Rancho RS5000X Questions

[Andre.0723]

I just installed Rancho RS5000x shocks on all 4 corners of my TJ to replace my worn out Teraflex 9550 shocks. To me, these shocks are not riding as well as I thought they would like others have praised. When I go over bumps, I feel jolted around but the Jeep never gets out of control and is back to being level very quick, and much better than before. It handles very well but it just seems like the shocks are bottoming out or the bumpstops are hitting. Before I purchased the shocks, I read on this forum that they run a little long and to call Rancho and get the correct PN for my lift height. For a 2 inch lift, they said go with PN RS55239 for the front and RS55241 for the rear. Are these shocks too long for my lift height and bottoming out causing my rough or do I just need to put some miles on the shocks to break them in?

 

[Daryl]

How much shaft is showing at ride height? Post a picture of the front and rear.

 

[Alex01]

You can attach a zip tie to the shocks shaft and drive around to determine how much travel you are using. My guess is the stock height shocks would have been best.

 

[Andre.0723]

How much shaft is showing at ride height? Post a picture of the front and rear.

Can't see the shaft with the boots on but I'll try my best to get a reference to where the shaft is

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Sounds like they're too long for your suspension height which is why Daryl asked for photos.

 

[Andre.0723]

View attachment 120523
My finger is where the shaft meets the body at ride height.

 

[jjvw]

View attachment 120523
My finger is where the shaft meets the body at ride height.

Measure that. Compare it to the gap between the steel bump stop cup and the axle pad. Do the same with the rear.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

View attachment 120523
My finger is where the shaft meets the body at ride height.

Half of the strut should be showing at ride height. Shock boots are not a good thing, they trap moisture, sand, dirt, etc. inside.

 

[89grand]

Those are the p/n's for 2-3" of lift. Are you sure you received the correct p/n's?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Rancho shock lengths are notoriously too tall for the suspension heights Rancho recommends them for. That bit me on the first sets of RS5000X and RS9000XL shocks I installed. Both had to be replaced with shorter versions so they wouldn't bottom out.

 

[Andre.0723]

Yes those are the correct pns Rancho gave me

 

[89grand]

Delete

 

[89grand]

Mine are stated for 4-5" of lift. I think I'm at 4" +/- a fraction of an inch, and mine seem fine, but I haven't flexed the Jeep much since the install, just dirt road and street driving. Maybe they are simply too long for his application.

 

[bobthetj03]

You literally need 2" bump stop extensions to run the 55239/55241 shock combo.

 

[Andre.0723]

I already have 2” extensions from when I put my lift on

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Yes those are the correct pns Rancho gave me

No, those are only the p/ns Rancho gave you, they gave me the wrong (too tall) p/ns too. I returned them and ordered the next shorter size than their chart suggested and they were perfect. It happened twice with two different sets of shocks.

Again, half of the chrome strut on the shock should be exposed when the Jeep is sitting on the ground. If there's less than that they're too tall for your suspension height and they'll bottom out when driving over bumps/dips on the road.

 

[Andre.0723]

I ordered from JCWhitney so I’ll have to see what their return policy is

 

[Andre.0723]

Whe

No, those are only the p/ns Rancho gave you, they gave me the wrong (too tall) p/ns too. I returned them and ordered the next shorter size than their chart suggested and they were perfect. It happened twice with two different sets of shocks.

Again, half of the chrome strut on the shock should be exposed when the Jeep is sitting on the ground. If there's less than that they're too tall for your suspension height and they'll bottom out when driving over bumps/dips on the road.

Where is their chart located at on their website?

 

[pagrey]

I already have 2” extensions from when I put my lift on

With 2" extensions those shocks should be fine. You need to remove the springs and cycle the suspension. The RS55240 which I run in the rear has plenty of room stock. Your shocks are only 3/4" longer so with 2" of bump I don't see the problem but you need to test it.

http://www.gorancho.com/products/sh...er/rancho-rs5000x-shock-absorber-rs55240.html
http://www.gorancho.com/products/sh...er/rancho-rs5000x-shock-absorber-rs55241.html

You need to cycle the suspension and see if the shocks are bottoming out. Don't just go buying new stuff for no reason. With a light Jeep the shocks may just be valved too stiff for your taste.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Whe

Where is their chart located at on their website?

It's not quite a chart, it's just in the description of the shocks once you have typed in your Jeep info. Not an easy site to navigate.