New Lift, Bad Ride

[crazyshot97]

So, just had a Zone 4.25” combo lift with Rancho RS5000x shocks installed on my 2006 TJ. There are several issues after driving it for 50 or so miles, but I’m going to have to address one at a time.

The ride is absolutely not what I expected. I heard great things about these RS5000X shocks, but speed bumps and potholes are violent. Significantly rougher than stock.

I’m including pictures here, are there any obvious issues based on the pictures? I can’t imagine this ride is how these Ranchos are supposed to be after reading pretty glowing reviews for them.

Other issues are that the 6 speed shifter now hits something (console?) in 2nd, 4th and 6th, I assume from the body lift portion of the Zone lift. But I’ll make separate threads for that.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

How old were your previous shocks?

Just to make sure, they ARE the rs5000x and not the rs5000 (without an x), right?

By calibrated photo eyeball the shocks look about right but can you report what your up and down travel inches are, or how much shaft you have showing along with a shock part number?

Are the tires new with the lift or did you have those already? What tire pressure are you running?

Did you loosen up all the control arm bolts so the bushings could spin around the bolts, and then tighten them with the Jeeps weight on the suspension at ride height?

I find the ranchos to work decently well on a TJ. Too stiff for the rear of an LJ though.

 

[crazyshot97]

How old were your previous shocks?

Just to make sure, they ARE the rs5000x and not the rs5000 (without an x), right?

By calibrated photo eyeball the shocks look about right but can you report what your up and down travel inches are, or how much shaft you have showing along with a shock part number?

Are the tires new with the lift or did you have those already? What tire pressure are you running?

Did you loosen up all the control arm bolts so the bushings could spin around the bolts, and then tighten them with the Jeeps weight on the suspension at ride height?

I find the ranchos to work decently well on a TJ. Too stiff for the rear of an LJ though.

Previous shocks, as far as I’m aware, were original factory shocks. So 20 years.

Is there a way for me to tell visually if they’re the RS5000x vs just the 5000? A shop installed this lift/ordered the parts for me, and I made it clear that they needed to be RS5000x’s, so I can’t imagine they ordered the 5000’s. The part numbers on the invoice are RS55239 and RHORS55241

I’m not very mechanically inclined, hence the shop installing everything, so I’m not sure how to determine up and down travel inches. I can measure the shaft once I’m out at the Jeep again, not sure of that either, but one of the rear shocks the red “boot” doesn’t cover the shaft at all, as can be seen on one of the pictures.

Tires are new with the lift. BFG KO2 A/T’s, 33x10.5r15. I haven’t checked the PSI yet (only drove home from the shop) but I’ll check. It did feel floaty and shifty on the highway, so they may be overinflated.

As far as loosening control arm bolts , I haven’t done that yet either. Haven’t really touched anything, drove it to test it and doesn’t feel right. Not sure what to do first

 

[OldBuzzard]

Do the easiest thing first (and most likely culprit). Tire pressure. If it just came from a shop, they're almost guaranteed to by way overinflated. For some reason tire shops don't know much about tires. About 26 PSI should work.

 

[Ctdriver86]

Tires look over inflated from pictures. Not flat, blowing out the center, equals harsh ride.

BL caused your issue in 2, 4, and 6. A little heat on the shifter and some force can push it out the way. MML would likely bring it back, as well.

 

[crazyshot97]

Do the easiest thing first (and most likely culprit). Tire pressure. If it just came from a shop, they're almost guaranteed to by way overinflated. For some reason tire shops don't know much about tires. About 26 PSI should work.

Do the easiest thing first (and most likely culprit). Tire pressure. If it just came from a shop, they're almost guaranteed to by way overinflated. For some reason tire shops don't know much about tires. About 26 PSI should work.

Well, tried this about an hour ago. Tires were indeed pumped up to 35+ psi. Lowered them to around 26-28. Improved the ride marginally. Speed bumps still feel like they’re going to break something. Loud slamming, whole jeep shakes pretty intensely coming back down

 

[crazyshot97]

Tires look over inflated from pictures. Not flat, blowing out the center, equals harsh ride.

BL caused your issue in 2, 4, and 6. A little heat on the shifter and some force can push it out the way. MML would likely bring it back, as well.

The Zone 4.25” combo lift comes with a MML, that’s why I’m confused about that. Trans shouldn’t be that far off

 

[OldBuzzard]

Well, tried this about an hour ago. Tires were indeed pumped up to 35+ psi. Lowered them to around 26-28. Improved the ride marginally. Speed bumps still feel like they’re going to break something. Loud slamming, whole jeep shakes pretty intensely coming back down

That slamming sounds like the wrong length shocks. You'll have to pull those red rubber covers and measure the length of free shock shaft.

 

[Chris]

Sounds to me like your shocks are bottoming out.

 

[crazyshot97]

That slamming sounds like the wrong length shocks. You'll have to pull those red rubber covers and measure the length of free shock shaft.

Yea I’ve been reading about this in other threads, but given my admittedly lacking knowledge I’m struggling to visualize what I’m supposed to be measuring. And what would be correct vs incorrect. I’d be measuring the length of the shaft from the opening of the cylinder to where it attaches to the frame at the top? Is there a number I should be looking for in that measurement?

 

[OldBuzzard]

The Zone 4.25” combo lift comes with a MML, that’s why I’m confused about that. Trans shouldn’t be that far off

The MML will cause that shifting problem. The 2005-2006 shifter sits pretty close to the back edge of the hole, and lifting the engine tilts it back so it touches. Now you need a tummy tuck Or heat and bend the shifter. Or trim a little of the back of the shifter hole in the floor.

 

[k1n3k]

Zone 4.25” combo lift

The part numbers on the invoice are RS55239 and RHORS55241

yeah those shocks are listed for a 2.5" lift. probably a shock length issue if I had to guess.

 

[crazyshot97]

The MML will cause that shifting problem. The 2005-2006 shifter sits pretty close to the back edge of the hole, and lifting the engine tilts it back so it touches. Now you need a tummy tuck Or heat and bend the shifter. Or trim a little of the back of the shifter hole in the floor.

I’m honestly not opposed to just emptying every pocket and doing it right the first time with a tummy tuck. But, instead of going full tummy tuck right now, would removing the MML, and going with a SYE and DC driveshaft accomplish the same thing in moving the shifter to the proper place again? With the added benefit of eliminating the driveline vibrations that now definitely exist? (another issue I’m having after install today)

 

[Rickyd]

Without any bumpstop extension you are likely slamming the shocks closed violently.

Measure from the metal cup that holds the bumps to the lower pad and compare that to how much shock shaft is exposed at ride height.

I have those same shocks and need about 2" bumpstop extension.

 

[OldBuzzard]

Measure this on a rear and a front shock. It should be close to half of the shock's full travel.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Previous shocks, as far as I’m aware, were original factory shocks. So 20 years.

Is there a way for me to tell visually if they’re the RS5000x vs just the 5000? A shop installed this lift/ordered the parts for me, and I made it clear that they needed to be RS5000x’s, so I can’t imagine they ordered the 5000’s. The part numbers on the invoice are RS55239 and RHORS55241

Those part numbers are correct for the rs5000x. I run the next longer set with my 4" lift.

I’m not very mechanically inclined, hence the shop installing everything, so I’m not sure how to determine up and down travel inches. I can measure the shaft once I’m out at the Jeep again, not sure of that either, but one of the rear shocks the red “boot” doesn’t cover the shaft at all, as can be seen on one of the pictures.

Exposed shaft is your uptravel, and we can get down travel by subtracting the uptravel from the published total travel. That red boot has come loose, it's supposed to stick at the top of the shock so the body compresses into it.

Tires are new with the lift. BFG KO2 A/T’s, 33x10.5r15. I haven’t checked the PSI yet (only drove home from the shop) but I’ll check. It did feel floaty and shifty on the highway, so they may be overinflated.

As you found, most shops inflate to sidewall pressure which is only necessary or appropriate if you're loading it to the max. TJs aren't that heavy.

As far as loosening control arm bolts , I haven’t done that yet either. Haven’t really touched anything, drove it to test it and doesn’t feel right. Not sure what to do first

Hopefully the shop knows well enough to do that, but based on your description of the issue this is probably not the likely culprit.

 

[crazyshot97]

yeah those shocks are listed for a 2.5" lift. probably a shock length issue if I had to guess.

I think technically it’s right, from what I’ve read it sounds like Rancho measurements are a little weird and the “matching” size is usually a little too long. And the Zone combo lift is a 3” suspension lift, the rest of the lift comes from the BL and MML. So I would assume the 2.5” shock is right, but what do I know (not that much lol)

 

[Rickyd]

View attachment 636828

Measure this on a rear and a front shock. It should be close to half of the shock's full travel.

From experience those are too short for equal travel.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Sounds to me like your shocks are bottoming out.

Based on the part numbers he gave it seems more likely they'd be too short...but topping out can be just as unpleasant when the momentum of the jeep tries to yank the axle off the ground.

 

[Rickyd]

Based on the part numbers he gave it seems more likely they'd be too short...but topping out can be just as unpleasant when the momentum of the jeep tries to yank the axle off the ground.

They are probably both. Look at his pics for bump extensions.