Shocks - Rancho 9000xl

[Doomer]

I have no help, but another question along these lines. Does anyone know if the stock shocks are rebuildable?
I have a freind who is manager of a 4-wheel drive shop, and he recommends the Bilsteins, but said the Ranchos are good too. However, he said the stockers may be rebuildable.
I know motorcycles have used this type of shock for years, and most of them are rebuildable and can be recharged without rebuilding.
My shocks are fine, but I am curious.
Thanks...Robert

[LittleBeast]

I have no help, but another question along these lines. Does anyone know if the stock shocks are rebuildable?
I have a freind who is manager of a 4-wheel drive shop, and he recommends the Bilsteins, but said the Ranchos are good too. However, he said the stockers may be rebuildable.
I know motorcycles have used this type of shock for years, and most of them are rebuildable and can be recharged without rebuilding.
My shocks are fine, but I am curious.
Thanks...Robert

http://www.brucessuspension.com/

Bruce is a very nice guy and has rebuilt VX shocks for members here before. I am sending him a spare set I acquired here on vx.info to be rebuilt sometime this week. He is the only guy I have been able to find that is willing to do this. He should be able to get all 4 rebuilt somewhere between $475-500. He gives multiple discounts when you send him all 4 at once. I have taken before and after photos of me cleaning them and will snap some more shots when I get them from him. I purchased my extra set of stock shocks from a member here for $100 dropped off in Austin (no shipping costs), add the price of the rebuild and shipping there and back and I am looking at $700 for 4 OEM KYB VX shocks rebuilt and ready to go, a little better than what Isuzu wants for them

[Scott Harness]

http://www.brucessuspension.com/

Bruce is a very nice guy and has rebuilt VX shocks for members here before. I am sending him a spare set I acquired here on vx.info to be rebuilt sometime this week. He is the only guy I have been able to find that is willing to do this. He should be able to get all 4 rebuilt somewhere between $475-500. He gives multiple discounts when you send him all 4 at once. I have taken before and after photos of me cleaning them and will snap some more shots when I get them from him. I purchased my extra set of stock shocks from a member here for $100 dropped off in Austin (no shipping costs), add the price of the rebuild and shipping there and back and I am looking at $700 for 4 OEM KYB VX shocks rebuilt and ready to go, a little better than what Isuzu wants for them

Thanks for the info!

[VCrossfan]

http://www.brucessuspension.com/

Bruce is a very nice guy and has rebuilt VX shocks for members here before. I am sending him a spare set I acquired here on vx.info to be rebuilt sometime this week. He is the only guy I have been able to find that is willing to do this. He should be able to get all 4 rebuilt somewhere between $475-500. He gives multiple discounts when you send him all 4 at once. I have taken before and after photos of me cleaning them and will snap some more shots when I get them from him. I purchased my extra set of stock shocks from a member here for $100 dropped off in Austin (no shipping costs), add the price of the rebuild and shipping there and back and I am looking at $700 for 4 OEM KYB VX shocks rebuilt and ready to go, a little better than what Isuzu wants for them

Cool Beast...Ask Bruce if he is replacing the "Seal Head" it's the main part that has to do with our shocks leaking. It's located at the bottom of the shock where the shaft enters the shock and that seal is the one that fails, also just changing that seal might be ok for a while but if the bushing is worn it won't be long until that seals fails. We found what we need through KYB mainly the Seal Head complete unit (16mm I.D X 46MM O.D.) We disassembled one today and I'll have pic's tomorrow showing the Seal Head. And there wasn't any scaring of the reservoir I.D. or the main I.D. of the shock body...

[VCrossfan]

I have no help, but another question along these lines. Does anyone know if the stock shocks are rebuildable?
I have a freind who is manager of a 4-wheel drive shop, and he recommends the Bilsteins, but said the Ranchos are good too. However, he said the stockers may be rebuildable.
I know motorcycles have used this type of shock for years, and most of them are rebuildable and can be recharged without rebuilding.
My shocks are fine, but I am curious.
Thanks...Robert

My buddy has a Motorcycle shop and has a pair of my originals under his bench for a couple of years now and we have been meaning to pulling one apart and if there is no inner damage to the reservoir ( scared, out-of-round etc. ) then just getting seal kits might do it. I have access to Nitrogen at work, we use nitro for assist gas on our Lasers. In fact we just installed a Nitrogen Generator and make our own, why pay for it when it's 78% of what you breath. The generator removes the Oxygen. I'll talk to him and bump it up on the things to do list.

[lasturbo]

I have no experience with the "factory KYB's" as mine had 134k on it when I bought her and they were shot as my VX was bouncing all over the place. I installed the Rancho 9000XL's (RS999215 & RS999214) back in October and what a difference. I have the fronts at 8 and rears at 7 and feels OK. My only complaint that I still can feel a little bounce but do not know if it is the normal short wheel base (IFS front/springs rear) feeling without comparing with another fellow VX'r with factory KYB's and/or Bilstein set-up. I also sent in my receipts as Rancho had a promo for getting the new Rancho myRIDE wireless remote control tuning system so I will see what that is all about when I receive the "kit." More to come....

[VehiGAZ]

My heretical 2 cents...

The OEM shocks may be cool in design, but they are complete junk.

It seems that most owners have had failures before 75k miles. OK, maybe I shouldn't say "most" but even if it's 25% of us, WTF?!? That's a miserable failure rate!

Get a set of Bils - they are warrantied for life. The Rancho's need to be cranked up to 7-9 to get a comparable ride to the OEM setup, so why bother having an adjustment?

[VCrossfan]

LittleBeast here's a pic of our Seal Head unit, Ask Bruce if his price includes it being replaced. You can still get them (or very close to it) from KYB (16mm I.D X 46MM O.D.)




This pic shows the entire shock apart, if you notice the top round plate has been destroyed, it's purpose mainly to keep people from messing with the Schrader valve. Under alot of Nitrogen Pressure. I don't think it needs to replaced if rebuilt...In my opinion

[lasturbo]

Will Rancho 9000XL's work with a 3 inch lift???

[Scott]

Looking to rebuild my OEM shocks. The web address referred to in multiple posts is brucessuspension.com which doesn't work. I did find a suspension guy in NC, Bruce Triplett, whose website centers on motorcycle suspension but hope he's the guy. That website is brucessuspension.NET.

[djvx]

Looking to rebuild my OEM shocks. The web address referred to in multiple posts is brucessuspension.com which doesn't work. I did find a suspension guy in NC, Bruce Triplett, whose website centers on motorcycle suspension but hope he's the guy. That website is brucessuspension.NET.

Hit he same dead end, let us know if that's him, and a price. Good Luck!

[Mile High VX]

There is a great place here in the Denver area that did a set for arcobarco in UT.

http://www.rg3denver.com/

About $900 to do all four IIRC.

Matt is the owner and really good to work with.