Mid-level shocks

[GATORB8]

I'm talking to representative from Northridge, and the ones he's suggesting has the following:

Fabtech Rancho 9000xl 2-3.5in lift
Front: Front:
Extended Length – 27.09 Extended Length – 25.21in
Collasped Length – 16.85 Collasped Length – 18.16in
Stroke Length – 10.23 Stroke Length – 7.05

Rear: Rear:
Extended Length – 29.69 Extended Length – 28.59in
Collasped Length – 18.38 Collasped Length – 19.89in
Stroke Length – 11.32 Stroke Length – 8.7

What do you think about those numbers? Looks like I'll lose a lot of travel length, but honestly not sure what that really means.

Edit: my formatting did not stick. The first numbers are Fabtech, and the second are Rancho.

While the Ranchos 9000s are adjustable, IIRC they are Twin Tubes and a step back technology wise from the Monotube Fabtech Stealth's you posted before.

Twin Tubes will generally have shorter travel from the same package length. In this case you would lose ~2" of front downtravel (droop) and a little over an inch out back.

EDIT: Note, depending on the amount of installed bump extension, you may be able to use the longer 3.5-4.5 Rancho 9000s and at least eliminate the loss in travel.

Sponsored

 

[Poseidon20]

While the Ranchos 9000s are adjustable, IIRC they are Twin Tubes and a step back technology wise from the Monotube Fabtech Stealth's you posted before.

Twin Tubes will generally have shorter travel from the same package length. In this case you would lose ~2" of front downtravel (droop) and a little over an inch out back.

EDIT: Note, depending on the amount of installed bump extension, you may be able to use the longer 3.5-4.5 Rancho 9000s and at least eliminate the loss in travel.

Very good info thank you. I'll measure my bump stocks and get back to you. I'm also considering the Rancho RS7MT which is their newest shock and is monotube. It's not adjustable but has been getting excellent reviews. So depending on what happens after I find out my bump stop length I may go for these. Thanks for all the help you have been!

 

[Poseidon20]

While the Ranchos 9000s are adjustable, IIRC they are Twin Tubes and a step back technology wise from the Monotube Fabtech Stealth's you posted before.

Twin Tubes will generally have shorter travel from the same package length. In this case you would lose ~2" of front downtravel (droop) and a little over an inch out back.

EDIT: Note, depending on the amount of installed bump extension, you may be able to use the longer 3.5-4.5 Rancho 9000s and at least eliminate the loss in travel.

Took some measurements, note that the Jeep is on a very very slight incline.

I measured to see the lift height and it’s showing almost 5 inches taller than your diagram. The lift is supposed to be 3in for Rubicons, mine is a Sport but that still seems like a lot. And the slight incline shouldn’t account for the extra 1-2 inches. But we can look into this later lol. Does this mean I should use the 3.5-4.5 inch Ranchos? The rear bump stop is 3inches and the front 3.5 but I’m measuring from the coil correction pad.

All of this is starting to make my brain hurt, I really didn’t think it was going to be this much for just shocks.

 

[m3reno]

My RS7Mt Rancho shocks are being delivered tomorrow. I will be removing the 9000XL and installing the RS7 after work. Again, nothing was wrong with the 9000 but just wanted to see the differences between the two shocks.

 

[Poseidon20]

My RS7Mt Rancho shocks are being delivered tomorrow. I will be removing the 9000XL and installing the RS7 after work. Again, nothing was wrong with the 9000 but just wanted to see the differences between the two shocks.

Good luck, let me know how they feel, im very interested.

 

[LukeDagny]

My RS7Mt Rancho shocks are being delivered tomorrow. I will be removing the 9000XL and installing the RS7 after work. Again, nothing was wrong with the 9000 but just wanted to see the differences between the two shocks.

Let us know if your RS7's are silver bodies or black bodied. The closeout RS7's from Rock Auto, which I own and like, are silver bodied.

 

[Aonarch]

Took some measurements, note that the Jeep is on a very very slight incline.

I measured to see the lift height and it’s showing almost 5 inches taller than your diagram. The lift is supposed to be 3in for Rubicons, mine is a Sport but that still seems like a lot. And the slight incline shouldn’t account for the extra 1-2 inches. But we can look into this later lol. Does this mean I should use the 3.5-4.5 inch Ranchos? The rear bump stop is 3inches and the front 3.5 but I’m measuring from the coil correction pad.

All of this is starting to make my brain hurt, I really didn’t think it was going to be this much for just shocks.

It is hard to tell in the picture, but are you measuring to the top of the axle tube in the front?

You can also just take a measurement center of shock bolt, to center of shock bolt.

 

[Poseidon20]

It is hard to tell in the picture, but are you measuring to the top of the axle tube in the front?

You can also just take a measurement center of shock bolt, to center of shock bolt.

Top of the axle tube. I can measure from the shock bolts if that'll give a better idea.

 

[Beach Nut]

I’m running the Bilstein 5100s, combined with Clayton 2.5” overland shocks…love this combo. Was bottoming out with JKS springs. Great ride on road and not too stiff off road.

 

[GATORB8]

Took some measurements, note that the Jeep is on a very very slight incline.

I measured to see the lift height and it’s showing almost 5 inches taller than your diagram. The lift is supposed to be 3in for Rubicons, mine is a Sport but that still seems like a lot. And the slight incline shouldn’t account for the extra 1-2 inches. But we can look into this later lol. Does this mean I should use the 3.5-4.5 inch Ranchos? The rear bump stop is 3inches and the front 3.5 but I’m measuring from the coil correction pad.

All of this is starting to make my brain hurt, I really didn’t think it was going to be this much for just shocks.

Definietly looks like you got some height. Normally the spring correction pad goes around the bump base, so it looks like 2.5" front and 3" rear bump extension.

Looks like you're running something like 5" of uptravel in front from the picture, which should put you at 3.75" over a rubicon, solid amount of lift and uptravel. If you want to backcheck, I'd expect your front shock eye to eye measurement at ride height to be 23.75".

Just to clarify my concern with the shorter 9000s, they have an extended length of 25.21" which would have given you less than 1.5" of downtravel (I'd expect you'd be able to feel that top out on the road over bumps).

 

[Nokones]

If you want to do the right thing for your particular application and ride, I would contact a reputable off-road suspension company. Most of them will help you out. Some, like Accutune Off-Road, will not over sell you anything that you don't need.

Be careful with the wannabe Suspension Experts on this forum that bought a set of cheap Pandaland counterfeit shock absorbers from a discount warehouse operation that specializes in cheap junk and think they are the best and don't know the difference in a quality shock and a burnt biscuit.

 

[GATORB8]

Alright, I've got your RS7MTs and Stealths loaded into AnnDee's spreadsheet for you with my assumed lift and front bump:

The longer RS7MTs look like a good fit. If you off road a lot, 28.59" of extension is flirting with drive shaft wear on a stock driveshaft in my experience, that's with the 2.0L (4xe in my case) front skid bar touching the slip joint boot at full droop. But, it gets you a nice 50/50 balanced up/down travel, basically maxing out your stock drive shaft off road flex.

 

[Aonarch]

 

[Poseidon20]

I would encourage you to use this schematic and measure based on these "guidelines". Pictured are the stock lengths so measure yours and then see if your sitting at 3". If you are sitting at more then that then go with a longer shock. Many companies are really good if you call them with measurements they can help fit you into what you need. This thread may also help you it sounds like a 2dr sport is about 11" and a rubi would be about 12".
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/help-how-to-determine-lift-size.115142/

Alright, I've got your RS7MTs and Stealths loaded into AnnDee's spreadsheet for you with my assumed lift and front bump:

The longer RS7MTs look like a good fit. If you off road a lot, 28.59" of extension is flirting with drive shaft wear on a stock driveshaft in my experience, that's with the 2.0L (4xe in my case) front skid bar touching the slip joint boot at full droop. But, it gets you a nice 50/50 balanced up/down travel, basically maxing out your stock drive shaft off road flex.

Just measured and eye to eye on the shocks are 24 inches front and 25.5 inches rear.

First chart says stock sport is 19 7/8 so I got at least 4 inches of lift.

Took a rough guess at travel length but measure the clean part of the shock at little under 5 inches in the rear. So that gives me a rough idea.

Thanks for all the help. I think I can figure out which shock I need now.

 

[OminousSkitter]

Just measured and eye to eye on the shocks are 24 inches front and 25.5 inches rear.

First chart says stock sport is 19 7/8 so I got at least 4 inches of lift.

Took a rough guess at travel length but measure the clean part of the shock at little under 5 inches in the rear. So that gives me a rough idea.

Thanks for all the help. I think I can figure out which shock I need now.

Just keep in mind when shocks are listed as 2-3.5" lift (or whatever), that's above a rubicon—not how much lift your specific Jeep got. This is true for most of shocks out there, and all the exceptions I know of (like OME) list both with a 1" difference.

Sponsored