sagging shock

[the quadfather]

hi folks.
just a quick question for all you knowledgable people out there. i just drove from inlet rd up the waimak to the gorge. as those of you familiar with this track will know, it is basically just a gravel track. however, since driving it i have noticed my front right corner has sunk about an inch. ii am driving a swb safari with 3" lift and rancho 9000s which are set on soft atm.

many thanks in advance. jimbo

[Nis-man]

I don't know too much about Rancho shocks but it is normally the springs that effect the ride height not the shocks. How long have you had the springs in the vehicle?

[the quadfather]

hi there.

i'm afraid i've no idea how long they've been on the vehicle. the shocks are the old style 9000s with only 5 settings so i'm guessing probably abou the same age as them (however old that is!)
I just thought it was strange that it would suddenly sag as opposed to gradually over time.

Many thanks

[DaveM]

How long have the coils been in? (as in, are they new)May not have anything to do with it, but many have been caught out after putting new coils in, and had the drivers/passengers side in the wrong side.

[the quadfather]

no idea i'm afraid mate. previous owner was no help either. i know the vehicle was imported five years ago. one of the last, so i'm told, so i don't know if the shocks and coils were fitted in japan (where all the engine and paint work were evidently done) or here. the shocks are the old style with only 5 settings instead of 9. apologies if i have already mentioned that

[Sadam_Husain]

as already posted its the springs that hold the vehicle height not the shocks, take the springs out and the truck will drop right down untill the shocks bottom out

an inch isnt much of a difference in vehicle height, has it just happened or have you just noticed it? Have you had a good look under the truck to see if you've bent a suspension componant and there isnt a problem with the oppersite corner pushing the RH front corner down?

[Nis-man]

Park your vehicle on level ground and then measure verticly from the centre of the hubs to the edge of the guards and see how the measurements compare side to side.

[the quadfather]

thanks for the tips guys. i think i might be my eyes getting old because the next morning it appeared level and i measured from arch to hub and they were roughly the same.

[tomsoffroad]

I'd pull your Rancho's out and make sure they are now starting to seize up. If you've you've been blatting along a corrigated metal road then they would have been working hard and getting hot. They may be on their way out.
I can get you new RS9000x Ranchos for $195 + gst each if you want?

[the quadfather]

thanks mate. i'll have a look at the w/e