrade is the GT500 strut mount), check your LCAs and ball joints for age/cracking and replace as needed. Also a good time to check your sway bar end links, and sway bar mounts.
