I don't like my Rancho RS5000X shocks
- Thread starter Mike_H
- Start date
I’m happy. Maybe everything is just right. Stock wheelbase, 35’s, TT, 180% anti-squat.
it's probably just right because you got your springs tuned correctly
Did someone say tuned springs? Yeah, I have a guy who does that. Spring tuning is the ticket.
As to shocks, I did have a set of the Savvy claim-to-be-tuned for a TJ Fox
shocks. Tuned for what weight TJ? LJ? Maybe. Not my TJ. Perhaps a TJ that weighed 4500lb+.Whatever you like is what you like for a bolt on shock.
The only thing better than what you like is a tuned shock.
If you really want it to work, tune your springs.
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Hey, who am I to argue with the Internet. FWIW, my Black Max shocks are still the only ones I’ve run that are tolerable, besides my bilstein 5100’s
And not to misconstrue, though I think they are tolerable, I’m not happy with them.
As far as I’m concerned, there are no acceptable off the shelf shocks for the tj. Bilstein 5100, fox ifp, rancho 9000, and accutune 2.0 reservoirs were all dog shit compared to what I have now.
It might be near impossible to figure that out. Largely because there is little agreement on what a good shock is supposed to handle like or how they actually do handle. Some want a mushy wobbly boat, which is what my old 5000x's created. But others say the same shock rides rough. I have driven TJ's with 5100s that are jittery and also less so. But the overall control of that shock is pretty ok.
What I have now, with something approaching sports car like handing but with very little harshness, likely can't happen with an off the shelf shock. So, I have mostly given up on off the shelf suggestions. Getting people to fit a shock properly is hard enough.
Thought I would share my experience with the 5000x after adding a bunch of parts to the LJ. At first, I also had the sensation of the rear end almost floating sideways on turns, some describe it as almost like the Jeep was experiencing slight rear steer or disconnectedness. After double checking bolts and connections and driving the Jeep back and forth to work a few times I noticed that I had inadvertently left the Swayloc unlocked so that only the small anti-sway bar was activated. I flipped the selector to engage the larger bar and now the Jeep drives very differently with almost all of the extra rear end disconnectedness gone. Makes me wonder what front anti-sway bars people with the weird sensations are running. And also wondering if I missed seeing the Swayloc setting, what else am I not seeing, but that’s a different issue than shocks!
I posted the original thread and at the time, I had an Anti-Rock. I had the same thought, and adjusted my anti-rock to different settings, but never could get rid of that disconnected feeling.
When I was running the Rancho 5000X and the AR I had front end shimmies and lots of lean (lightest AR setting). I had my tires balanced twice, then I got new wheels thinking the others were so chewed I might as well and of course, a perfect balance from the best tire place in the INW. Not really much better. The day I put the SwayLoc on the entire Jeep straightened up and I don't have any shimmies. I can hit whatever bumps in whatever corner and it is smooth as glass, level and I can power through corners. Jeep is a whole new experience.
fwiw i swapped my 5000x rears for the black max shocks on saturday and i'm really fucking happy now.
5000x in front, black max in rear? Does that feel weird at all? I've been contemplating that combo since the available lengths for the BM work out a lot better in the rear of mine than the front, and the Ranchos are worse in the rear than the front.
rancho rs55255 in the front and black max b858 in the rear. haven't wheeled yet but so far the combo is mint. street driving is awesome with the swaylock on the 2nd stiffest setting.
i'm going to hit up the dirt road section of mulholland drive tonight on my way home from the office to see how it does on fire roads.
I installed BMs in the rear last week as well. Rancho 55239s up front, BlackMax B8528 rears. Its a noticeably much better ride. No weirdness front to back with the mismatched brands.
Just the fact that you can say that, has a ton of cool factor
it's a good local spot for a quick shakedown, there's enough ruts and things around to climb on to test some things out..
it would be way cooler if wasn't closed to cars between the old nike missile silo and santa maria but it's a fun little drive
nondem
TJ Enthusiast
it's a good local spot for a quick shakedown, there's enough ruts and things around to climb on to test some things out..
it would be way cooler if wasn't closed to cars between the old nike missile silo and santa maria but it's a fun little drive
Mulholland drive is mulholland drive regardless. Not everyone can say the dive any stretch of that iconic road.
I also run the Ranchos in the front and BlackMax in the rear of my LJ. I have a 4 inch lift with an AntiRock sway bar and use the RS55239 Ranchos and B8528 BlackMaxs.
The Ranchos have always felt decent in the front but the rear felt like an old wagon. It would hop over every speedbump or rock. The BlackMax made a significant improvement in the ride both on and off road.
Nice. I liked the ranchos a lot more under my TJ. Under the LJ it's just too harsh unless I'm carrying the full weight of my camping/wheeling setup. My one hesitation is whether the black max will be too soft to control when I do have a bunch of weight in the back.
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