Help finding shocks

[Jeepoftheseus]

Hey folks!

I'm back after taking a break from working on the jeep through the hottest part of the Arizona summer. My brother and I just finished replacing the rear drum brakes yesterday and my 98' is finally mostly safe to drive again.

That being said, it's past time to replace the shocks on this thing. I'm looking for Rancho RS5000x shocks that can accommodate between a 1 and 2 inch lift, but I can only seem to find 0 inch, and 2 inch. Not sure if anything i've looked at will work for between 0 and 2", so I'm mostly hoping someone will check my work. I'm new to working on shocks so I have some lessons to learn for sure.

The reason is that my TJ currently has a 1 inch lift, but it was probably a 2 inch lift at one point and is now sagging. I'd like to put on new coils that bring it back up to 2 inches someday, but cant do so now because of my budget. The jeep also has stock control arms on it that need to be replaced badly, so i'll be slowing working through the whole suspension probably over the next year or two.

Any help is appreciated!

 

[Lazuli]

You’d want 2” shocks and appropriate bumpstop length.

 

[Jeepoftheseus]

The problem I'm having is that it doesn't look like Rancho makes a shock for 0-2" lift.

 

[macleanflood]

Which is why you need to measure your actual travel rather than a manufacturer's claim of compatibility.

And this from someone who murdered three pairs of shocks.

-Mac

 

[Wildman]

Which is why you need to measure your actual travel rather than a manufacturer's claim of compatibility.

And this from someone who murdered three pairs of shocks.

-Mac

You shock killer.... Let's see if you can get past this tendency and save these new ones...

My the fluids stay in your shocks & the rebound & compression give you some comfort in these trying times...

 

[Rickyd]

Hey folks!

I'm back after taking a break from working on the jeep through the hottest part of the Arizona summer. My brother and I just finished replacing the rear drum brakes yesterday and my 98' is finally mostly safe to drive again.

That being said, it's past time to replace the shocks on this thing. I'm looking for Rancho RS5000x shocks that can accommodate between a 1 and 2 inch lift, but I can only seem to find 0 inch, and 2 inch. Not sure if anything i've looked at will work for between 0 and 2", so I'm mostly hoping someone will check my work. I'm new to working on shocks so I have some lessons to learn for sure.

The reason is that my TJ currently has a 1 inch lift, but it was probably a 2 inch lift at one point and is now sagging. I'd like to put on new coils that bring it back up to 2 inches someday, but cant do so now because of my budget. The jeep also has stock control arms on it that need to be replaced badly, so i'll be slowing working through the whole suspension probably over the next year or two.

Any help is appreciated!

 

[Jeepoftheseus]

Which is why you need to measure your actual travel rather than a manufacturer's claim of compatibility.

And this from someone who murdered three pairs of shocks.

-Mac

Good to see you again Mac! Can you point toward some instructions on how to do that?

 

[Wildman]

Good to see you again Mac! Can you point toward some instructions on how to do that?

I think I've got this right....


1) Remove your springs
2) Measure compressed shock length with suspension fully compressed
3) Reinstall shocks
4) Fully flex suspension until springs almost unseat and measure shock length.
5) Find shocks that allow a 50/50 split in up & down travel from your ride height or as close as possible.

 

[OldBuzzard]

Or easier, see this entry: https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...nidentified-lifted-objects.82245/post-1647333

 

[Lazuli]

The problem I'm having is that it doesn't look like Rancho makes a shock for 0-2" lift.

Then you’re going to need to go up in lift height or use another shock?

 

[Jeepoftheseus]

Does anyone know if these will work with a 0-2" lift?

https://www.amazon.com/Rancho-RS5000X-Gas-Shocks-set/dp/B01963XI50/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[Lazuli]

Does anyone know if these will work with a 0-2" lift?

https://www.amazon.com/Rancho-RS5000X-Gas-Shocks-set/dp/B01963XI50/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Those are 0-1”

 

[Jeepoftheseus]

I think the reason im so confused is that the ranchos are what Chris recommends in this post for a 2 inch lift but the listings on amazon all sat it wont work for a 2" lift.

 

[Rickyd]

I think the reason im so confused is that the ranchos are what Chris recommends in this post for a 2 inch lift but the listings on amazon all sat it wont work for a 2" lift.

Compare their extended and collapsed lengths to stock. It will give you an idea what they are suitable for. Amazon is a terrible place to be getting information from

 

[MikeE024]

FYI, I don't know if this is the length you need, but a member is selling his 2.5" lift Ranchos. You can look up the collapsed and extended lengths on Rancho's site.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/rancho-rs-5000x-2-5-lift-bnib.85932/

 

[Rickyd]

FYI, I don't know if this is the length you need, but a member is selling his 2.5" lift Ranchos. You can look up the collapsed and extended lengths on Rancho's site.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/rancho-rs-5000x-2-5-lift-bnib.85932/

The 239's are good for 2.5-3". the 241's are ok for less than 2".

That is if you want even travel. Getting decent travel in the rear is tough.

 

[Jeepoftheseus]

Or easier, see this entry: https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...nidentified-lifted-objects.82245/post-1647333

Ok! After reading this and going out and taking measurements, I feel like I have a way better idea what i'm doing now. Here's what I found.

Right now, my front shock at ride height is about 18.5 inches. I hopped on the rancho website, and it looks like there are a few shocks that would work in the front:

RS55239: 14.4" compressed, 23.8" extended
RS55241: 13.5" compressed, 21.67" extended
RS55128: 13" compressed, 21.03" extended

My thinking here is that the 239s would work best given my measurements, however im confused again because when I measured my coils I came to the conclusion that I only have a 1" lift. I hope to upgrade in the future to a 2" lift.

 

[OldBuzzard]

Now you're on the right track. Don't worry too much about what the manufacturer says about lift height, that's just a ballpark number.

I agree than the 239 sounds right for your Jeep. With your current lift, that should give you 4" up travel and 5" down travel. And if you lift it another inch, you'll still be able to use the same shock, with 5" up travel and 4" down travel. That's about as close as you're going to get with available shocks.

 

[Rickyd]

Ok! After reading this and going out and taking measurements, I feel like I have a way better idea what i'm doing now. Here's what I found.

Right now, my front shock at ride height is about 18.5 inches. I hopped on the rancho website, and it looks like there are a few shocks that would work in the front:

RS55239: 14.4" compressed, 23.8" extended
RS55241: 13.5" compressed, 21.67" extended
RS55128: 13" compressed, 21.03" extended

My thinking here is that the 239s would work best given my measurements, however im confused again because when I measured my coils I came to the conclusion that I only have a 1" lift. I hope to upgrade in the future to a 2" lift.

You'll need as much extra bumpstop as you have lift if you use the 239s. That doesn't make sense to me. Like I said,the 239's are for 2.5-3" of lift to have even travel

 

[jjvw]

You'll need as much extra bumpstop as you have lift if you use the 239s. That doesn't make sense to me. Like I said,the 239's are for 2.5-3" of lift to have even travel

He should ignore extending the bump stops until after he has the shocks installed. The shocks will show how much extension is needed to make the jounces work better.