Shock Comparison: Rancho RS5000X vs Skyjacker Black Max vs KYB Monotube

[Mr. Bills]

. . . For better or for worse, the 5000x has been pushed and repeated around here pretty hard. I lost my interest in the 5000x after some increased perspective. Bottom line is that more people need to experiment with more shocks. The Black Max included.

My observation on Rancho 5000x shocks is that they are a decent budget replacement shock designed to provide OEM-like ride, but nothing special. Their best qualities seem to be that they are cheap and readily available.

The Skyjacker Black MAX shocks are at a similar price point and appear to be marketed to the same consumers drawn to the Rancho 5000x.

There is an unsubstantiated statement on one of the JK forums that Skyjacker Black MAX shocks are manufactured in a Tenneco facility, the same as Rancho, Monroe, etc. [There is also an unsubstantiated statement that "all" white rocket shocks are manufactured by Tenneco, including Rancho and Skyjacker Hydros and Nitros.]

Does anyone know with certainty what company actually manufactures the Black MAX shocks for Skyjacker?

Can anyone provide substantiation?

 

[jjvw]

.... Damn opinions! I wanted some Patagonia tires and you ruined it.

Happy to do it! Patagonias are a garbage tire.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Happy to do it! Patagonias are a garbage tire.

Thanks for that. You're one of the few I trust.

 

[Rubicon88]

They do, but most people don't want to experiment or have the cash to spend $250 on shocks to throw them away or sell on craigslist for half price. That's why I only trust a couple members opinions on anything. I'm waiting for Irun's review. Damn opinions! I wanted some Patagonia tires and you ruined it.

The ironic part of that is it's a product that's good to the individual.
It's not a black and white topic of an engine misfire or the like...it's really a personal preference type of thing. Everybody is different.
You can bet there are people on this very forum right now running Rough Country shocks and they love them. They aren't wrong. It's just what they like

 

[Rubicon88]

Happy to do it! Patagonias are a garbage tire.

Worst tire ever made. Absolutely positively designed on a little bus with crayons.

 

[bobthetj03]

My observation on Rancho 5000x shocks is that they are a decent budget replacement shock designed to provide OEM-like ride, but nothing special. Their best qualities seem to be that they are cheap and readily available.

The Skyjacker Black MAX shocks are at a similar price point and appear to be marketed to the same consumers drawn to the Rancho 5000x.

There is an unsubstantiated statement on one of the JK forums that Skyjacker Black MAX shocks are manufactured in a Tenneco facility, the same as Rancho, Monroe, etc. [There is also an unsubstantiated statement that "all" white rocket shocks are manufactured by Tenneco, including Rancho and Skyjacker Hydros and Nitros.]

Does anyone know with certainty what company actually manufactures the Black MAX shocks for Skyjacker?

Can anyone provide substantiation?

Good luck getting a straight answer there. We are really dealing with two different designs of shock, aren't we? Twin tube vs. mono tube design is going to perform differently, right? Or am I way off base?

 

[Rubicon88]

Good luck getting a straight answer there. We are really dealing with two different designs of shock, aren't we? Twin tube vs. mono tube design is going to perform differently, right? Or am I way off base?

I know...

 

[Mr. Bills]

I know...

. . . the answer to the question "what company manufactures Skyjacker Black MAX shocks?

Do you?

If so, care to share?

 

[Rubicon88]

. . . the answer to the question "what company manufactures Skyjacker Black MAX shocks?

Do you?

If so, care to share?

I didn't mean to say I know... in that reply to that post. Apologies.

Looking at that post I will show you a couple things and y'all can draw your own conclusions.

Below are shocks for a 2000 TJ stock suspension.

http://www.monroe.com/en-US/e-catalog/37026
https://www.gorancho.com/products/s...er/rancho-rs5000x-shock-absorber-rs55128.html
Now take a look at the info between them.

See any similarities

They went all tricky and crafty on the info by using SAE on the Monroe and Metric on the Rancho....(done intentionally to give a perceived difference)

Just remember when looking...
1 3/8" is indeed 35mm
5/8" is 16mm

Look at the other details.
Seals, pistons, rods, etc.

Again see any similarities?

 

[bobthetj03]

Back in my parts store days many moons ago, you could go into the Monroe, or Gabriel catalog and look up mounting codes and travel specs. Does that information still exist?

 

[Rubicon88]

Back in my parts store days many moons ago, you could go into the Monroe, or Gabriel catalog and look up mounting codes and travel specs. Does that information still exist?

With the microfilm?

 

[P man]

Back in my parts store days many moons ago, you could go into the Monroe, or Gabriel catalog and look up mounting codes and travel specs. Does that information still exist?

Unless you have an old catalog your best bet is the intranet...I know Monroe specs are readily available and would assume any shock manufacturers would be

 

[P man]

With the microfilm?

I used to mix paint back in the day and used microfiche for the formula's

 

[bobthetj03]

With the microfilm?

Before microfilm. Back when we had a large rack of catalogs. Specs would always be in the back of the catalogs. I was a counterman for several years in the 90's. This was pre DOS.

 

[bobthetj03]

Well, that was easy.
http://www.monroe.com/downloads/install-instructions-guides/MonroeMountingLengthSpecifications.pdf

 

[Apparition]

They do, but most people don't want to experiment or have the cash to spend $250 on shocks to throw them away or sell on craigslist for half price. That's why I only trust a couple members opinions on anything. I'm waiting for Irun's review. Damn opinions! I wanted some Patagonia tires and you ruined it.

I wish my next shocks were only $250

 

[Irun]

Well, that was easy.
http://www.monroe.com/downloads/install-instructions-guides/MonroeMountingLengthSpecifications.pdf

This one too!

https://www.shockwarehouse.com/news/monroe_measurements.cfm

 

[Rubicon88]

Before microfilm. Back when we had a large rack of catalogs. Specs would always be in the back of the catalogs. I was a counterman for several years in the 90's. This was pre DOS.

Microfilm went back way before the 90's

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Before microfilm. Back when we had a large rack of catalogs. Specs would always be in the back of the catalogs. I was a counterman for several years in the 90's. This was pre DOS.

Pre DOS in the 90's? Are you talking DOS as an operating system or something else? WIndows has been out since 1985, DOS was before that. I got into the computer industry in 1972. And microfiche began its use in the 30's, it has been along a long time.

 

[P man]

this is what I used to use back in the day