Rancho 9000x [Archive] - Virtual Jeep Club

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Crawldit

03-30-2007, 06:52 PM

SavageSun4x4

03-30-2007, 07:01 PM

I have run them for year and really like them. The settings for you might be much DIFFERENT from mine due to weight of Jeep and trail weight, # of passengers, type of coil springs and your desires for ride off and on the roads and trails.

I would simply start out at 4 at each corner and then adjust from there. Yes I adjust mine often...

Nth springs and RS9000X shocks: http://www.savagesun4x4.com/nth_degree_coil_spring_inst.html

Crawldit

03-30-2007, 07:10 PM

Nice write-up on your site Don. Thanks for the input as usual. I guess I'm mostly concerned with giving my son brain damage on washboard rides like I get with my current RE Monotubes. So I should technically be able to find a setting that is good for on and offroad and just leave it alone? My rig is relatively light (basically stock everything except for coils and shocks). I do once in a while throw on my roof rack which made my Monotubes bounce like a pogo stick. For the most part I went with the 9000x so I could stiffen up the rear when I throw on the rack and load it up.

YJunk

03-30-2007, 08:37 PM

Just picked up a set of these from 4 Wheelers. I've never had adjustables before and would like to get an idea of what people are running for settings. One thing I've always wondered about for offroad is, which is better....stiff or soft? For example if I'm doing forest roads with my family and I'm going to be hitting washboard roads, do I want it to be stiff or soft? Same question goes for when I'm out with the club and hitting some rock trails....stiff or soft? I know this is kind of a newbie question that I should probably know, but thanks for any input.

I run em on my junk... Now keep in mind my rig is light... its been stripped... I run em 4 or 5 on the street... and 1 on the trail and crawlin... if I'm gonna really blast a wash and have the chance I might go to a 2... I've managed to blow 1 of em running that hard on 1... but I was doing about 30 to 35 into a really knarly wash... I ended up putting a pretty good bend into the leaf pack on that one...

GLEN REAMS

03-30-2007, 08:39 PM

I've managed to blow 1 of em running that hard on 1... but I was doing about 30 to 35 into a really knarly wash... I ended up putting a pretty good bend into the leaf pack on that one...

i remember that :D and i have never seen you adjust your shocks, i need to get me a set of these too my shocks are way to short for the new lift

YJunk

03-30-2007, 08:44 PM

i remember that :D and i have never seen you adjust your shocks, i need to get me a set of these too my shocks are way to short for the new lift

If you could get em to fit I think those things would work really good on the grey goose... with that wheel base, you'd probably smoke me on the way to squeeze...

TomHatch

03-30-2007, 09:50 PM

I use to run max stiff on the highway and max soft on the trail until my springs lost a little of their spring. I still run stiff on the highway, but on the trail I run about a 5 in the rear (to keep off the bump stops) and soft in the front. Your tire pressure will really affect your ride on washboard roads. Try around 10 psi - it makes a huge difference.

YGOHOME

03-30-2007, 11:23 PM

I just got a set of th 9000's too. I tried them at different settings but I like them best at the softest... especially on the trail. Cool thing now though (since I've long ago got rid of the front sway bar) is that if I set it to firm on the front I hardly get any sway while on the road... still way too stiff though so I usually just leave them always at the softest... If I'm running with certain passangers I set the shocks to firm on their side so it isn't droopy. please don't be offended if any of you are riding with me and I get out to adjust the shocks on your side. lol

Wayco

03-31-2007, 07:02 AM

I guess we all got in on the sale at 4 Wheelers. :) I just took mine out to White tanks yesterday, they were set on 4 at the shop, seemed a little soft for the road. I set them at 3 for the trail, might need to be softer. My right front sounded like a "squeaky toy" for a while, turned the adjuster a couple of clicks, ( don't know which way) and it went away after a while.
Lets keep this thread open as we tune our new shocks, should be interesting. :)

WalterD

03-31-2007, 07:37 AM

My CJ has the adjustable Rancho only on the front and it generally stays at 3.
Walter

SavageSun4x4

03-31-2007, 10:38 AM

I am really a BIG fan of adjustable shocks. The amount of tuning they allow pays many dividends in performance:

* Ever notice the clunk as the rear of your Jeep bottoms out after coming off a waterfall a bit too hard? Crank up the rear setting to mitigate that.

* Got one corner in the rear of your rig loaded heavy or light? Dial in a setting 1 +/- to off set the load

* Trying to do "Dump Bump" and you and your friends notice the amount of unloading taking place giving you the sense you will land on your roof like so many have before you? Add a couple of clicks to slow down the unload some and hopefully make it over the top.

* 101 traffic got you feeling like your a race to the finish every day at rush hour? Balance out the rig by using the same settings all around and add a click or 2 to firm up so you dart in and out of traffic.

* Snapped a disconnect coming out of Pritchett Canyon on the last day of your week stay in Moab, but forgot your spare connect in Phoenix? You start the drive home and the front end is bouncing like a tennis ball from having a fully disconnected sway bar...crank up the front shocks to about 8 and drive home safely at 60 mph [ask me how I know].

Rancho does make a kit to adjust the shocks from the dash board using a AC. I have the kit and like a lot of other projects have not installed it yet. But I have a friend who has and he using it all the time.

The adjustability is much like a tool that lies fallow in your tool box until one day you use it and discover its usability...then you ask yourself "how did I ever get along without it?"

Enjoy and all provide us some feed back on your dial ins and satisfaction.:)

Crawldit

03-31-2007, 03:42 PM

Great info from everyone. I just got them installed so it's time to start playing with the settings. Sounds like I'm going to want soft as far as the trail is concerned. I don't have a front sway bar so I'll try stiffening the front on the road. I have to drive a good 100 miles tomorrow for work so it will give me a chance to play with the settings a little. Thanks for giving me some ideas as to where I should start out.

Also, one concern as far as install was concerned. The knobss on the rear shock looks like they're in a prime location for getting killed by rocks. Have any of you had any issues?

DREDnot

03-31-2007, 03:54 PM

They are 1000 times better if you get the remote system.
I change my setting 3-4 times on the way to work!

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/9854/dscn7134r1wl.jpg

Wayco

03-31-2007, 03:58 PM

Mike at 4 Wheelers steered me away from the remote, said it would leak....

DREDnot

03-31-2007, 04:10 PM

SavageSun4x4

03-31-2007, 06:41 PM

Also, one concern as far as install was concerned. The knobss on the rear shock looks like they're in a prime location for getting killed by rocks. Have any of you had any issues?

Turn your rear shocks around/180 degrees, then the knobs are protected:) Take a look at this pic, you cannot see my knobs because I turned the shocks around...

YGOHOME

04-01-2007, 06:35 PM

I thought those little dial knobs were in a bad spot. Wish I had thought of turning them around like that before my trail run yesterday...

knob was torn clean off... I wonder if this is covered by the lieftime shock warrenty. lol.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b179/ygohome/P1000268.jpg

as I was taking the above photo just now I also noticed I tore a big chuck out of my MTR tire too, at least its holding air.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b179/ygohome/P1000269.jpg

Crawldit

04-02-2007, 09:07 AM

Man that's a heck of chunk out of that tire :eek: Yeah Don has a good idea about rotating those rear shocks. I think I'll definitely have to get back under the Jeep next weekend and do that. I figured that I would post what settings I have decided on (for now at least :rolleyes: ). I started out on 1 all around and that was too soft. I then went to 3 front and 1 rear and that helped. I ended up on 5 front and 3 rear and it's elimininated almost all of my front body roll and still provides a pretty darn nice street ride. These shocks are heads and shoulders above what my RE Monotubes rode like.

SavageSun4x4

04-02-2007, 09:32 AM

I thought those little dial knobs were in a bad spot. Wish I had thought of turning them around like that before my trail run yesterday...

knob was torn clean off... I wonder if this is covered by the lieftime shock warrenty. lol.

Stop off at 4wheel supply and see Simon or Cole, they should have some in stock and should just hand some for the repair. If not call Rancho and they will sent you one for no cost.

But they will all tell you to turn that shock around:)

When you go to repair it, IIRC turn it back to 1, remove and install the other one, then adjst back to where you run them at...;)

Enjoy and let us know how it works out...

DesertX04

04-02-2007, 09:45 AM

From the pic, it looks like if you turn the shock around, the knob will be blocked? And nobody wants that.

SavageSun4x4

04-02-2007, 10:23 AM

From the pic, it looks like if you turn the shock around, the knob will be blocked? And nobody wants that.
Yes its blocked, blocked from rocks knocking off the adjustment knob. Why would "nobody want that"?

I just posted several times about turning the shocks around. I also offered up pics of the shocks on my Jeep turned around. I talk about adjusting them on a regular basis and sometimes several times a day.

So I guess I have to ask the question: When you installed YOUR Rancho RS900X shocks which way did you turn them?:)

smoove1

04-02-2007, 10:24 AM

I just got a set of these from 4 wheelers too, I noticed the same thing on the rear shocks, knob in back first rock and its gone. So I turned them around but I installed the rear lower shock relocators a long time ago so that actually gives me a lot more room to get to the adjuster. Without the relocators you probably have a nice dent on your shock body from it hitting the spring seat.

DesertX04

04-02-2007, 10:38 AM

I figured it would also block it's adjustability. The only pics I saw were posted by YGOHOME. I will concede that I should have put 2 and 2 together about adjusting w/the shock turned around, but it seems to me it's a PITA. I'll take your word that it's not. :)

Yes its blocked, blocked from rocks knocking off the adjustment knob. Why would "nobody want that"?

I just posted several times about turning the shocks around. I also offered up pics of the shocks on my Jeep turned around. I talk about adjusting them on a regular basis and sometimes several times a day.

So I guess I have to ask the question: When you installed YOUR Rancho RS900X shocks which way did you turn them?:)

SavageSun4x4

04-02-2007, 11:10 AM

but it seems to me it's a PITA. I'll take your word that it's not. :)
:D :D never said it wasn't a PITA, it is, but sure keeps them from getting knocked off.

The shock extenders may work to mitigate the PITA factor some, dunno, never installed them. :confused:

Or I could just finish the air compressor/adjustment install, but again a PITA, but I have got the AC installed on my inner fender-well so I guess that is progress.:)

ActualReverend

04-02-2007, 02:06 PM

What is the Tranny temp guage for? I see you have a manual tranny in the pic.

--Bryan

They are 1000 times better if you get the remote system.
I change my setting 3-4 times on the way to work!

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/9854/dscn7134r1wl.jpg

SavageSun4x4

04-02-2007, 04:35 PM

Yeah, it will slowly leak down over nite but who cares? It not like its your tires.Lets just say it automaticly resets to soft.
Just a blip of the button and it pumps right up.
It doesn't make the shocks leak if thats what you thought he meant

Dred, you better check out this thread, I am talking about you:D
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?t=21054

Simon

04-02-2007, 04:40 PM

I thought those little dial knobs were in a bad spot. Wish I had thought of turning them around like that before my trail run yesterday...

knob was torn clean off... I wonder if this is covered by the lieftime shock warrenty. lol.

as I was taking the above photo just now I also noticed I tore a big chuck out of my MTR tire too, at least its holding air.

I have them!

DREDnot

04-03-2007, 03:00 AM

What is the Tranny temp guage for? I see you have a manual tranny in the pic.

--Bryan

Manual transmissions get hot , too!
Actually just had it laying around in the garage from my sold XJ.
Its all wired up just havent had the urge to drill and tap into my fine NSG370 so its just plugging that hole and looking all tough

ActualReverend

04-03-2007, 01:42 PM

If you live in phx, you could just run it as an outside temp gauge.... doesn't it get close to 250 down there?

:P

--Bryan

Manual transmissions get hot , too!
Actually just had it laying around in the garage from my sold XJ.
Its all wired up just havent had the urge to drill and tap into my fine NSG370 so its just plugging that hole and looking all tough

DREDnot

04-04-2007, 01:28 AM

If you live in phx, you could just run it as an outside temp gauge.... doesn't it get close to 250 down there?

:P

--Bryan

Dude! That just gave me the perfect idea! I'm gonna stick the sensor in the engine compartment and have it report underhood temps for the time being

Thanks for the jolt in the right direction:D

ActualReverend

04-04-2007, 08:12 AM

Dude! That just gave me the perfect idea! I'm gonna stick the sensor in the engine compartment and have it report underhood temps for the time being

Thanks for the jolt in the right direction:D

You gotta post what it says... I am curious.

--Bryan

Antman

04-04-2007, 08:25 AM

Dude! That just gave me the perfect idea! I'm gonna stick the sensor in the engine compartment and have it report underhood temps for the time being

Thanks for the jolt in the right direction:D

This is an example of brain storming! And why 2 minds are exponentially more
valuable than 1 mind. An example of the "Skunk Works". :D

BTW Great idea!:)