Community Forums

Hilltool · 07-13-2005, 12:56 PM

Rancho shocks used to be the hot shock of choice on this forum. Are they still? Also- does anyone have an idea of how you tell when they have gone bad?- I've got about 70,000 on mine and one of the rear adjusters is now stuck. i've got the 5 ways adjustables that came out before the 9000s.
Thanks

Hilltool · 07-13-2005, 12:56 PM

Rancho shocks used to be the hot shock of choice on this forum. Are they still? Also- does anyone have an idea of how you tell when they have gone bad?- I've got about 70,000 on mine and one of the rear adjusters is now stuck. i've got the 5 ways adjustables that came out before the 9000s.
Thanks

CyberVet65 · 07-14-2005, 12:29 PM

I too have the Rancho 9000 5 way adjustable. There are 5 years and 110,000 miles old. Still work well.
Failure mode? I would think oil leaking from shock. Adjuster knob not working would indicate a valve failure.
Aren't these lifetime warrentied?
Chet

Hilltool · 07-14-2005, 04:30 PM

Yes- they are liftime warranty- but you need the receipt! I don't know where that is.

have you heard of anyone having any luck with a lesser model- like rancho non adjustables or something else? New rx9000 are running 99.00 a piece...and if i replace ne i guess i have to replace two-because i don't kow where the nine way adjustables will match with the five way.

CyberVet65 · 07-15-2005, 12:23 PM

The 9000's with the nine way are the same shock with twice as much adjustablility.
Some folks like Bilstiens and some folks have had good luck with Monroe gas shock.
Take your pick.
Chet

Bill S · 07-24-2005, 02:07 AM

Use an Allen type wrench and remove the control button. Spray some WD40 on the piston under the button and see if you can free it up. If you can get it to free up, place a little grease under the adjustment button and it should work for a while longer.

Bill

SteveB · 08-02-2005, 04:00 AM

Like BillS said but use PB Blaster instead of WD40. If you can get it to free up, coat the whole area with grease and reassemble. Then do the other 3. I have the 5 way 9000s on my 1500 and greased 'em up when I added the in-cab adjustment. That was 3 years ago and they still seem to work. I occasionally boost the pressure to 5 for a while to make sure they stiffen up.

Dave Pelletier · 08-02-2005, 11:43 AM

5000 series have been replaced with the 9000 series shocks. I've heard of some suppliers honoring the lifetime warranty w/o a reciept? Do you remember where you bought them?

AFAIK, there still is no other shock that provides the dampening of an adjustable rancho on level 5 (or 9, now). This level of dampening does a great deal to help reduce sway caused by hauling a slide in camper IMO.

Dave

Carlyle · 10-03-2005, 05:47 AM

I'm putting on a set of Bilstein 7100 resevoir shocks in the next couple weeks, I'll let everyone know how they ride. I've used 5100's in the past with great pleasure and I'm ready to dump the Rancho's that came OEM on the Ford SD they pretty much suck.

Harald · 03-09-2006, 09:27 AM

I believe there's better shocks out there than the Rancho 9000, but not for the versatility of hauling a camper part time. I only have about 50,000 on mine, but they still work great. I set them at 1 or 2 for unloaded driving, which gives a soft ride. When I load the camper, I set them on 3 front and 5 rear and the sway is dramatically reduced. I don't know of another shock that will give you that vital sway control and then not beat you to death when the camper is off the truck.