Rancho RS5000X Help

[Karl]

Hi folks.

I'm in the middle of installing some Rancho RS5000x. I was kind of skeptical when they showed up. One had the plastic restriction already severed and some labeling suggest RS5000 not RS5000x. After some homework, they only made the 'x' model after 2015 and the diameter of the rs5000x is 2.25 which is what I have.

I decided to start in the front. After taking out my rough country N3, the ease of compression of both and the speed at which they extend, is the same rate. Is this expected? I was under the impression the RS5000x is far superior to rough country N3, and this is making me question my decision.

Lastly, the prongs on the front suspension are at an angle. THIS is weird as they should be flat? I have attached pictures. Are they normally at an angle? Not sure what to do here.

Cheers

 

[Karl]

When fully compressed, the N3 actually returns to full length faster than the rs5000x. I realize the hand test isn't the test of having them in but I'm really questioning this purchase.

N3 is faster to extend AND the prongs are crooked on the rs5000x.

 

[bobthetj03]

They are both a gas charged shock, so I would imagine the return rate will behave similar. You can adjust those bar pins with pliers. Just give them a twist to straighten them out.

 

[Karl]

They are both a gas charged shock, so I would imagine the return rate will behave similar. You can adjust those bar pins with pliers. Just give them a twist to straighten them out.

Noted. Will I still notice an improvement in ride with the ranchos? Should I bother?

 

[bobthetj03]

Noted. Will I still notice an improvement in ride with the ranchos? Should I bother?

Hard to tell. Only way to know for sure is to run em. I have them on my TJ and am pleased with their performance. been on my rig for 2 years.

 

[Karl]

Hard to tell. Only way to know for sure is to run em. I have them on my TJ and am pleased with their performance. been on my rig for 2 years.

I guess I'll put them in. The prongs are not turning with pliers. I'll see if the bolts can force them flat

 

[bobthetj03]

I guess I'll put them in. The prongs are not turning with pliers. I'll see if the bolts can force them flat

Do you have a bench vise or large crescent wrench? If you can't straighten them without breaking something, return them.

 

[Karl]

Do you have a bench vise or large crescent wrench? If you can't straighten them without breaking something, return them.

Seems like turning them with pliers just turns the rubber on the inside and they go right back. I just bolted them down and fine. I'll see what it feels like

 

[BuildBreakRepeat]

Hi folks.

I'm in the middle of installing some Rancho RS5000x. I was kind of skeptical when they showed up. One had the plastic restriction already severed and some labeling suggest RS5000 not RS5000x. After some homework, they only made the 'x' model after 2015 and the diameter of the rs5000x is 2.25 which is what I have.

I decided to start in the front. After taking out my rough country N3, the ease of compression of both and the speed at which they extend, is the same rate. Is this expected? I was under the impression the RS5000x is far superior to rough country N3, and this is making me question my decision.

Lastly, the prongs on the front suspension are at an angle. THIS is weird as they should be flat? I have attached pictures. Are they normally at an angle? Not sure what to do here.

Cheers

View attachment 125616

View attachment 125617

Please don’t question your decision based upon hand compression. The rough country shock and Rancho could very much so have the same nitrogen pressure - and that has almost zero bearing on the feel on a few thousand pound vehicle. The tabs on the bottom are simply pushed into rubber and are not attached in any orientation, they can be spun around without breaking anything and I’ve never bought a single shock over the years that I didn’t have to twist the tabs. Good luck on the rest of your install - let us know if you have any other concerns!
Oh and by the way I had the same rough country shocks on my tj from a previous owner. The switch to Ranchos was the best things I’ve done so far.

 

[Karl]

Please don’t question your decision based upon hand compression. The rough country shock and Rancho could very much so have the same nitrogen pressure - and that has almost zero bearing on the feel on a few thousand pound vehicle. The tabs on the bottom are simply pushed into rubber and are not attached in any orientation, they can be spun around without breaking anything and I’ve never bought a single shock over the years that I didn’t have to twist the tabs. Good luck on the rest of your install - let us know if you have any other concerns!
Oh and by the way I had the same rough country shocks on my tj from a previous owner. The switch to Ranchos was the best things I’ve done so far.

Thanks for the words of reassurance! I installed both the front. Shocks (easier and quicker). For the tabs, I installed the bottom first with the top at an angle, then just pushed the top in and cut the plastic restriction.

I totally recognize the hand compression is not the same as a thousand pound vehicle yes. I'm going to go drive a couple bumpy streets I'm very familiar with and see if theres a difference with just the front switched.

Did you have the new N3 rough country shocks? Apparently the rough country shocks prior to N3 were terrible and the N3 isn't so bad.

Will be back in 20 minutes to see if there's a difference with just the front!

 

[89grand]

The Rancho shocks are great, but I wouldn't judge them by just being installed in the front, nor on one quick drive. Mine seemed a little better than the Skyjackers they replaced on the first drive, but the more I drove it, the more I realized just how much better they were.

 

[bobthetj03]

Tie a ziptie on the exposed shock shaft and go for a drive to see what your normal up travel is, then compare that with how much up travel you actually have. You may be surprised at how much you are hitting the upper jounce bumpers under normal driving conditions.

To add, give them 500 or so miles to break in before taking judgement.

 

[Karl]

Tie a ziptie on the exposed shock shaft and go for a drive to see what your normal up travel is, then compare that with how much up travel you actually have. You may be surprised at how much you are hitting the upper jounce bumpers under normal driving conditions.

To add, give them 500 or so miles to break in before taking judgement.

Yeah the longer the trial period, the more accurate the review will be of course.

I ran off some curbs both sides and hitting speedbumps and running a poorly paved road. It is kind of noticeable, I hope it's not placebo or focusing.
Bumps are still bumps but they feel like running over a pillow instead of a two by 4. The small things arethe biggest difference. I could drive over a nickel before and tell you if it was heads up or beaver up (canadian). Now I wouldn't notice. The drive is far smoother. Doesn't seem to oscillate as much either. They deal with the bump and the experience is over. The N3, seem to hit a bump then oscillate for a bit. I'll see if I can do the backs tomorrow.

I don't think the N3's are as bad as the reputation rough country has but I can feel the ranchos are smoother on the road.

 

[01TJ-Blues]

I promise you will notice the difference and when you do you will want to smash those garbage RC shocks for wasting your time.

 

[Karl]

I promise you will notice the difference and when you do you will want to smash those garbage RC shocks for wasting your time.

God I hope you’re right

 

[Goatman]

I've found a good 100 mi to let the shocks break in a bit before passing judgment. I've never understood why exactly. It's not like the oil or the nitrogen or even the metal valving needs to work in. Could be everything has to work a bit to get all the contact surfaces smoothed up to each other.
Either way, give 'em a good 100 mi (161 km) and then let us know what you think.

 

[lilflippy]

God I hope you’re right

So what's the verdict?

 

[Karl]

So what's the verdict?

So it was a little unorthodox but I did the front shocks first. Certainly noticed a difference. I didn't have a cheater bar the day i did them so I couldn't do the back ones.
Flash Forward, I now have the backs in (have a new exhaust system too which i love). So the fronts are broken in but the backs only have 2 days on them.
They are great. I've been telling people with the new shocks and new exhaust my jeep both sounds like a boat and bounces like a boat now.

Go Ranchos for sure.
Cheers

 

[lilflippy]

So it was a little unorthodox but I did the front shocks first. Certainly noticed a difference. I didn't have a cheater bar the day i did them so I couldn't do the back ones.
Flash Forward, I now have the backs in (have a new exhaust system too which i love). So the fronts are broken in but the backs only have 2 days on them.
They are great. I've been telling people with the new shocks and new exhaust my jeep both sounds like a boat and bounces like a boat now.

Go Ranchos for sure.
Cheers

How many inch lift do you have?

 

[Karl]

How many inch lift do you have?

4