Rancho shocks and bushings

[Diorama]

Need to replace the shocks in the rear of my 80 series. It has a 6" lift. It currently has Rancho 9112 s in it. Doing some measuring it appears that they are the wrong length shocks. With the shocks removed and suspension fully compressed on one side the compressed length is 420mm (although this is still not hitting the bump stop) and the extended length is 650 (the wheel is just coming off the ground). Have been looking through the Rancho catalogue for some replacements and I can't find any that are the right length that have the correct bushings. It looks like the L1 for the top and L3 for the bottom would fit. My question is can I change the bushings i.e if the shocks came with L1 bushings on both ends can I put an L3 bushing into one end or are the shock housings that they press into different for each bushing type. Also some of the bushings with an LS code would also fit. Can they also be substituted for different LS code bushings.

[turoa]

Hey man, if you can I'd steer right away from the Rancho's. Poor choice of shock for an 80 series (and they don't really last that long in heavy duty applications). Plus they are not really all that cheap anymore. Go for a set of EFS extremes or something.

P.s everyone has different opinions of shocks, this is just my personal experience

[Diorama]

Hey man, if you can I'd steer right away from the Rancho's. Poor choice of shock for an 80 series (and they don't really last that long in heavy duty applications). Plus they are not really all that cheap anymore. Go for a set of EFS extremes or something.

P.s everyone has different opinions of shocks, this is just my personal experience

Thanks for the advice. I was only going to them as that was what was already on there and I thought mounting would be easier if I kept it the same. It appears the 9112 shocks probably aren't far wrong for length. I need to look into the mounting of other brands. I would need the equivalent rancho mounting L1 for the Top and L3 for the bottom. It looks like the standard mount for the top but I have a later model rear diff housing in the rear which appears to be the L3 mounting type.
They will be used in heavy duty applications as I tow a 3.5T boat.
Any other opinons on what I should put on it would be greatly appreciated.
Also info from various manufacturers on their shock lengths. They all seem to have shocks listed by vehicle but when its modified that all goes out the window. I would need a shock around 420mm comp and 650 extended with mountings as mentioned

[Diorama]

Have spent just about all day on the internet and I can only find a catalogue by Rancho that lists its shock lengths and all relative info to choose a set of shocks for a modified vehicle. All other shock manufacturers info needs to be searched by vehicle which is absolutely useless as I have a 6" lift.
What do others do to get the right shocks. At this stage I have no choice but to go to Rancho shocks as they make it easy for me. But if they aren't that good then I am keen to change but need the right info to be able to order some. This is driving me mad

[zukmeista]

Just need to look in the right place.
http://www.4wdbits.co.nz/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=275

[Diorama]

Just need to look in the right place.
http://www.4wdbits.co.nz/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=275

Have already looked at 4WDbits.
The length on those ones are spot on but my top mounting is not a pin.

[truckingood]

check out my4by.com

[wopass]

Your truck is an odd ball if it doesn't have pin top, eye bottom in the rear and pin pin front. Someone probly hacked it up to get those in. That's lame!!

As allready said, go EFS extreme and be done With it.

[Diorama]

Your truck is an odd ball if it doesn't have pin top, eye bottom in the rear and pin pin front. Someone probly hacked it up to get those in. That's lame!!

As allready said, go EFS extreme and be done With it.

It looks original. Both top and bottom are eye. Bottom has 3/4 or 19mm pin that the eye slides onto. and Top has a 12mm bolt with a 16mm outside dia sleeve. EFS extreme would possibly be the way to go if I can get the right length and eye combination.

[Diorama]

might be getting down the right track. The patrol has eye top and bottom.
Will dig a little deeper.

[Diorama]

That hit a dead end as well. The shocks for the patrol with 100mm lift are too long. 4WDbits don't list them for a lift less than that. The mountings would be okay though. The EFS web site don't seem to have the comp and exp lengths just have the vehicle make with lift size.

[derk]

with a 6" lift you might need to start looking at long travel shocks like bilstein etc with 10-12" travel to work with your compressed/extended lengths, all the mainstream 4wd brands typically allow for 2-4" lift and average travel

[Diorama]

with a 6" lift you might need to start looking at long travel shocks like bilstein etc with 10-12" travel to work with your compressed/extended lengths, all the mainstream 4wd brands typically allow for 2-4" lift and average travel

10" travel should work but without the manufacturers listing ext and comp lengths its hard to pick which ones suit. It appears that my top mount is not a standard 80 series mount so searching for shocks for that vehicle won't work. I now know that the top mount is the same as a patrol but searching on that vehicle it appears that the EFS Extreme listed for a 100mm lift is too long for my mountings as the shock will bottom out under compression and there is nothing listed for the patrol with a smaller lift. I'm not sure whether the EFS extreme comes out in a smaller length than that or whether I will need to step down to the EFS XTR with the 40mm bore. Just wish the manufacturers would list extended and comp lengths of all their shocks.
Rancho do and its so much easier when searching for a modified vehicle. They even list the top and bottom mounts for every shock.

[Diorama]

I have found a Bilstein shock that's the right length and the mounts are both eyes except they are both (5/8") 16mm eyes i.e.EB1 mount (Rancho call this an L1. I think there the same thing). That's fine for the top mount but the bottom mount needs to be 19mm or EB2. (Rancho call this an L3) That brings me back to my original question regarding the Rancho shocks which now also applies to these shocks. Are the different size bushings interchangeable. i.e. can an EB2 bush be put into a shock that has an EB1 bush or can an L3 bush be put into a shock with an L1 bush.
Also any comments on Bilstein shocks in particular the 5125 (product code 33-185552)

[suzolla]

Hi Phil,
Have a look at http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=67&t=33712.
I have got a couple of TSP-BIL10-5125-255-70 Bilstein 10" 5125 (v255/70) Shocks 33-185552

But as you say I think the bottom bush size will be a problem.

Can bring on in for you to have a look at if you like.

Cheers
Tim

[Diorama]

Hi Phil,
Have a look at http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=67&t=33712.
I have got a couple of TSP-BIL10-5125-255-70 Bilstein 10" 5125 (v255/70) Shocks 33-185552

But as you say I think the bottom bush size will be a problem.

Can bring on in for you to have a look at if you like.

Cheers
Tim

Wouldn't mind having a look. I suspect the bushes will be interchangeable but it doesn't look like anyone on here knows. Might have to go into a shock shop tomorrow and see if I can find out.
In your other thread you mentioned the eye size as being 1/2". Are you sure that is correct as all the info I have found on that shock is that both eyes are 16mm.

[suzolla]

1/2" is the sleeve ID.
The bush ID will be bigger.
The OD of a Rancho bush is bigger than a Bilstein bush.
Will also check what Ranchos I have
Cheers
Tim

[suzolla]

Bilstein Bush ID is 16mm and the OD is about 28mm

Ranchos ID varies, OD is about 30mm

Ranchos I have are

RS999034
RS999036
RS999238

I would think the Bilsteins might be a bit light for heavy wagon and a 3.5T boat on the back.

As least with the Ranchos they are adjustable

Cheers
Tim

[Diorama]

Bilstein Bush ID is 16mm and the OD is about 28mm

Ranchos ID varies, OD is about 30mm

Ranchos I have are

RS999034
RS999036
RS999238

I would think the Bilsteins might be a bit light for heavy wagon and a 3.5T boat on the back.

As least with the Ranchos they are adjustable

Cheers
Tim

Yea I thought the bilstein bushes were 16mm not 12mm.
The Ranchos you have will be too long. I need something with a compressed length of around 400-420mm or as close as possible

[Diorama]

It looks like I can convert the top mounts back to original. They have just bolted a U shaped piece to the original mount to take the eye of the rancho shock. Just need to take it off and I'm back to standard. Would like to go to the EFS Extreme shocks as suggested on here so just need to find the right length. Looks like the ones already suggested should do the trick.

[Lchundy]

Was reading this last night and thought your 80 is odd ball as with those rear top mounts
If you end up using efs extremes dont use the rubber boots the just fill up with mud,What did you use on your wagon for castor correction?

[Diorama]

Was reading this last night and thought your 80 is odd ball as with those rear top mounts
If you end up using efs extremes dont use the rubber boots the just fill up with mud,What did you use on your wagon for castor correction?

Rear mounts are now back to normal. It did just have a U shaped mounting bracket bolted through the standard mounting hole so just removed it.
The truck doesn't see much mud these days so not concerned about the boots. Its mainly used as a tow wagon for a trailer launch and also for launching a 5m tinny off rocks. Big lift is good for that.
I didn't do the suspension lift so don't know too much about it. They have used castor correction radius arms on the front.
Not sure what's standard and what's not on the rear. It drives beautifully on the road (almost like a car). Suspect that's due to the extra heavy duty sway bars that have been used.

[zukmeista]

Think you mean sway bars, no torsion bars on a solid axle truck.

[Diorama]

Think you mean sway bars, no torsion bars on a solid axle truck.

Sorry yes your right will edit.

[Diorama]

New shocks have arrived. Decided to take advice and have gone to EFS Extremes. Nice big shock compared to the Ranchos I had. Was also looking at Tough Dogs but couldn't find any info on lengths and mounts. Contacted the company and apparently they have charts but its information they don't make public. Not sure whether this is info they don't want competitors to know or potential purchasers. They wanted me to send them info on the lengths and mounts I wanted and they would make something for me. I just wanted something standard off the shelf for ease of replacement in the future. So without the info I needed just bought standard off the shelf Extremes suited to the lift I have.

[Diorama]

I have also answered my original question about whether the bushes are interchangeable as the Rancho shocks I had were one size eye and the new extremes are a different size eye so the bushes are not interchangeable.

New shocks now fitted and so easy when things are standard. Thanks to everyone who had an input.