Rancho Shocks - Who's used them?

[OVERKILL]

So, after a bit of a frustrating time at the Auto Parts store finding that the variety of shocks that fit my Expedition are not available (LOL!), I ended up ordering the Rancho's, since they were in stock and would be here Wednesday.

The stockers have been getting worse, and I wanted to get them changed before winter.

I went in there with the intention of getting the Monroe Reflex shocks. Only the fronts were available. The rears didn't even show as existing in the system, and would have had to be ordered from Monroe, who also didn't have stock, so the ETA was unknown.

Then explored the KYB GR-2's, which weren't in stock either.

Then went after the Bilstein's, which also weren't in stock.

Running out of shock brands, I asked about Rancho, and he checked, and there they were!

Pricing is $64/shock front and rear, so not bad!


Their description:

"RANCHO® RS5000™
Ten-stage velocity sensitive valving
5/8-in. (16mm) diameter piston rod*
1 3/8-in. (35mm) diameter piston*
Protective boot included
Limited Lifetime Warranty"

Anybody used these before? I anticipate them to be MUCH firmer than my stock mushy ones, which have begun to lose any semblance of ride control in the last month or so.


Note: from the appearance, I feel like I should be putting these on a lifted Chevy half-ton, not my stock family mover, LOL!!!!!

 

[Boomer]

Had the 5000 series on a Blazer. Excellent ride control! But they are firm. They lasted forever and I never had to replace them.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Boomer
Had the 5000 series on a Blazer. Excellent ride control! But they are firm. They lasted forever and I never had to replace them.


That's good to hear. The Expedition has pretty a pretty "wallowy" ride, and that's what I'm looking to correct.

 

[casper]

they are stiff. They were already installed on my explorer when I purchased it. I have an older series, I couldnt tell you the name without looking. The fronts are WAY to stiff for the truck and actually when you hit something as small as a reflector the entire truck shudders. I have had to adjust tire pressures to compensate for it. The rears, which are externally controllable, are great.

Roll control is excellent, i just wish the front ones bound and rebound was a bit less aggressive.

 

[mopar_monkey]

hope you have dental insurance, to say they are a little firm is an understatement.

 

[SteveSRT8]

check out the edelbrocks, they really straightened out my Ram without jarring your teeth loose.

Gabriel also has a new 'ride control' model that is supposed to be a good compromise.

The Rancho line is a bit over priced IMO. Once you spend that much you may want to go ahead and fork over the big money for Bilsteins or Edelbrocks.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
check out the edelbrocks, they really straightened out my Ram without jarring your teeth loose.

Gabriel also has a new 'ride control' model that is supposed to be a good compromise.

The Rancho line is a bit over priced IMO. Once you spend that much you may want to go ahead and fork over the big money for Bilsteins or Edelbrocks.


They were cheaper than Bilstein and KYB. A little bit more than Monroe.

I imagine availability for the Edelbrock ones isn't great up here.... But I didn't check.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: mopar_monkey
hope you have dental insurance, to say they are a little firm is an understatement.


It cannot possibly be any worse than my F-250.

I had an '88 F-250 custom. Upgraded 1-ton springs with added helpers in the back and Goodyear Hockey Puck 10-ply tires at 80psi. It was like riding in a lumber wagon being towed behind a skidder through a plowed field wide-open. You needed a kidney belt.

I also had KYB gas-adjusts on my Mustang with Eibach springs. It had like ZERO suspension travel (they were in it when I got it). It was actually more rigid than the F-250.

The Expedition is pretty heavy (6150lbs), so I'm hoping that helps. It also has coils, not leafs in the back.

 

[mechanicx]

The Ranchos will probably be a fair bit firmer than new OE let alone worn ones. I never rode with those Ranchos on that application to say how firm, and maybe they are not that firm on it. Do they have a ride guarantee? Or would that be too much trouble removing and returning them.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: mechanicx
The Ranchos will probably be a fair bit firmer than new OE let alone worn ones. I never rode with those Ranchos on that application to say how firm, and maybe they are not that firm on it. Do they have a ride guarantee? Or would that be too much trouble removing and returning them.


Be too much trouble probably. Hope they aren't excessive! But I guess we'll find out Wednesday

 

[Dualie]

I have had a set of the 9000's on my excursion for 300,000 miles. ( I just shocked myself when i did the math )

No complaints they are still doing their job fantastically. I think i have them set to 5 in the front and 3 in the rear. ride is still as good as when they were installed.

I have no experience with the 5000's though

 

[97f150]

I installed a set of the RS5000s on my 02 Ram 1500. It now rides (to me) as a truck should, and I couldnt be happier. They are very firm though, so if you are looking for a Caddy like ride stay away.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: 97f150
I installed a set of the RS5000s on my 02 Ram 1500. It now rides (to me) as a truck should, and I couldnt be happier. They are very firm though, so if you are looking for a Caddy like ride stay away.


God no! It's the Caddy-like ride I'm trying to get rid of, lol!

 

[MNgopher]

The 5000's are VERY firm and the ride will be trucklike! OK if thats what you want!

I have the reflex shocks on my Explorer, my Cherokee, and my F150. I had the monotubes on the F150, and the fronts blew out in 40,000 miles. Not impressed, went back to the original reflex shocks and am happy now. The Reflex shocks are just right on the F150 and Explorer but are a bit too stiff on the Cherokee.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: MNgopher
The 5000's are VERY firm and the ride will be trucklike! OK if thats what you want!

I have the reflex shocks on my Explorer, my Cherokee, and my F150. I had the monotubes on the F150, and the fronts blew out in 40,000 miles. Not impressed, went back to the original reflex shocks and am happy now. The Reflex shocks are just right on the F150 and Explorer but are a bit too stiff on the Cherokee.


Monotubes?

 

[sw99]

Don't the FX4 F150's have the Rancho RS5000's from the factory?

 

[Dualie]

Originally Posted By: sw99
Don't the FX4 F150's have the Rancho RS5000's from the factory?


Their rancho stickers over regular shocks i belive built by the company that owns monroe.

 

[MNgopher]

Overk1ll - Yes, at least in the F150 shocks there are two different reflex shocks. One is a monotube design, similar to the OEM shocks. These have a black plastic cover that looks similar to the red covers on the Rancho Shocks. The other design is the standard reflex twin tube design. Other than the montoube looking "sportier", there isn't much to say (except they wore out fast!).

You may or may not have that option for the Expedition. For example, the montoubes were not availible for the Cherokee or Explorer, only the F150.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: MNgopher
Overk1ll - Yes, at least in the F150 shocks there are two different reflex shocks. One is a monotube design, similar to the OEM shocks. These have a black plastic cover that looks similar to the red covers on the Rancho Shocks. The other design is the standard reflex twin tube design. Other than the montoube looking "sportier", there isn't much to say (except they wore out fast!).

You may or may not have that option for the Expedition. For example, the montoubes were not availible for the Cherokee or Explorer, only the F150.


Ahhh, OK. Nope, I only had one option for rears. But it is coil spring in the back, not leaf like the F-150, so perhaps that's why.

 

[OVERKILL]

OK, did the rears and then had to run up to Canadian Tire to get an 18mm wrench. Mine seems to have grown legs.....

Anyway, body roll control is MASSIVELY improved.

Ride quality is the same pretty much, maybe just a TOUCH firmer. Which is what I figured because of the weight of the bloody thing and because it has coils in the rear instead of leafs.

I then started on the fronts.

Oh my dear God.

The rears were easy. 18mm socket, take the bolts out, replace the shocks.

The fronts? Well, they LOOKED like they were going to be easy. Everything accessible through the wheel wells..... One problem. What happens when you park the bottom of the shock between two aluminum mounts and then moisture, salt then rust do things to the bolt inside the bushing?

FUN HAPPENS!!!

Bolt seized in the bushing. I'm out there with a hammer trying to drive this bolt out. It is getting late (I anticipated this to be a quick job, and the rears really were) and I'm in my driveway wailing on a bolt with my Estwing. I'm sure the neighbours were happy.

So, after breaking out the 3/4" drive stuff, and with a combination of rotating the bolt, and then beating it with the hammer, I finally got it out. This was at 10:00PM. Put the new one in and called it quits for the night. I've got the other one COVERED in penetrating lube, hope it makes that one a bit easier to do tomorrow.

So I've got 3/4 of the truck done, LOL!

Oh, and the drivers-side rear shock was DONE. Grab it, extend it and then you can just shove it all the way in as fast as you can push it. No resistance. Likely explains the degradation in ride control that I had been experiencing recently. It dampens going out.... But none going in.

Wish me luck tomorrow!