Shocks

[Daves94XE]

i'm fixing to get new shocks for when i find some control arms and do my lift. my question is which shocks are you guys running and Y?looking at the differences in gas charged or oil charged hydraulic? just curious what you guys are running, I'm doing a 3" susp lift.

[Cuong Nguyen]

I would say the majority of people run Rancho shocks.

[Daves94XE]

yes but there are two kinds of rancho's oil charged and gas charged

[MY1PATH]

to be more specific, all rancho shocks contain oil. it is how their dampening works. The Gas charged shocks are charged with a gas(usually nitrogen) that does not mix with the oil thus keeping it cooler and more consistant during heavy use. The Non-gas charged shocks allow the oil to get foamy hot and thin under heavy use wich can create some unwanted ride characteristics.

 

The RS5000's provide a solid ride but can be considered on the siff side for some. Its good for street and to reduce bottoming on the trail. I have these in the front and if you go fast over rough stuff(cobble stones, washboard) they get a little undesireable... so keep your speed down or get gas charged.

The RS9000's are gas charged to provide more consistant ride conditions under heavy use like High speed trails and washboards. they are also fully ajustable so you can make them as soft of as stiff as you like. Good for all conditions. These are what I run in the and I'm really happy with them.

[Cuong Nguyen]

Well, I'm running the old school hydraulics in the rear if it helps. I really don't know much of the nitrogen charged stuff.

[Daves94XE]

ok thats what i was wondering. i may just go ahead and get the gas charged. im trying to figure out which would be better. most of my driving in on road and mostly fishing spots and forest service roads, with some light trails. i don't want something that is gonna be a really harsh ride but stiff enough to not be bottoming out on everything.

[nismothunder]

I prefer air shocks myself. I ran them on a old chevy truck and I could jack it up by pumping the shocks up(first person who says shocks dont affect ride height is going to get fish whacked)

 

I have stock junks on my pathfinder, but there the adjustable kind and they where nice when they where still good.

 

I run Bilstein and Ranchos on my other cars. The Ranchos (5000s?) are on a full size ford and they ride great. They provide a very, very stable truck on wash boards and pavement, it is nearly as good as the bilstiens on my 'maro and that car sits 3 inchs off the ground.

 

I've never ran the higher end Ranchos so I have no say on them.