Shocks
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Joined: Feb 2005
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RE: Shocks
ORIGINAL: vipersforsale
well for curiosity sake I went to Rancho's website to check out the current model, I had the original 9000's not the x's... and the ones I had either were not gas at all or simply just dont act or ride like a modern gas shock. One thing a gas charged shock should do is quickly rebound back to its original position to be ready for the next bump or bounce. This is something that the 9000's I had simply did not do. Picking the single cabs and "sport" models at that, I expect a little better handling, quicker response and dont mind a little stiffer ride. I found that with the 9000's to get a typical ride stiffness that compared to what you come to expect from a gas shock, I had to set it at "4" but it didnt give me the compliance that a gas shock also provides under less demnading driving, which I got at about "2" so I drove most of the time at "3" which was mearly a compromise between the two settings. Oh and dont stick it on "5" because it would rattle your teeth out, it was like riding in a buck-board wagon. And of course the worst part is getting to the ***** to change the setting to begin with. The placement of the shock position on our trucks doesnt make it easy to get to without getting on your knees or actually having to crawl under the truck to get to it. And if it is raining or if you were off road, I would say forget it unless you just like getting wet or muddy/dirty.
Now I know that there are remote kits available and I recently had a demo of which had the 9000's on it with the remote compressor and gauge kit, and it rode a bit better although it was a 4x4 and being so I have come to expect a stiffer ride in general from it. The remote kit filled the system fine to help increase the stiffness but it had one hell of a time releasing the preswsure, I would have to go out and unscrew the lines to get it back to "0" if I wanted to change it immediately.
Considering the price of the shocks and of the additional remote system I would simply go with a set of bilsteins, kyb's, edlebrocks or a comparable shock instead and be done with it. When I removed the 9000's from my Dodge(it was on the '96 model I had) I went to the kyb's and was more than happy(as usual) with their performance. I have been using kyb's for over 15 years on all the vehicles that I have had to replce shocks on and have yet to be disappointed.
well for curiosity sake I went to Rancho's website to check out the current model, I had the original 9000's not the x's... and the ones I had either were not gas at all or simply just dont act or ride like a modern gas shock. One thing a gas charged shock should do is quickly rebound back to its original position to be ready for the next bump or bounce. This is something that the 9000's I had simply did not do. Picking the single cabs and "sport" models at that, I expect a little better handling, quicker response and dont mind a little stiffer ride. I found that with the 9000's to get a typical ride stiffness that compared to what you come to expect from a gas shock, I had to set it at "4" but it didnt give me the compliance that a gas shock also provides under less demnading driving, which I got at about "2" so I drove most of the time at "3" which was mearly a compromise between the two settings. Oh and dont stick it on "5" because it would rattle your teeth out, it was like riding in a buck-board wagon. And of course the worst part is getting to the ***** to change the setting to begin with. The placement of the shock position on our trucks doesnt make it easy to get to without getting on your knees or actually having to crawl under the truck to get to it. And if it is raining or if you were off road, I would say forget it unless you just like getting wet or muddy/dirty.
Now I know that there are remote kits available and I recently had a demo of which had the 9000's on it with the remote compressor and gauge kit, and it rode a bit better although it was a 4x4 and being so I have come to expect a stiffer ride in general from it. The remote kit filled the system fine to help increase the stiffness but it had one hell of a time releasing the preswsure, I would have to go out and unscrew the lines to get it back to "0" if I wanted to change it immediately.
Considering the price of the shocks and of the additional remote system I would simply go with a set of bilsteins, kyb's, edlebrocks or a comparable shock instead and be done with it. When I removed the 9000's from my Dodge(it was on the '96 model I had) I went to the kyb's and was more than happy(as usual) with their performance. I have been using kyb's for over 15 years on all the vehicles that I have had to replce shocks on and have yet to be disappointed.
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Joined: May 2004
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From: DFW, Texas
RE: Shocks
still the OEM factory ones, but since I just hit 30K I will soon be in the market again for shocks, I have yet to decide what would be best... I have thoroughly enjoyed the ride quality of the stock shocks, so OEM would be OK with the exceptions that they are more costly(even at my discount of cost + 15%) and they dont last long. I had Tokicos on the Tacoma that I traded in before the Dodge and they were great but I dont know if I can get them for the Dodge, so the next choice will probly be the Bilsteins. I would like an adjustable unit but it isnt a priority at this point since I never know when that wild hair on my *** will send me towards a dealer for a new ride and there is no use investing too much money in that direction. Besides I barely even drive the truck anymore anyway, since I get a demo to drive I have barely put more than 300 miles on it within the last 2 months. Last time I topped of the tank it was only half empty and that was the saturday before Katrina and yesterday I drove it for 99 miles and I still have a bit over a half tank left, if that gives you any idea of how little I am using it for now.
