I stopped reading this thread and thought they rode bad over certain road conditions? I took them off my list of Zone replacements.
p.s. I have the attention span of a 2 year old kid or monkey though.
Shock Comparison: Rancho RS5000X vs Skyjacker Black Max vs KYB Monotube
- Thread starter TJim
- Start date
p.s. I have the attention span of a 2 year old kid or monkey though.
In the 500+ miles I've put on them, there have been no on-road conditions where these exhibited bad characteristics. In fact, they have better on-road characteristics than shocks I've owned that cost twice as much. That said, I have not tried them off-road yet.
Agreed!p.s. I have the attention span of a 2 year old kid or monkey though.
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My RS5000x story began last summer. I had worn out RS5000 that were no longer of appropriate length after I'd added some lift and rotated my rear axle for the SYE, so I bought RS5000x due to their popularity. At first I liked them...they were an improvement, and by the fact that I was going faster than my wheeling buddies on rough roads seemed like they were good shocks, but now, they are annoying me (and my wheeling buddies I think were ALL on Bilsteins...another TJ, a Tacoma, and a JKUR).
I spent 5 hours in my LJ yesterday and now with the tires better balanced I could really focus on how every time the rear would go over a bump...even just an above average expansion joint or a ripple in the asphalt, the rear would bounce enough that my head would bounce off the headrest like a dribbling basketball. I don't know if it's just a weird side effect of the change in weight distribution and wheelbase or what...I don't remember noticing that when the exact same suspension, shocks, and axles were under my TJ.
I'm meeting a guy to sell my hard top later today...so I'm about to lose another ~150 pounds off the rear axle which I don't expect to help. I may first try the SJ in the rear and keep the Rancho's up front. The B8528 is a really close replacement for the RS55256. I'll have to do some thinking for the front though. SJ makes me choose between keeping my downtravel but losing a half inch of uptravel with the B8549, or keeping my uptravel but only having 3.5" of downtravel with the B8525. KYB 565096 lets me keep my uptravel but lose 1.5" of down that I probably shouldn't be trying to use with shortarms anyway.
I spent 5 hours in my LJ yesterday and now with the tires better balanced I could really focus on how every time the rear would go over a bump...even just an above average expansion joint or a ripple in the asphalt, the rear would bounce enough that my head would bounce off the headrest like a dribbling basketball. I don't know if it's just a weird side effect of the change in weight distribution and wheelbase or what...I don't remember noticing that when the exact same suspension, shocks, and axles were under my TJ.
I'm meeting a guy to sell my hard top later today...so I'm about to lose another ~150 pounds off the rear axle which I don't expect to help. I may first try the SJ in the rear and keep the Rancho's up front. The B8528 is a really close replacement for the RS55256. I'll have to do some thinking for the front though. SJ makes me choose between keeping my downtravel but losing a half inch of uptravel with the B8549, or keeping my uptravel but only having 3.5" of downtravel with the B8525. KYB 565096 lets me keep my uptravel but lose 1.5" of down that I probably shouldn't be trying to use with shortarms anyway.
I was in a Similar situation with my TJ. Both front and rear SJ shocks required me to bias to more down travel. I was okay with that though, given my suspension setup and intended use. I'll probably get stoned to death, but 50/50 is a general rule and not a must. A lot of factors go into figuring our what shock travel is correct for your application. Plus, we all want no compromises, yet they are still there!
agreed, for sure. I've been trying to shoot for 5" up and 4" down.I was in a Similar situation with my TJ. Both front and rear SJ shocks required me to bias to more down travel. I was okay with that though, given my suspension setup and intended use. I'll probably get stoned to death, but 50/50 is a general rule and not a must. A lot of factors go into figuring our what shock travel is correct for your application. Plus, we all want no compromises, yet they are still there!
jesseshoots
TJ Enthusiast
They showed up this morning. The two tears and one front I was able to extend by myself. The second front shock sounded like a half drunk water bottle when I shook it and couldn’t for the life of me extend it past three inches. I’m going to return it/replace it. Thank god for Amazon.
Pressurized
TJ Enthusiast
jesseshoots
TJ Enthusiast
Yep, filed the return claim on amazon and had a new one before the end of the week. They're now on the Jeep but I've yet to drive it. Still have to adjust pinion angles and tc shifter.
I'll update after this weekend. I replaced the rears and drove 200 miles last week. Just did the front yesterday.
I had ranchos before.
Turns out, ranchos front and blackmax rears don't exactly play nice.
I had ranchos before.
Turns out, ranchos front and blackmax rears don't exactly play nice.
Huh, that's too bad. I've got Bilstein 5100s up front and the black max's in the back and I love the way it's been riding.
care to expand on this statement? I'm considering doing exactly this for my LJ, because I like the way the front rides but the back is awful with 5000x.
I find that ranchos front and ranchos rear don't exactly play nice.
Maybe it's just the ranchos in the front then. I liked how the ranchos reacted to a speedbump in the front more than the black max. But with the BM in the rear and ranchos in the front I would get front back swaying after bumps.
BMs don't do that. My ranchos in the rear were dead enough that they didn't self extend after I removed them. So not a fair comparison
That being said, BMs on the front are much nicer on small potholes and uneven road. But worse on speed bumps. I have both in my daily commute. But it's easier to take speed bumps slow.
Edit: other minor annoyance with the BMs is routing the brake line. Before I could tie it to the rancho can.
Who’s running these shocks with Currie 4 inch springs. I haven’t seen a post with anyone with that set up. I’m wondering what part numbers for the blackmax shocks. I’ve run bilsteins rancho 5000x and rancho rs9000 I do t like any of them.
I'm gonna bump this, see what the good part number is for the currie 4" springs and see how folks are liking the black max so far?
deadbeat son
TJ Addict
I don't understand. If running the Currie 4" springs, why not cycle the suspension and see what you need for open and closed lengths, and then consult the shock application charts and see which are the correct number for your particular application?
DAMN! That's too much work.
because the lift kit arrives today and obviously isn't installed and I have no shocks on hand to put in place anyway. Trying to order so it can all be installed at once.
deadbeat son
TJ Addict
To do it right, you need to install the springs, determine your needed bump lengths, and then calculate what length shocks you need. Just going with a generic stock answer or relying on someone else's setup may not work for your vehicle.
What makes you think given my location I'll ever get the opportunity to flex it out completely anyway?
Not going to lie, I want to take it places. But the likelihood it sees any terrain where maximum flex is required...for a long while, is slim. Especially without lockers (which are several months away from happening, at least).
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