Rancho RS5000X Shocks
- Thread starter JMT
- Start date
Can anyone tell me what this is, Trac-Lok Differential Rear Axle, it's on my build sheet. Also I thought the Sahara had the Dana 35
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Sounds like you scored! Dana 44 with factory Trac-Lok limited slip diff. Rejoice! Only thing that could have been better would be rear disc brakes, but I don't think they offered that until 2003.
Nope it's got drums on the back. Sounds like I done better than expected
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
The zero lift 5000X will work fine up to about 1.5" over stock. I ran them with Moog coils which netted 1.25" of lift. It wasn't until I added a 1.25" spacer that they became too short. The next length shock would be much too long for only 1.5" over.
The Trakloc is made for both the 35 and 44. Take a pic of the cover and post it up.
The Trakloc is made for both the 35 and 44. Take a pic of the cover and post it up.
Hey, @JMT...was wondering how you came up with @ladean2185 having the Dana 44 in his Sahara. Did I miss it in a post? My '98 Sahara has the Dana 35 with the Trac-Lok in it (though I have the Dana 44 replacement in the garage..."open", however...)
I was actually trying to wondering if just new coils would help since my jeep has 181xxx miles. Glad you posted this
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Yep, you’re probably Sagging. Never saw one that old on stock springs that was not sagging.
Oval shaped cover with rubber plug is the 35. If not that, it's a 44.
Update Rancho 5000X shocks
It’s been 500 miles since I installed my Rancho’s. I’ve driven the Jeep on three different sets of shocks and 5 configurations
Bilstein 4600’s, stock height, 31’s, load range C, 28psi
Bilstein 5100’s, 1.5” BB, 31’s, load range C, 27psi
Bilstein 5100’s, 2.5” OME, 31’s, load range C, 27psi
Bilstein 5100’s, 2.5” OME + 0.75” spacer in front, 33’s, load range C, 26 and 24 psi
The ride on the 4 early setups was the same until I reduced my psi to 24, which was much more bearable. The 4600’s are supposed to be a road shock, softer than the 5100’s, which are an on/off-road shock and stiffer, but I couldn’t tell a difference.
Rancho 5000X, 2.5” OME + 0.75” spacer in front, 33’s, load range C, 24 and 26 psi..
The fifference was immediately noticed. We have a 4-5 inch drop out of our garage. Just backing out the drop felt much more bouncy. I was at 24psi at the time and kept it that way for the first 100 mi. Noticeably better ride. I’d say, almost like a car! My wife commented too. Bonus! Upped the pressure to 26 psi, where they should be. Noticeably stiffer than 24. Took it on 2 wheelin trips. I was concerned it would be bouncy, but I was surprised. Wheels fine and not rocking around like I was afraid. After an additional 400 miles no perceivable difference. I don’t think there is a break in period for these shocks. Overall, my teeth are not chattering like they did with the Bilstein 5100’s. I would recommend the Rancho’s over the Bilstein’s any day of the week. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being a very comfortable ride, I’d rank the Bilstein’s at a 3 and the Rancho’s at a 6-7. In the end, it still rides like a Jeep, but the small events are much less eventful
It’s been 500 miles since I installed my Rancho’s. I’ve driven the Jeep on three different sets of shocks and 5 configurations
Bilstein 4600’s, stock height, 31’s, load range C, 28psi
Bilstein 5100’s, 1.5” BB, 31’s, load range C, 27psi
Bilstein 5100’s, 2.5” OME, 31’s, load range C, 27psi
Bilstein 5100’s, 2.5” OME + 0.75” spacer in front, 33’s, load range C, 26 and 24 psi
The ride on the 4 early setups was the same until I reduced my psi to 24, which was much more bearable. The 4600’s are supposed to be a road shock, softer than the 5100’s, which are an on/off-road shock and stiffer, but I couldn’t tell a difference.
Rancho 5000X, 2.5” OME + 0.75” spacer in front, 33’s, load range C, 24 and 26 psi..
The fifference was immediately noticed. We have a 4-5 inch drop out of our garage. Just backing out the drop felt much more bouncy. I was at 24psi at the time and kept it that way for the first 100 mi. Noticeably better ride. I’d say, almost like a car! My wife commented too. Bonus! Upped the pressure to 26 psi, where they should be. Noticeably stiffer than 24. Took it on 2 wheelin trips. I was concerned it would be bouncy, but I was surprised. Wheels fine and not rocking around like I was afraid. After an additional 400 miles no perceivable difference. I don’t think there is a break in period for these shocks. Overall, my teeth are not chattering like they did with the Bilstein 5100’s. I would recommend the Rancho’s over the Bilstein’s any day of the week. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being a very comfortable ride, I’d rank the Bilstein’s at a 3 and the Rancho’s at a 6-7. In the end, it still rides like a Jeep, but the small events are much less eventful
Last edited:
I know, right? That's a real Jeep eye when you can tell whether a TJ has a Dana 44 just from looking at a side view...
Similar threads
