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

[hosejockey61]

Agree. Call the manufacturer of whatever shock you want to go with and discuss your application with them. Putting an overkill shock on your Jeep will ruin the ride. I don't have a recent set of new shocks for comparison (still factory on the LJ and it rides great) My lift kit shows up in August. Will let you know how it rides then.

That's cute. You really think having a conversation with a mass produced shock manufacturer is going to give you any usable info? They are all in it to make money. They'll tell you whatever you want to hear. That is the point of forums like this, to share reach other's real world experience and opinions. Even then, my experience and opinions will probably be different from somebody else's. Take the info you read and make an informed decision.

I'm also curious what you think is an overkill shock....and secondly how you think said shock will ruin your ride.

 

[hosejockey61]

Don't forget the main variable, the ass-O-owner meter, and everybody's ass feels differently.

I agree with this to a large extent. However, our asses perceive one thing that makes us feel good when the right combination can make us feel uncomfortable yet make the rig operate far better.

A good example is the anti-rock. There are a lot of people out there that don't like the way they feel yet they make the rig act better off-road.

 

[Apparition]

I agree with this to a large extent. However, our asses perceive one thing that makes us feel good when the right combination can make us feel uncomfortable yet make the rig operate far better.

A good example is the anti-rock. There are a lot of people out there that don't like the way they feel yet they make the rig act better off-road.

Yep, and I'm working on testing some of this within the next year. I'll have an LJ on short arms and one on mid arms. One with an anti rock and one with a swayloc. One with cheap shocks one with expensive shocks. Will be interesting to see how they compare.

 

[Gollywomper]

You guys could start a “share a shock” co-op. Can trade and swap shocks so everyone can test them all. I’m not sure on specifics of how each of the off the shelf shocks is valved but I am thinking “progressive” valving is the only way to get the ride I am after.

 

[Just Chillin]

That's cute. You really think having a conversation with a mass produced shock manufacturer is going to give you any usable info? They are all in it to make money. They'll tell you whatever you want to hear. That is the point of forums like this, to share reach other's real world experience and opinions. Even then, my experience and opinions will probably be different from somebody else's. Take the info you read and make an informed decision.

I'm also curious what you think is an overkill shock....and secondly how you think said shock will ruin your ride.

An overkill shock is one that has too much damping for your application. When you hit a bump, the shock transfers that force to the vehicle and therefore ruins your ride. My sons 73 Blazer felt like it had no suspension with a really harsh ride. We pulled a leaf out of the springs, no change. We replaced the shocks to solve the problem.

I called Bilstein and their tech support was great. If the shock company just has one or two shocks to sell you then you are right. Don't bother calling them. However, calling a company that has a full line of shocks can really help. You give them the weight of the vehicle, type of springs you are using, length you need, etc, and they can recommend the right shock.

 

[JMT]

.... So when a person actually runs the different shocks he's giving an opinion about still counts as group think?

The guys that haven't run anything else and defending their single experience as best is what I would consider group think ....

The "group think" part is JUST RUN RANCHO 5000X

The "science experiment" part is the FEW BRAVE SOULS WHO DOLE OUT THE CASH TO TRY SOMETHING NEW!

 

[Irun]

I agree with this to a large extent. However, our asses perceive one thing that makes us feel good when the right combination can make us feel uncomfortable yet make the rig operate far better.

A good example is the anti-rock. There are a lot of people out there that don't like the way they feel yet they make the rig act better off-road.

There is really something to this statement. After installing a Antirock (AR) on my LJ, I was ready to remove it after driving on the road. However, the first time it got used off-road, my perspective changed. Since I wheel in the same place routinely, I've got a pretty good baseline for what the Jeep can and can't do. One particular hill always gave me a problem. It's a long steep stair step climb that caused me all kinds of grief trying to get up it. Prior to the AR, I only managed to conquer it once, and that was with damage.

After installing the AR, I walked up it easily several times in a row. All the conditions were the same, with the only variable being the AR. Even people I wheeled with were like, "what the hell did you change?" It made a believer out of me. I still don't like the on-road manners, which is why a Swayloc went on my TJ!

 

[Mike_H]

Speaking of a brave soul doling out money...I gotta remember to bring my shocks to work with me an box em up! Otherwise, I'll be halfway to Fox factory shocks, and still only have shitty shocks on my ride!

 

[Irun]

The "group think" part is JUST RUN RANCHO 5000X

The "science experiment" part is the FEW BRAVE SOULS WHO DOLE OUT THE CASH TO TRY SOMETHING NEW!

You need to tell my wife this. She would change your statement to:

FEW BRAVE STUPID SOULS WHO DOLE OUT THE CASH TO TRY SOMETHING NEW, TAKING MONEY FROM THEIR CHILD'S FUTURE!

 

[Gollywomper]

You need to tell my wife this. She would change your statement to:

FEW BRAVE STUPID SOULS WHO DOLE OUT THE CASH TO TRY SOMETHING NEW, TAKING MONEY FROM THEIR CHILD'S FUTURE!

Need to remind her that you can’t really put a price tag on fun.

 

[Irun]

Need to remind her that you can’t really put a price tag on fun.

You haven't met my wife. Reminding her would only get me in more trouble!

 

[JMT]

You need to tell my wife this. She would change your statement to:

FEW BRAVE STUPID SOULS WHO DOLE OUT THE CASH TO TRY SOMETHING NEW, TAKING MONEY FROM THEIR CHILD'S FUTURE!

It's hard to put a price tag on ingenuity. She is benefitting in every appliance she owns, every car she's driven, every house she's lived in, every light switch she's turned on.

 

[Irun]

It's hard to put a price tag on ingenuity. She is benefitting in every appliance she owns, every car she's driven, every house she's lived in, every light switch she's turned on.

My wife has a STEM Bachelor Degree and two Master's Degree's, including one STEM. I'm not going to win a logic argument with her!

 

[JMT]

My wife has a STEM Bachelor Degree and two Master's Degree's, including one STEM. I'm not going to win a logic argument with her!

I know the feeling. Back to really cool stuff, your light and nimble build is really coming along! Almost there, driveshafts going in, I assume today, and someone's going to be rolling down the road.

 

[bobthetj03]

And hopefully, some positive "For science" feedback on the BM shocks.

 

[MountaineerTom]

I had the Skyjacker Black Max's out in Uwharrie yesterday. Lots of rocky, bumpy trails. They felt very good to me. Even my friend (not a Jeep owner) who rode with me thought they rode really good. I had a couple places in mind that I thought the rear bumper might drag when coming off a ledge, but it didn't. If I had come off them faster, probably,

On a different note, off-roading is crazy sometimes. Some places you think your going to have a little trouble and then the Jeep just goes with no issues. Then you drag your main skid on something you didn't even give a second thought too.

Lots of this kind of stuff there:

 

[Irun]

I know the feeling. Back to really cool stuff, your light and nimble build is really coming along! Almost there, driveshafts going in, I assume today, and someone's going to be rolling down the road.

Thanks. I got the rear shaft last night and should be getting the front this evening. I'm a little bummed because I'm going on a 4 day wheeling trip in a couple weeks and was going to take both the TJ and LJ. However, I'm not going to wheel the TJ on 31" tires until I get at least the Savvy rocker guards on. That won't happen before then. I'm going to take my time and, hopefully, get the install done right!

 

[Billy06]

I just put the Skyjackers on the rear of mine the other day. Have probably 50 miles on them and for my setup, they were an improvement. I'm one of the ones that's tried a few different brands- Pro Comp, Rancho, KYB, and now Skyjacker. Best setup I've found for mine so far are KYB in the front and Skyjacker in the rear. I'd say the KYB's might be a tad on the firm side still, but I'm not going to mess with the fronts anymore until I decide what front bumper and winch is going on it.

 

[MountaineerTom]

One of my front Black Max's started leaking oil. I pulled the shock and looked it over and found this. My initial thought was maybe a rock hit it the other day when off-roading, but after looking closer at it, I think that's a defect. I bought them through Summit Racing they are going to do an exchange. I mailed it out today with their pre-printed return label that came with the receipt and it's supposed to arrive to them Tuesday. Summit Racing is always easy to deal with.

For now, I have 3 Black Max's and then a Rancho on the right front. LOL

I didn't notice this when I opened them. For those buying the Black Max's, check them when you get them.

 

[Irun]

One of my front Black Max's started leaking oil. I pulled the shock and looked it over and found this. My initial thought was maybe a rock hit it the other day when off-roading, but after looking closer at it, I think that's a defect. I bought them through Summit Racing they are going to do an exchange. I mailed it out today with their pre-printed return label that came with the receipt and it's supposed to arrive to them Tuesday. Summit Racing is always easy to deal with.

For now, I have 3 Black Max's and then a Rancho on the right front. LOL

I didn't notice this when I opened them. For those buying the Black Max's, check them when you get them.

View attachment 258807View attachment 258806View attachment 258805

It would take a hard hit to damage the shaft like that. I checked mine over closely, before installing, and didn't see anything like this. I'm anti-boot, so let's hope this isn't an indication that they need to be installed.

Thanks for the heads up and I'll be keeping an eye out for any signs of leakage!