Shocks & Steering stabilizer

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It's time for new shocks and steering stabilizer. Would dual stabilizers be a waste of money? Also could anyone recomend a certain brand and possibly a good online place to shop for things like that?

 

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Rancho 5000 single steering stabilizer amd Rancho 9000 shocks. The Rancho shocks can be gotten with a in-cab adjuster, You dont really need it. Once you get them dialed in the way you like you wont need to mess with them. You might need to clime under the truck when you need to tow a heavy load. Thats my recomendation! Good luck, Mike

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1997 Dodge x-tended 4x4 non-SLT, 2" front lift, 305/70R-16 Orion 225HCCA, PPI PC450 4/JL AUDIO 8" subs, Banks Powerpack, Twin Ram, pulling a 2000 28' Sleekcraft w/ZZ502 FAST weight 7000lbs

 

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The best price I've found is at http://www.hotrod-offroad.com/

Rancho 9000s for $50 with $5 shipping. Had them in two days. It took longer to put them on than it did to receive them. bigmikie is right, don't get the in cab control. My fronts are on 4 and my rears on 3. It takes about a minute to change all four settings. If you have a rear stabilizer that passenger rear can be a little tricky. Had to disconnect the bracket to get the shock bolt out. Good luck. Alan

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98 12V, 2500QC, Auto, Chrome Package, Towing Package, EGT, Boost

 

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Anybody know the Rancho part # for the appropriate R5000 steering stabilizer? Thanks

Craig

 

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My recommendation for shocks are Rancho 9000`s. They are the best I have ever used. In cab contol not neccessary. Very easy to adjust manually.

As for the steering stabilizer, I`m not sure what years your trucks are. Mine came with 1 from the factory. Its mounted to the frame and to the drag link. I`ll call this the "upper". I think in 97 Dodge added another stabilizer mounted to the axle tube and the tie rod. I`ll call this the "lower. "

Shortly after I bought my truck I added the lower stabilizer. This helps more than the upper one in my opinion. I used a Trail Master part# 7110. This has the brackets to mount the stablizer to the axle & Tie rod.

I had a Sky Jacker dual stabilizer kit that mounted in the Upper factory brackets. I did not like it at all. No difference.

Your best bet is an both an upper stabilizer and a lower stabilizer

Trail Master and Rancho are both top quality companies that sell stabilizer shocks. Replace the OE ones with a good aftermarket shock.

Rancho`s tech line phone # is 1-800-574-6257 You can get part#`s here ect.

Hope this helps #ad


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1994 Dodge Ram SLT Cummins 5 speed 4x4,3. 54 gears, Scotty Air System,PIAA Platnum Super Whites,Optima red top batteries, manual trans filter,Turbo&Exhaust blanket,Magnaguard rear diff cover,Edelbrock IAS shocks,muffler removed,Borgeson steering shaft,Trailmaster steering stabilizers,Rancho upper & lower links,Polyurethane sway bar bushings,Skyjacker 2" leveling springs(front),Fabritech Stage II Traction Bars,Denman Coyote A/P LT305/85R16(36" Tall) tires on Stock Dodge Chrome 16x6. 5 wheels,Bushwacker Street Flares,Back-off saftey brake light,Bugflector II bug shield, Royal Purple ,Amsoil& Red line lubes throughout.

1970 Plymouth Cuda (under construction)
1968 Hurst HEMI® Dart , Nah its just a screen name ;-)



[This message has been edited by 1968 Hurst HEMI Dart (edited 12-02-1999). ]

 

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I prefer the Trailmaster SSV's. They have a better ride quality than Racho 9000's. I have had tehm on my truck for 60K+. A bit cheaper too.

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96 Long bed EC, Banks Twin Ram, BD TC, BD EB, BD VB, Mag Hytec Pans, Warn 8000# winch, TJM Bull Bar, Speedliner, Katzkin Leather kit, K&N Filter, Trailmaster 2" Lift, 35BFG ATKO's, Kodiak Sidewinder Steps, Reflexion Cowl Hood, Autometer Guages, Horton Clutch Fan, PIAA Superwhites.

 

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I don't know if you have ever heard of Heckethorn/Rough Country but they are very popular where I am, due in part to the fact that the factory is about 30 minutes from my house. You can get shocks, factory direct, for around $30 plus shipping and stabilizers around $40. They also sell lift kits. If you have any questions, e-mail me at:
Jerry_the_king@usa.net
Hope this helps.

 

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Could those of you who have raved about the Rancho 9Ks describe why and how they are so much better?

In my case, the OEM shocks were junk, and since I'd had very good experiences with KYB monotube shocks, I bought a set of them for my '98 12V 2500. The difference was immense. The OEM shocks just about had the truck bouncing out of control on Illinois' standard washboards; the KYBs greatly reduced this bounce, though it is still there. Time will tell how long the KYBs last.

I had previously used KYBs on my '84 200SX and my '87 Formula 350. In both cases, they were rock solid on installation, and only started loosening up around 70K miles. And, in both cases, the stock
shocks and struts were junk, expecially in the Pontiac.

So it would be useful if some of you could quantify just how good the Ranchos are. As much as I like the KYBs, I might still prefer to have shocks that make the suspension extremely firm, while still absorbing road shocks.

Fest3er

 

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The advantage of the 9Ks is that they can be adjusted over a very wide range of load capacities. There are 5 settings and each doubles the resistance of the lower setting. I don't particularly like the ride they give with an empty truck (I use #2 in front and #1 in the rear). But the ride improves greatly when I tow my boat (#2 front; #2 rear) or load my 2760 lb camper (#3 front; #5 rear). The ability to tune the supension to suit different loads gives the 9Ks and advantage over non-adjustable shocks which may perform better under a single load condition.

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1999 Quad cab 2500, SB, SLT, 4X4, 5-speed, 3. 54, tow and camper package, Lance 820 camper, Lance cabover stabilizers, Rancho 9000s, Airlift airbags

 

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Fest3r, There is plenty of stiffness available in the Rancho 9000`s. On setting #5 the shock can`t be cycled by hand. Setting 3 or 4 is still plenty stiff #ad

 

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Everybody must have an educated butt, but me.
I never thought the ride on my original shocks were that bad. The fact that they bottomed out when off roading was unacceptable.
I bought a set of the Rancho 9000's due to advise from this board. I bought the in cab adjusters on impulse. They were not fun to install. This was discussed and can be found in the archives.
I LOVE the in cab adjusters and my butt is getting an education on what a ride should be like. I fool with the adjustment quite a bit for different roads and conditions.

On a good new flat asphalt road it really doesn't matter where they are, the ride is great but having them set high makes fast corners fun!
On a good new not so flat road I push them up until the porpoiseing is gone. Too high and the ride is stiff.
On those bad concrete highways I soften them up. It does little good but you can humhumhumhumhum a little better.
Off road is when they really shine. On long washboard roads I can soften things up and don't have to "jam" to keep the suspension working. If my wife is not with me I can run 'em up and flat fly with no bottoming out!
This adjustability is what makes a Rancho 9000 a great shock.
In cab adjusters? Why not? If you don't adjust them they're just another shock, probably too soft or too stiff.
Ron




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'99 Quad long bed, emerald green/driftwood, 4x4, 5speed, 3. 55 limslip, Rancho 9000/remote adjuster
Boulder City, Nevada