Need new shocks?

[rowhard]

use a longer screwdriver!

really, I found installing the boots this way to be a very simple process.

Now, the rear shock top bolts are a B@#$% to get any leverage on IF your working on jackstands. And compressing the fronts to remove them will have you talking to your beloved VX in a very unfriendly manner so be careful working around your CV boots.

Bilstein verses Rancho's, ? Rancho's seem to be the perferred shock for our VX and most offroading vehicles. But Bilstein are, or at least use to be, a fine if not rather expensive choice.

[VehiGAZ]

DJ, as I've mentioned before, I'm a Bilstein man, but I'll give you as balanced a perspective as I can.

There is one HUGE difference between Rancho 9000s and Bilsteins - the Ranchos are adjustable. That said, I remember someone posting that they are not FULLY adjustable, meaning the dial only adjusts the rebound rate, not the compression rate. I would think the compression rate would be the more useful adjustment, but that is beyond the limit of my understanding of suspension mechanics.

Anyway, while many people are happy with the Ranchos, but not everyone. Some have been unhappy with them because they thought the Ranchos were too soft even at the hardest setting. Who knows if they were adjusting them the right way, though...

Bilsteins B46 series shocks are very comparable in stiffness to the original shocks (I was able to compare them against a stock-shock VX on the same stretch of road on the same day) and they warranteed for life. I got the stiffer H1's all around instead of the recommended (for the Trooper) H2's in front and H1's in the rear. I would reverse the recommended setup by going with a softer shock in the back, but I don't know if they are available.

When purchased on-line, I don't think there is a very big prices difference between the Bilstein's and the Rancho's either.

Good luck!

[AndyC]

Hey DJ,
I installed the Rancho RS9000 on my VX and have it set to the heighest setting and find it plenty stiff.

As for mileage don't count on those shock not being bad. Mine went out at at in the high 20k. I knew they were going and told the mechanic at the dealer but they claimed they were OK. Well my warranty went out and I checked them myself and guess what, they had leaked and I had no compression on a couple of them.
What got me ticked was I told them when I had full coverage for free replacement but the stated they were good - O-Well
I was worried about the Ranchos before I order them but am happy with them. One note on these is that they are NOT gas charged and do not rebound with pressure.

[djkymar]

andyc,
good to know info like that thanks.
VehiGas,
Does Bilsteins gas shocks or no?

[VehiGAZ]

Yes, the Bils are gas-charged.

Now that that's answered, I'll throw out the next question:

What's the advantage of gas-charged shocks?

Other than it's easy to tell when they are busted, and the wonderful feeling of satisfaction you get when you finally get the difficult little bastards installed, what's the advantage one way or another? The gas charging can't add much to the support of the vehicle's weight, right?


PS... Hi Andy! Long time no see @ Costco!

[djkymar]

i checked out today all my shocks today and now i know that my front passenger side blown for sure and driver side is not to bad but looks like its might be getting there soon so what i was thinking maybe i can change just one for now and than maybe other one? if it need to be changed cuz im broke kinda right now and its hard for me to afford even one factory shock =(

[uncle_asa]

i checked out today all my shocks today and now i know that my front passenger side blown for sure and driver side is not to bad but looks like its might be getting there soon so what i was thinking maybe i can change just one for now and than maybe other one? if it need to be changed cuz im broke kinda right now and its hard for me to afford even one factory shock =(

Look at the Tokico designed for Trooper. I recently had a ride on friends VX with Tokico and the ride was cool for their price (I believe it was something like $40/shock or even less). They are soft enough when offroading and friend told me that they are hard enough on the road. I have Kayaba Monomax ($50/shock), but I suspect the rear ones dead already, though I replaced them about half year ago. If so, I'd go with comfort series of OME: yellow truck should have yellow shocks ). Actually I trust to OME's name