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

Apparition said:
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We had the small handheld micro film readers. Lmao. Trying to follow a wiring schematic for a forklift with that was a real treat. Back light batteries would take a shit. So we would have them pointed up at the sun to read anything. Then if you weren’t careful when you set it down to go get wire readings you would loose your place. Then me moved up to manuals. Hard to keep 50 manual in a service van. Now we have a tablet we do a everything on. Young guys just don’t understand the struggles were real. 😜
 
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By the time you guys are done playing swap a shock you could have bought a tunable shock. I believe the performance series has some for stock mounts.
 
Gollywomper said:
I think they are able to be tuned as long as you get the remote resi. They have adjustable performance series as well.
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I confirmed. As long as they have a remote resi. I would advise anyone looking into these to contact a reputable shock tuner to discuss pros and cons.
 
Gollywomper said:
I confirmed. As long as they have a remote resi. I would advise anyone looking into these to contact a reputable shock tuner to discuss pros and cons.
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I looked into this. However, when I finally bust a nut on shocks, it's going to be on the good stuff. The performance series can be tuned, but it's not easy. They require special tools and someone who knows but probably doesn't want to be drug into this thread told me something else interesting. He mentioned the bodies are aluminum tube vs machined steel, so the diameter isn't as true, which makes it tougher to tune. Plus, the aluminum isn't as durable.
 
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Mike_H said:
I looked into this. However, when I finally bust a nut on shocks, it's going to be on the good stuff. The performance series can be tuned, but it's not easy. They require special tools and someone who knows but probably doesn't want to be drug into this thread told me something else interesting. He mentioned the bodies are aluminum tube vs machined steel, so the diameter isn't as true, which makes it tougher to tune. Plus, the aluminum isn't as durable.
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Good to know.
 
Mike_H said:
I don't mind stout, as long as it builds resistance as the travel increases. I'm looking for something soft in the first 1.5" of travel, that can ramp up to control the body as deflection increases. The reason I got rid of the Bilstein's was because they didn't have that soft section before the control section...They were just "jittery" over small stuff. From what I've read, that means there isn't a flutterstack.

I don't know if the monomax has any such thing either (probably not, based simply on price) but I do tend to think that monotube shocks will get me closer to what I want than a twin tube design, simply because they can lighten the valving and use the nitrogen charge to help ramp the shock in compression when needed through the floating piston.

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The monotube design has a single cylinder:​

The cylinder is divided into sections: A fluid area and a gas chamber. The piston and shaft move in the fluid portion. It uses a single fluid valve assembly in the piston. The diameter of the single working cylinder and piston valve is larger than in a twin tube even though the outside dimensions of each may the same. There is no need for an air or gas in the fluid area so the valve can operate more responsively and without any aeration or performance fade. The high pressure gas chamber is separated from the fluid area by a floating piston & seal. That provides an expansion area for the excess fluid movement during the compression stroke. On more aggressive movement the floating piston is pushed further into the gas chamber which increases gas pressure quickly and provides additional damping force. Because of its higher performance capabilities, the monotube design is used as original equipment on some vehicles and offered as an upgrade on vehicles that came equipped with the twin tube design.
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You don't think the Bilstein's behavior on "small stuff" is attributed to the digressive valving as opposed to a lack of flutterstack? I believe that's how the Bilsteins are intended to react by design.
 
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Rear Black Max B8518 shocks showed up today. Confirmed, on the box, that these can be run either can up or down. Measurements are true to the specifications. Front shocks are being shipped direct from the manufacturer.

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It'll be curious to see if Skyjacker, or KYB can do anything different with a monotube shock that is an improvement on the Bilstein 5100's.
 
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