Shocks - Rancho 9000xl

[Spike]

Well with the Ranchos, you DO have options! Just sayin'

[alterastro]

OK, going back to basics here... are my standard shocks shot or ok? The ride is bone juddering to say the least. I always thought that if they were shot the ride would be 'wallowy' but others comments suggest it would be very hard?

What is the standard set up like. I'm convinced mine is too hard, but always thought that was 'how they are'!

James, can I have a ride in yours to compare????

Nick

[MSHardeman]

Nick if your teeth rattle everytime you run over a strip in the road and you can feel every little pebble in you butt then your VX is just right.
Seriously, the ride is pretty stiff (brutal) to begin with; at least that's my experience. I'm with you, if the shocks are going out the VX would bounce up and down a few times after you hit a bump. Also, you can crawl under the VX and look at the shocks to see if they are leaking fluid.

[VX KAT]

I too disliked the extremely rough ride, and literally thought my back door was going to jiggle off or at least bend/damage the hinges when driving on dirt/gravel roads.

After off-roading in Moab 1st day, back door was jarred askew and didn't close correctly...Jack (pbkid) or some other mystery VXer fixed it while it sat in the parking lot at the Red Rock Lodge.

After much research, went with the Ranch RS9000xl's, have all set at 5.

Some observations:
~2 of 4 OEMs (1 front, 1 rear) were blown, but no fluid was leaking.
~pushing on front and rear fenders showed virtually NO movement, so the "pushing test" to assess shocks was not helpful in my case.
~my VX rides only about 1/2" above rear bump stop, which means it hits it hard virtually every time I hit ANY bump/pebble.
~Tim Parker (SBC) told me that most VXs either rode sitting ON the bump stop, or had very little clearance like mine (and his)...so the rough slammin' ride was very much related to this.
~I've considered cutting bump stops in half as many have done...but mechanic talked me out of it (can't recall why dang it)
~Hubby's FJ and my 4Runner have about 7-8" clearance above rear bump stops...so I don't understand why the VX has so very little clearance.
~Ride on rough/gravel/dirt road did improve with the Ranchos, rear door jiggling noise is reduced. (I literally assess the ride by how loud the noise is from rear door).
~I recall a post that said the Ranchos set at level 9 were still softer than the OEMs.

Very pleased I got the Ranchos, the way I look at it, with 9 adjustments, I have much greater flexibility to find a ride I like, and can change it. It's still firm enough that I'm pleased with cornering and off-road performance.

I too got a deal on the Ranchos, but 3 get 1 free...I paid $97 x3.

[Knigh7s]

I've been using the Rancho RS9000x (not xl) Shocks for a good 2 or so years. I don't really have a complaint about them. I've always had them set to 9 since the day I installed them. I did find that my OEM shocks had no rebound after uninstalling them. I would literally have to pull the shaft out manually.

But do to the construction i have to drive through on a daily basis now, Just like VX Kat, I'm afraid my rear door is going to swing open one day on its own... I wish there was more we could do about that instead of its limited adjust-ability.

Some decent coilovers would be really awsome!!!

[lasturbo]

Do any of you have your VX lifted with Rancho 9000xl's? My question is will they be long enough if you go 1-3 inches?
Rancho 9000XL specs FRONT
RS999214
Compressed-10.375
Extended-14.500
Rancho 9000XL specs REAR
RS999215
Compressed-12.875
Extended-19.125

[etlsport]

yea, just priced them out at work (sears auto)

RS999215 and RS999214 for the 9000XL series

They are 104.99 each w/ a $40(total, 10 per shock) mail in rebate when you buy all 4 in october plus free install