Hey I need some advice on buying new shocks to replace my Rancho 9000's. I was driving home from work last night when I hit some stutter bumps where the pavement was heaved up and the front of the truck bounced itself sideways off the road. Anyway one of my front shocks no longer works at all. It offers barely any resistance when you push it through its stroke no matter what position its in. The stupid part is that I only have about 1200 miles on these shocks and this is the second one to go out. So I am going to replace them but I need to know what shocks are good, because I don't want to waste my money again. I need something close in size to a Rancho 9012 and a 9010. I don't really care if they are adjustable or not if they ride decent on the road and will last at least a couple of years on a fullsize truck with 37's. Thanks for any good suggestions! Later

Do you actually need a shock with as much travel as a 9012? How is your rig set up? I fid it hard to believe that you were driving on the road fast enough to bounce off with a suspension that is suppossedly flexy enough to justify 9012's! You know that longer shocks do not equal more suspension travel or better ride, right?

J. J.

Rancho has a lifetime warranty with there 9000 shocks. As long as you are the orginal buyer they should be coverd.

My 9012's are still good, but I've managed to put a couple big dents in the shock body.... if they fail in the future, do you think they would still be covered under warranty?

Also when I bought them, I got one bad one.

kid- Thanks for the info but I can't find a reciept or anything. Also I am not happy with them so I want something better.


patooyee- It wasn't a matter of running out of suspension travel. The axle didn't bottom out. If you have ever tried to drive a vehicle with NO shocks you would understand. The truck bounces uncontrollably. If you have no damping to keep the tires in contact with the ground you have no traction. Really I am not lying to you. It happened, and if you would like to come for a ride I am sure we can recreate it. :flipoff2: And yes I need a shock for the front that is close to a 9012 in length. On a ramp it uses all but 1/2" of the travel each way and I prefer to have a little bit of safety margin. Same with the rear 9010's they use all of the compression travel and all but 1/2" of the extension.

Anyway does anyone have any advice on better quality shocks? Thanks!

go with Pro Craps I mean comps shock. They make them just as long as a 90012 and are cheap:flipoff2:

Take em in for warranty, why waste the money. I took my front 9012's in for replacement because they had some corrosion on the shafts (too much time outside between wheelin trips) and they replaced them no questions asked. That was even taking them in to 4 wheel parts, and I got them from RE. If you have the shocks, and they say Rancho on them, they should warranty them.

Kwrangln

No warranty on a 9000 with dents in the can.

Help me understand.

same stroke as your 9012 and 9010....

You want better then a 9000, that's a Sway-a-Way or Bilstein.

you want cheap, that's Pro-crap(comp) or another Rancho.

Lots of other stocks out there but basicly the same as these and all about the same $$$$$.

You want really cheap, Try the pro comp 1000. Still a half way good shock.

see ya,

tony k

Thanks everyone!

Tony K. I liked the RS 900's ok but the fact that I have had 2 of em go bad on me already has sort of soured me on their product. Maybe its just a fluke and if no one has a better suggestion I will try them again I guess. BTW the one dented one works fine! Oh well. When I said I wanted better I meant that I want shocks that will slowly wear out over time as opposed to just giving out while driving down the road. I don't mean awesome fade resistant racing shocks. Sorry if I wasn't clear. I had Rancho 5000's on a different truck a long time ago and they lasted forever but they were very stiff at least in my mind. So this time I went 9000's so I could set the stiffness and they work fine until they die. 2 of em so far. Anyway maybe I will try the Procomps. What about Doetsch Tech? Do they make shocks long enough? Thanks again!

If I remember right, DT's are just a step up from Pro Comps. If you're looking for quality, Bilsteins are your best bet. 5100 series[?] are the least expensive and still work great. 12 or 14 inch travel versions. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

Go Bilstein! They are a great shock. Procomps are kind of soft when you need them to be stiff. They feel like a Rancho 5000 off the truck but with weight on them they almost seem worn out when brand new!

Jason :)

Originally posted by Brutpwr
Go Bilstein! They are a great shock. Procomps are kind of soft when you need them to be stiff. They feel like a Rancho 5000 off the truck but with weight on them they almost seem worn out when brand new!

Jason :)


I had heard somewhere that the ProComp 9000 (?) and Rancho 5000 shocks were made in the same factory, using exactly the same production line. They just changed the stamping dies to mark the cans.

Anyone confirm this??........

:beer: :beer:

I've run Doestch Tech DT3000 series shocks for about 10 years. My Cruiser has run them since 1990 and my pickup since about 1997. Soft valving, great ride, and nice offroad.

I've got a spreadsheet on my website (also linked on PBB somewheres) that covers most shock manufactures and their product line. Check there for what works.

My DT3000's are 14" stroke in front and 12" stroke in rear. I use 100% of the front stroke - no jumping for me. Rears are angled at 45 degrees, but still use much of the available stroke..

They are special order thru Summit Racing but are only ~$30 each to your door.

Give the Bilstein 5100's a try. I have heard that the top of the tube can be drilled and tapped for a schrader valve and charged with nitrogen. But, while it is uncharged it can be rebuilt and revalved just like its expensive take-apart big brothers. I would also believe it would be easy to add a reservoir while you are at it. That's alot of potential for a shock that costs comparable to the 9000's.

Just to Inform alot of people that procomp and rancho are made by the same company and they are made on the same line and the same machine so how can they differ in performance the pro comps do have a different valving piston in them that could be the differance. Tenneco Automotive is the manufacter of rancho and procomp Tenneco also makes all of Monroe shocks and struts they also are the supplier for Ford motor company. Tenneco also is the old monroe shock company really, the reason I know this is Monroe Michigan (Monroe) shocks is the headquarters for Tenneco automotive corp. witch is only about 15 miles from where I live and I know several people that work for them. Just so you know where I get my info and no bullshit. So if your going to get procomps shocks your buying ranchos basicly It does kind of make sense when you look at there part #s 9012 and 90012 so you decide on the shocks I like them both for what they are granted they are no bilstein or sway-away but they do the job.

:beer: :beer:

Call Mike Ladd at Bent and Twisted. He has some LONG shocks for a GREAT price. I got them on my rig, and that is all he runs.

530-342-3003

Tell him Dimitri Sent you.

Dimitri

Why not go Skyjacker Hydros, 32.99 each and I have yet to wear one out! :D