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So one of my first upgrades was Rancho 9000's. In about 15 months I've been through 3 front, and 2 rear. They don't just break, they break in half.
What I know:
I have my front torsion bars turned up about net 3 turns (had to turn them again when I added my winch) and the Rancho' are made for a 0" ride height.
The 9000 shock measures 13.4 C-15.7 E....2.34 inches of travel.
I found a shock again Rancho, that measures 13.8C and 18.5 E with the same attachment points, (Avalanche w/4" lift).
In theory, is my thinking correct that this should alleviate my over extending problem?
Beat95YJ
06-05-2007, 12:08 AM
It will alleviate your over extending problem. It is likely that your truck will ride like crap, and that the shock will bottom out before the suspension does. This will lead to failures as well.
Perhaps try a set of limit straps?
Like these? (http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/product.php?productid=47&cat=40&page=1)
Or these? (http://www.mastercraftseats.com/access-limitstraps.shtml)
So from stock or "0" ride height, to a 2.5' torsion bar lift, that .4" longer shock will bottom out?
It just made me think that the IFS travel on the original Rancho was too short. 2.34 " didn't seem like enough, and the slightly longer shock has well over 6".
We have bump stop for up travel.
I'm also thinking that we should add some adjustable endlinks in the front, to accommodate the new geometry.
Beat95YJ
06-05-2007, 09:04 AM
Unknown without cycling the suspension, but I would predict yes. The oem bumpstops are there to protect the oe shocks. Bottoming on a shock is always a bad idea. I would be inclined to measure an actual rancho shock as that seems like too little travel.
As a comparison (and because they are the only lengths I have here) an Edelbrock H3 shock is 15.67 extended by 11.08 collapsed giving 4.6" of travel. The oem shock is 15" extended by 11.25 collapsed, giving 3.75" of travel.
Definately double check the Rancho numbers. It seems as though you may already be bottoming the shock. Do you have any pictures of the failed shocks?
Beat95YJ
06-05-2007, 09:05 AM
I'm also thinking that we should add some adjustable endlinks in the front, to accommodate the new geometry.
If you do add longer endlinks, make sure they dont push the sway bar into anything at full compression.
Here is two of them, broken exactly the same:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i84/Hummbebe/MyPictures0002-3.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i84/Hummbebe/MyPictures0001-3.jpg
The numbers I gave on the 9000 are from the schematic I got from Rancho, almost a year ago.
I will look for them to double check, but the guys at Central 4WD looked the over too. That's how I came up with the Avalanche/Suburban replacements.
Cognito just came out with a custom Bilstein measuring 11.77C - 18.4E and is the first shock designed for torsion bar lifted H3's.
ProComp's MX6 measures 11.02C - 15.50 but is for 0" ride height
Beat95YJ
06-05-2007, 11:18 PM
Well, tweaking the torsion bars isn't really going to give you additional droop travel. The oem shocks extended length is designed to prevent the balljoints from overtraveling. unless you are swiching to a-arms with monoballs, new cv shafts and heimed steering it isn't a great idea to remove the travel limiter.
Tweaking torsion bars is not a lift. You are only changing the up and down travel percentages.
Samco Fab
06-07-2007, 01:00 PM
Well, tweaking the torsion bars isn't really going to give you additional droop travel. The oem shocks extended length is designed to prevent the balljoints from overtraveling. unless you are swiching to a-arms with monoballs, new cv shafts and heimed steering it isn't a great idea to remove the travel limiter.
Tweaking torsion bars is not a lift. You are only changing the up and down travel percentages.
I agree, a shock designed for a "torsion bar lift" is just a shock that has the same travel as a stock shock.
The shock cant compress all the way before the facory bump stop goes metal to metal, and it has to have at least the same extended length.
If it has more extended length than stock, and the same compressed length, that would give you more droop travel, but there is a reason that the manufacturers can only package a certain amount of extended and compressed length in a shock, if you lengthen the extended length by shortening the seal and guide pack and extending the piston all the way down to the gland, you can shorten the life span of the shock.
I think I get it now.
So the question now is Fox or Bilstein....
Bilstein has more travel than stock (Cognito just came out with a custom Bilstein measuring 11.77C - 18.4E and is the first shock designed for torsion bar lifted H3's.)
I think the Fox is the same as stock....just a much better shock.
My new Sessy Shocks :D
http://www.samcofabrication.com/products/images/OL140661.jpg
Can't wait to BOLT them on :flipoff2:
GotSandH3
06-15-2007, 01:45 PM
Then what are you waiting for?? BOLT THEM ON!!! So those have the same compression and extension as the stock shocks?? Just better quality?
Samco Fab
10-12-2007, 07:37 PM
The Fox shocks give a bit more droop travel than the stock shocks.
How do you like them Bebe??
My first real run with them was Fordyce last weekend.
They were Tony the Tiger Great!!!
In all seriousness, I didn't even notice them....which is a good thing. Didn't break, had plenty of flex in the rear
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff97/hummbeebee/FordyceOct07136.jpg
They felt solid.
We did a short run the weekend before from Tahoma to Observation Point and same thing, just glided over the rocks.
I would get them again and as I have said before, am sorry I did not get them earlier.
Dirt Merchant
11-02-2007, 08:11 AM
Cool.
Good suspension is like your stomach; when it's working right, you don't know that it's there.
Did you take care the problem that was destroying the Rancho's? Will it eventually damage the Fox shocks too?
We still are not sure what was destroying the ranchos. (other than they are crap) (oops did I say that outloud:flipoff2:)
But the fox have held up beautifully.
Dirt Merchant
11-02-2007, 02:24 PM
We still are not sure what was destroying the ranchos. (other than they are crap) (oops did I say that outloud:flipoff2:)
But the fox have held up beautifully.
Hey now! Don't provoke me into trolling you all the way to the far reaches of Al Gore's intrawebby thingmajig! ;)
I'm thinking the external bump stops is what's saving your @$$, but it's just a guess. :D
Hey now! Don't provoke me into trolling you all the way to the far reaches of Al Gore's intrawebby thingmajig! ;)
I'm thinking the external bump stops is what's saving your @$$, but it's just a guess. :D
No, I'd say it's the difference between an $80.00 throw away piece of junk and $225.00 rebuildable work of art:flipoff2:
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