Yeah, no kidding 9K's are up town! These rancho 5000s do fine and I'm just running 2 up front. You might consider trying singles up front first, then going to doubles if you need them. The guy at the local 4x4 shop gave me a rear pair that only had 2-3" down travel and I brought them back and he insisted they would be fine, but I made him give me some longer ones...I've had the rear flexed to the point that it's riding on the sidewall and it had to be more than 2-3". Moral of the story is that I wouldn't trust what is on the books because he looked mine up...the ones Skyjacker sent me were the right size but they died early.

It's a multi-purpose passenger vehicle and it eats SUVs for breakfast...get it straight!

Muddybronco

 

Thanks Muddy,
It looks like I am going to go with Rancho 9Ks in front of the coil spring since it is a smaller diameter and a set of 5Ks behing the coil spring. The shop where I go recommended this setup over just going all 9Ks or all 5Ks does this make sence to you guys or am I getting stiffed?

Beat that sucker into submission!

 

Stiffed. I wouldn't think it would be a good idea to run two different valvings on the same moving part. I mean, that's the reason you run 9K's is so that you can adjust the valve setting, the 5K will cancel that out. Running just single 9K's up front and 5K's on the rear might make sense though. Definitely not a shock expert but something sounds fishy about mixing different valves at one point.

It's a multi-purpose passenger vehicle and it eats SUVs for breakfast...get it straight!

Muddybronco

 

Running an adjustable shock with a nonadjustable shock doesn't "cancel out" anything, it just reduces the effectiveness of the adjustment. First, you need to ask why they are recommending the 9000/5000 mix on the front. My guess is they figured they could talk you into 1 pair of 9000s but not two. (Read profit motive.) Second, you need to know why you need adjustable shocks. Suspension control is tricky and if you don't know what you are doing (that is, what valving is needed for what situation)you are better off with a quality nonadjustable shock.

The advise to try one shock up front is also good. They used to make shocks specifically for the dual shock application that had lighter valving to work in conjunction with the other shock, such that both shocks together provided the correct valving. This is no longer the case. Now, they pretty much just size by length and stroke with valving common to multiple vehicles.

Good luck, and don't let them screw you.

 

To a certain extent, yes, it will cancel it out. If the valving is set really light on the 9K then the 5K will still be firm and you won't get as soft as you'd like. Maybe "adversly effect" it would be a better way to put it. It would still be adjustable to a point, but for the money those things cost I'd just get the 9k's and be done with it.

It's a multi-purpose passenger vehicle and it eats SUVs for breakfast...get it straight!

Muddybronco

 

Rancho 9000\'s All The Way

Call Desert Rat (look on net). I got mine for about 60$ each. They are worth it. You get what you pay for.

 

Much thanks guys!
I Called the Rancho hotline and they told me more or less the same thing as what Muddy said. In addition they also told me that the rancho 9Ks where a bit wider than the 5Ks and thus run a greater chance of hitting the coil rather than less like the guy was saying. Anyway I called and spoke with the owner of the shop and he looked at my truck and we decided that all we needed to do was replace the one shock that was bad and that the rest were fine correct size and all. I am relacing the shock with a superlift shock since that is what all my other ones are. Hopefully I will get job sometime soon if that ever happens I would love to go with 9Ks all the way around. You guys definately helped me save a bundle. I owe you. Again, thanks.
Last Question (I think) on this subject, do you guys that are running Ranchos have a problem with the coil or the sway bar hitting the shock?
Beat that sucker into submission!

 

I have 5k's all the way around and no problems for me I don't have quad shocks.

Backyard Builder-If I ain't drivin it I'm under it!

 

No, but Skyjacker's not-so-perfectly-engineered 6" lift for my truck pivoted the front right axle enough to where under full flex the coil bent backwards and put a 1/2" dent in one of the skyjacker shocks. I guess the rancho is smaller because I was going to move the right front rear shock mount back 1/2" but realized that it wasn't going to be a problem. I have had that axle beam off though, so maybe the coil is seated a little forward now or something? It's definitely something to look out for, and moving the rear mount backwards 1/2" isn't difficult. The front mounts are cast into the beam but you might be able to drill another hole up top a little further away from the coil if it becomes a problem.

It's a multi-purpose passenger vehicle and it eats SUVs for breakfast...get it straight!

Muddybronco

 

bad news guys. The superlift shock I had is part no. 85300. This shock used to be skinny. Now the same shock part number is much thicker. Anyway my shop called superlift in an attempt to replace it and were told that this shock is not made anymore(the skinny one). My shop wanted to fab up some parts so that a thick shock would fit in front of the coil but I was thinking there has to be somebody who is making thinner shock that will fit well since the bronco/F150 is so prevelent in the market. If any of you guys know of a shock that will work well for this problem PLEASE let me know. Other wise I was thinking of just going with a single rancho 9K on behind the coil and not running the duals anymore. penny for your thoughts?

Beat that sucker into submission!

 

I'm lovin' my CarQuest Bruiser Gas XT's all around. They're 2" shocks and I had no problems installing them. ~$35 ea, I think.

Steve 83 Bronco 4.9L

Build it; Don't buy it...

 

do these carquest shocks come long enough for a six inch lift? if so where do I get them?

Beat that sucker into submission!

 

I must have the exact same "Not so well engineered" Superlift 6" lift. I have the same indentations on my shocks in the front.I found you can move the actual coil spring to alleviate the problem in the future.

As for the rear shackles. I would like to get rid of my blocks so if anyone has info on where to obtain the parts, please let me know.

 

You can order 6" leaf packs for around 400 bucks. But I think all you'd need for the shackle flip is to rotate your spring mount on the frame 180 degrees. You might even be able to move it down on the frame to give a little more lift. Here is an article about a product that makes it easier, but it's on a chevy so be careful

It's a multi-purpose passenger vehicle and it eats SUVs for breakfast...get it straight!

Muddybronco

 

Back to the shocks, Bilstien 5100s are 2" shock and they come in lengths for lifted trucks. They're about $50 each.

 

I 2nd the Bilstien 5100s.

90 BRONCO Custom
6" Superlift w/Steering System
35x14.50 SSR's

 

CarQuest

kdog
Is this a trick question?/wwwthreads_images/icons/laugh.gif CQ is a parts store - used to be called 100,000 Auto Parts. Are there none where you live? I think they're just badge-engineered Monroes, so check around.

Steve 83 Bronco 4.9L

Build it; Don't buy it...

 

Re: CarQuest

Sorry to be ignorant steve83, but I live in Utah and have never heard of that store by either name. We have NAPA, autozone, Pep boys, but not CQ. Monroes I have heard of but know very little about. I can ask around to see if they make monroes that will work with a lifted truck.

Beat that sucker into submission!

 

Re: CarQuest

Steve, I'm not even that far from you and I've never heard of it. You sure you're not making it up? There probably are some around here, but I'm not very observant, I'm a diehard autozone fan Ok, not really, but I do at least know where they are so that helps a little.

It's a multi-purpose passenger vehicle and it eats SUVs for breakfast...get it straight!

Muddybronco

 

Re: CarQuest

No Steve isn't making it up. http://couponsburnetcounty.com/Edward/12_8_-/Car_Quest/car_quest.html

Havack!

This is FORD country. On a quite night yu can hear a Chevy rust.

 

Re: CarQuest

And if you remember my "Cool Tools" post (it might have been in the truck forum), they were Lisle tools packaged for CQ.

kdog
I wasn't trying to rag on you - I just didn't know if you were messing with me or not./wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif I also didn't know where you were or what CQ's coverage was. I guess they don't stretch very far west of TX, but I've seen them from the coast of NC to Dallas/FtWorth, and maybe even in SE AZ.

Steve 83 Bronco 4.9L

Build it; Don't buy it...

 

Re: CarQuest

Hey Shovel, is your passenger side tire leaning inward at the top in that picture? Every time I see it I think of my truck when I first put the lift on it and how it wasn't much fun getting it to the alignment shop. It might just be the angle and light in the pic, so help me out because I've been wondering.

It's a multi-purpose passenger vehicle and it eats SUVs for breakfast...get it straight!

Muddybronco

 

Re: CarQuest

The driveway is kinda fuct. Everything looks good on level ground, so far I haven't had any complaints besides my turning radius has went to sheet. My tires rub on the fenders too even with the 6" lift too. Anybody else having these two problems with 35's and a 6" lift?

90 BRONCO Custom
6" Superlift w/Steering System
35x14.50 SSR's

 

rub

Shovel. I also have the six inch lift and 35s. We talked about this issue before. I ended up having a bodyshop trim the trailing end off my fender and now I have no fender rub at all. I think many without the extended arms experience less fender rub since the supension has a little less flex on the stuff side of things. I could be wrong since my coils where more broken in when I go the longer arms.
Steve, no harm done.

Beat that sucker into submission!

 

Re: rub

how much did it cost to have a bodyshop trim your trailing fender?

90 BRONCO Custom
6" Superlift w/Steering System
35x14.50 SSR's