RS5000 install, what a joke

[Todd T]

I bought four RS5000 shocks to install in my truck. here is what i found wrong or missing out of the four



two boxes only had on red zip tie for the boot and one of the rear shocks was missing the bag of install hardware.



out of four shocks i was able to install two. not to mention you have to put the stickers on them yourself



is this common? I dont think i will be buying any of their stuff again. I should have just boxed them up and taken all four back.



I live about 20 minutes from the edge of civilization so when i have to make repeated runs into town for this kind of crap, it gets old fast.

 

[MJawsman]

I've had some trouble with the products not being complete too. No product issues to speak of though... and I never put the stickers on anyway. In the rust belt, they won't last long! However, I still put up with the occasional BS as I feel they have a quality product. Remember also, if you purchased these from a retail store, it's possible that someone on a retail level had the boxes opened or robbed them of parts to make a customer happy. In either case, mistakes can happen.



Not affiliated with Rancho.....

 

[EScott]

I bought my last Rancho product for my '98. I munched the steering stabilizer and decided to replace it with the Rancho. After two years the factory stabilizer had 3-4 rock chips. After 1 month the Rancho looked like I had blasted it with my 12 gauge. I sent them an email and the response was (and I am quoting here) "Why don't you paint it"



Used to have a great product and even better customer service.



I think the've maybe let it all go to their heads.



If I was going to install Rancho stuff I'd make bloody well sure to put the stickers on it'll probably help with the rock chips. If not when it's all nasty looking at least everyone will know you bought quality.



Later

Erin

 

[DHRA]

CMS_PWR and I installed Bilstein 5100 series zinc plated shocks. These are made to fit the skyjacker 4. 5" lift. They ride terrific and look great too! red and white on a green truck?

Anyway, Bilstein doesn't make a steering stabilizer so I ordered the Skyjacker dual setup. Upon opening the box it had the shocks, I had to install the rubber gromets, and it was missing one of the mounting brackets. Also, the u-bolts were the incorrect size! So I gave up on the dual system and just used one shock.

 

[jwgary]

bad design for the fronts

The only thing I can complain about is the horible design for the front shocks. Whose bright idea was it to just mill two flats on the end of the rod? On the stock ones you can at least get a socket and a breakover bar to hold the rod in place. It's a pretty bad design when you have to use a crescent wrench to hold the thing. Other than that, the install went rather well. I just wish I had the in-cab controller so I could actually tell a difference when I change the firmness settings. Oops, I just realized that we were talking about RS5000's. I have the 9000's. I would assume that the 5k's have the same rod end though. Just my two cents.

 

[Jeff H]

What a waste intalling adjustable shock on the front. I have Rancho RSX on the front. Then 5000 adjustables on the rear. I think some people don't want the stickers on the shocks. In some parts of the country its an incentive for thieves to rip them off.

 

[Royk]

What a waste intalling adjustable shock on the front.

I don't think so. I installed my rears first and then drove for a few days before installing the front. I think in some driving conditions the fronts had more effect than the rears.



Was it just me, or doesn't Rancho include a single shred of paperwork with these shocks? No instructions, warranty info, etc. Just the shock, boot, sticker, hardware and zip-tie.



-Roy

 

[jlccc]

Re: bad design for the fronts

Originally posted by jwgary

The only thing I can complain about is the horible design for the front shocks. Whose bright idea was it to just mill two flats on the end of the rod? On the stock ones you can at least get a socket and a breakover bar to hold the rod in place. It's a pretty bad design when you have to use a crescent wrench to hold the thing.

In fairness to Rancho, there is a nut welded to the upper end of the shock, just below the upper bushing, that can be used to prevent the shock from spinning while the top nut is tightened. Use a 19mm open end wrench and access it through the side of the shock tower mount.

 

[dresslered]

I just installed the RS9000 shocks with in cab controller and I did not receive any hardware with the rear shocks (just reused the OEM bolt and nut). My stickers were too damaged to use since they were packed at the bottom of each bag and the shock was pierced right through each one. Here's a couple other complaints I had:

1. Poor paint quality (uneven with runs).

2. In cab controller compressor had to be taken apart and reassembled as the rubber isolation bumpers were not installed correctly.

3. Aluminum heat sink fins on compressor were smashed.

4. One of the gauges was rolling around inside its enclosure requiring reassembly.

5. Two of the four shocks had dents in them. The paint was not marred so this must have happened prior to the painting step.

6. One weld looked questionable (crack)--only time will tell.

7. Cheap plastic hardware!



Note: items 2 & 3 are located inside a plastic enclosure so this had to be a manufacturing error.



So far the shocks seem to ride fairly nice. The real test will be with the 4000+ lb. camper installed. If it wasn't for the camper, I would have definitely gone with the Bilsteins.

 

[Todd T]

well David, i guess i should consider myself lucky. at least i got one set



someone had asked about the store these came from. my shocks were not off the shelf somewhere. they were ordered at a local parts store and were delivered there for me to pick up.



after hearing more of these complaints, i have decided no more Rancho stuff for me.

 

[SSeifert]

has anyone else had trouble keeping the Rancho 9000's quiet. on setting one they are not to bad, but on three or higher they make a lot of noise, like a popping sound. Anyone else getting that sound?

 

[Jeff H]

Are ranchos american made?

I don't go offroading thats why I don't have adjustables on the front. The RSX will handle the front great. Even on a washedboard gravel road. Wich I travel on every day.

I have the adjustables on the rear for loads.

 

[Dave MacArthur]

There was another thread about these problems. Out of 4, 2 of mine needed to be sent back for replacements. Wrong size bushings/sleeves. Now my fronts can no longer be adjusted because the adjusters are frozen. They ride better than stock but I won't be getting them again. I'll try Bilstein's next (soon).

 

[jlccc]

Originally posted by SSeifert

has anyone else had trouble keeping the Rancho 9000's quiet. on setting one they are not to bad, but on three or higher they make a lot of noise, like a popping sound. Anyone else getting that sound?

As mentioned previously, the fronts will make a clunking sound unless the lower shock bolt is very tight. Try 100-120 ft lbs.

 

[RustyJC]

This is really strange! The RS9000's I bought from 4WheelParts were complete with all the installation hardware, etc. Recognizing that our truck is 2WD, everything went on with minimal hassle, and the shocks perform as advertised. Maybe the vendor makes the difference.



With the 2WD 3500, the adjustability of the front shocks meant that we could stop the constant bouncing of the front end over bumps and expansion joints - the stock shocks have insufficient rebound damping. They were well worth it!



Rusty

 

[cmckinney]

RS9000's

I put my RS9000's on with the SkyJacker D25 coils and saw a significant difference in ride. It is much stiffer now and I definitely do not have the see-saw motion after a bump, it's more of a jolt. I wouldn't recommend this for those who wish to have a smoother ride but for those who like to have a firm suspension up front it is the way to go. My RS9000's also clank around the Rancho Tech blew me off when I emailed them. I probably won't be buying from Rancho again.



-CM

 

[DCMille290]

I don't remember where I ordered mine (9000's) from, but it was from a truck parts/acc store in CA.

The boxes were sealed, all parts inside, clean not damaged and definitely improved ride and handling.

BTW, the same company that makes Monroe shocks makes the Rancho equipment, Tenneco. US company as far as I can tell.



Best thing to do with any company selling a product that doesn't meet your expectations or is somehow damaged is to raise a stink. I go right to the top of a company first.



David "DC" Miller

Marbleman