JCunningham

iTrader: (4)

I guess there alright but I will replace them with Bilstien HDs

JCunningham

iTrader: (4)

hay you did win

1slow01Z71

iTrader: (36)

Depends on which Ranchos you're talking about. Nothing beats the rs9000xl line if you're going with a replacement shock imo since you can adjust them to your taste and conditions.

cam

iTrader: (9)

Ranchos work great. For a while.... Bilsteins last the life of the vehicle. just my .02c worth. Ive run a lot of shocks over the years and imo Kayaba and Bilsteins are tops in terms of value vs performance and durability. Maybe new Ranchos are better I dunno but can only speak from my experience

1slow01Z71

iTrader: (36)

My dad has 150k on the rs9000xl Ranchos on his 02 F350 dually, that's about the hardest beating you could put on a shock with a huge diesel up front and a 35000# pin weight 40' fifth wheel. I also had them on my Dmax for 50k before I sold the truck with no problems. Maybe their cheapo line that comes on factory vehicles but I can only attest to the adjustables that I've put on all the trucks I drive.

cams 98 silverado

adjustables are better made yes. those have much better seals and bushings. its the shocks under 60 bucks a piece that really don't hold well. which is sad in my opinion since you can buy monroe gasmatic(cheapies) LT shocks for 35-40 a piece and they last longer than the 60+ ranchos. I totally want Bilstein shocks, in fact on ebay theres a full front and read kit for the silver front adjustable struts and rear silver shocks that fit NNBS for like 370 or something.

1slow01Z71

iTrader: (36)

I had the Bilstein HDs on my Z71 and they were great, nothing wrong with them, theyre just not as good IMO as the ranchos simply because I can adjust them for what Im doing. If you dont ever tow, haul heavy stuff, or go offroad the Bilsteins ought to be fine. Then again why limit yourself to a set valving rate? Id want to be able to tailor my shocks to ride exactly the way I want. Mine are set on 6 up front and 3 out back unloaded, you need very little dampening when unloaded and it helps with hitting those crappy highway expansion joints and jarring pot holes/bumps. When Im towing with a load carrying hitch I crank the rear up to 8 and still rides perfect, or 6 when Im hauling the 4wheeler or deer corn out to the lease. Just my personal preference since Rancho adjustables and Bilsteins are the same price pretty much.

Ive never had the cheapo Ranchos so I cant comment on them.

RacinRust

I do tow alot. The factory shocks have 0 rebound. Really bad for towing. Are you talking about the rancho rs9000xl?

cams 98 silverado

the RS5000 series shocks are the cheapies but there other ones are better. Those adjustable ones are muuuch nicer. I believe Monroe makes all of the shocks for Rancho, though maybe not since their casing looks much different. Either way to the OP it looked like he had leaking shocks in the rear and they looked to me like the 5000 series which would be the same to the rough country shocks, 5000 series which are also terribad. Personally I do not do much towing, more or less i do large object moving, and have some toys that fit back there... like a B.A honda 3 wheeler(dont know what i was thinking). I like Bilstein for their rep of lasting. If i did a lot more frequent, heavy towing, I would go adjustable. But because of this thread, im gettin' that rear sway bar. I tried an addco rear bar on my OBS truck that was more problem and ZERO difference in handling. That thing was aweful. there was a spacer that kept popping out from the u bolt. I literally would hear a TINGing sound as i drive forward and see a silver piece rolling behind me. go park, walk into traffic and get the spacer. This one looks SOOOO much better and all your input tells me its a winner. Coming from an OBS truck that had roll so bad i wanted to put a harness on my seat so i didnt move around so much to a NNBS is night and day to me; And your telling me this bar is night and day from stock! yeah im sold haha.

RacinRust

sdtrucksprings.com 220.00 for the bar to my door. Been working mega hours haven't had a chance to put on yet. I think I'll go ahead and order the 9000 shocks so when I get a free day I can do all of it.