Ranchos vs Bilsteins

NismoFire

NismoFire

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I know, that's like asking Chevy vs Ford, but still...humor me.


I've been a fan of Ranchos all of my offroading years, just like my dad. He and I were discussing this very topic last night while installing his Bilsteins on his Titan. He's a big fan of Rancho, but because his Titan has the leveling kit on it, the Ranchos don't work, so he has to use Bils. (Don't ask me why, he didn't offer an explanation)


Personally, I had Rancho RS5000s on my 94 Hardbody and my 96 Hardbody and LOVED them. Both were lifted about 3/4" after they were installed. I've been researching a set for my X, but I'm not sure if the 5000s or the 9000s would be better after BL and PML.

SO...


Ranchs, or Bilsteins? Recommendations on shocks/struts for post-lift? Post links to info/parts, if you can.
 
D

drbandkgb

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Ranchos If you can tell the difference id like to know... and your looking about 10 or so more a piece...
 
R

ryandavenport

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I llove my bilstiens on my 2nd gen. I had some ranchos on my jeep. The bilstiens stand up to abuse much better and don't fade.
 
NismoFire

NismoFire

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Dave, you have the RS5000s, right? I know I looked the other day, but I've slept since then, therefore, I forgot. HA!
 
Xterraforce

Xterraforce

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I can't offer a comparison since I've never run Bils on anything but I can tell you I'm perfectly happy with my RS5000 Ranchos.
 
granitex

granitex

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Columbus OH
I am running the Ranchos, and know a ton of people running bills. I for one can not tell the difference between them when driving.
 
Timrich

Timrich

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I'm running the Ranchos and love them. I really don't think you will notice a diffrence in the two. Save yourself some cash and get the Ranchos. :)
 
T

TJTJ

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Hugetanker said:
Dang, I might have to go with Rancho's now too....hmmmm. TJ where are you with your plethora of info?!?!?!
Click to expand...


The Rancho 5000's are old fashioned twin tube shocks, the Bilstein 5100's are state of the art monotube shocks with digressive valving.


Essentially, the Rancho's work fine on the street, and unless you drove on the two types back to back, you'd be hard pressed to tell one was not OK.

When I HAVE used them back to back...the Bils are better...they react to the road better, they damp better, etc.

OFF road, especially when on uneven/undulating terrain...the REAL difference arises....HEAT DISSIPATION.

The twin tube shocks just can't dissipate heat the way a monotube can.

In fact, that's WHY monotubes were INVENTED, to do this better.

When testing Rancho's off road, they work fine for a while, then slowly fade away as they heat up...and finally fail to damp you at all if you are on them long enough.

When testing the Bils off road, they don't fade...they stay working great.

:D


Its really not a brand thing so much as a technology thing...Rancho does make some monotube shocks that are comparable, just not at the low price the Bils are available at.


At lot comes down to having a context to know the difference.

Guys who offroaded in Yugo's said they were great, and why waste money on something more expensive, as their Yugo did everything they wanted it to and worked fine.

After they off road in a Land Rover, they have a new benchmark....and are no longer as happy with the Yugo, as they just didn't know what the difference was.

(People off roading Yugo's don't live where there are Xterra's...)


:D
 
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NismoFire

NismoFire

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There's TJ!

That's the kind of info I wanted. Personally, for my application, I don't want to go splashing around in the mud...I enjoy the crawling and climbing, which is what my truck will be built to suit.


Anyone know if the Rancho RS9000XLs are monotube? I know they're the adjustable system, but I can't find anything on the website that says if it's monotube or not.




I'm at work (yes, on Thanksgiving...hellooooo HOLIDAY PAY!) with absolutely NOTHING to do, so I'm doing some heavy research until 3pm. Still trying to find some info for Bils to match what I have for Rancho.
 
NismoFire

NismoFire

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Okay, so the Rancho RS9000XLs are twin-tubed as well. The only monotube that Rancho makes is the RS7000, and they do not show an application for ANY Nissan, much less our trucks. They have them for domestics and Heeps exclusively.


I've been looking for the last hour or so for the best prices, and 4x4parts.com seems to have the cheapest around, excluding shipping. To buy locally, I'd be spending literally TWICE as much. For instance, on the Bilsteins, O'Reilly wants $122 for the front shocks EACH...4x4parts wants $61ea all the way around. Holy cow, what a difference!
 
T

TJTJ

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If you want to try to get a shock that is not "spec'd" for the Xterra, you could try to find a REAR one that has a travel range of 16" - 26", with shorter than that, or longer than that, as Fine as well, as long as it can compress down to 16" or less, and extend to 26" or more, etc.

You'd also look for one with valving that was 255/70-ish.



For the FRONT, you'd be looking for a 9" - 13" range, with the same caveats for at least as short on compression/longer on extension being OK, etc.

Front valving should be ~ 360/80.


Using those specs, you could see if ANY shocks meet the criteria, and they'd probably be a reasonable match.


:D


For comparison, the OEM shocks are valved ~ 285/65 FRONT, and ~ 205/55 REAR...

...So the above higher numbers essentially are to compensate for the OEM's being a bit mushy, plus, the added forces a raised COG, and armor, etc, can impose/need to be controlled/damped, etc.


For context, and to simplify it, think of the first # as mostly damping the weight of the part of the truck held up by the suspension, like the frame and everything on it, etc....

...and the second # as mostly damping the motions of the Non-Suspended parts, like the axles, tires, etc.

(For Valving expressed as First #/Second #)


The numbers are higher for the fronts because on the X, the leverage of the control arms is a large factor, in that the shocks are far inboard of the arm ends...so a teeny amount of shock travel = a LARGE amount of arm travel.

(Think of it like the force you can apply at the end of a scissor tips, vs the force at the end of the scissor blades closer to the handle....the closer to the handle, the more force...and, to DAMP THAT FORCE, requires the shock to have more damping ability)
 
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NismoFire

NismoFire

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TJTJ said:
If you want to try to get a shock that is not "spec'd" for the Xterra, you could try to find a REAR one that has a travel range of 16" - 26", with shorter than that, or longer than that, as Fine as well, as long as it can compress down to 16" or less, and extend to 26" or more, etc.

You'd also look for one with valving that was 255/70-ish.



For the FRONT, you'd be looking for a 9" - 13" range, with the same caveats for at least as short on compression/longer on extension being OK, etc.

Front valving should be ~ 360/80.


Using those specs, you could see if ANY shocks meet the criteria, and they'd probably be a reasonable match.


:D


For comparison, the OEM shocks are valved ~ 285/65 FRONT, and ~ 205/55 REAR...

...So the above higher numbers essentially are to compensate for the OEM's being a bit mushy, plus, the added forces a raised COG, and armor, etc, can impose/need to be controlled/damped, etc.


For context, and to simplify it, think of the first # as mostly damping the weight of the part of the truck held up by the suspension, like the frame and everything on it, etc....

...and the second # as mostly damping the motions of the Non-Suspended parts, like the axles, tires, etc.

Valving expressed as First #/Second #
Click to expand...


Ahhh, you just saved me more research! Man...that's what I was hoping to find.

*off to look up the RS7000s given TJ's never-ending wisdom*
 
D

drbandkgb

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Yep 4x4parts have been the cheapest I have seen on either brand..


All I know is anything is better then the worn out stock turds you have on there now ;)
and if you feel paying 66.00 per vs 49.00 per is the way to go.. Go for it..
264.00 plus shipping or 196.00 plus shipping.. At the stage your X is in thats the shackles for the PML ;)

Just food for thought.. Either way your upgrading..
 
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NismoFire

NismoFire

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Stalker. Jeez! LoL jk...No wonder I float down 840! It glides like an old Buick at 70mph. I'm surprised Jonathan wasn't laughing at me the whole way back from Gallatin the other day.


Can you tell I'm bored at work? I've been a post-whore today for sure.
 
NismoFire

NismoFire

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ZING!! Hahahaha.



So I think I've made up my mind to go with the Bilsteins. After reading TJ's posts, it seems like monotube is the way to go, and Rancho doesn't make one for the X. I even checked out his specs against the Universal Fit 7000s and none meet the criteria needed for our applications.


My desk has turned into a surveillance/XTerra research facility instead of a security office.
 
NismoFire

NismoFire

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Lift will be after Christmas...monetary priorities are on Christmas, so I hope mid-January to at least do the BL and PML. I get a raise once I start my other job Jan 1, so that's the plan. I've shown Karen the parts list for the BL in hopes that she might order them for Christmas. Either way, January will be D-Day. I'm gonna need shocks anyway, so may as well do it during the lift.

I want to do the PML before Wooly's, but the funding won't be there for an alignment. I've got connections in a body shop, but not a tire shop, unfortunately.
 
D

drbandkgb

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I dont get to go to woolys :( Truck line is working the next 3 saturdays :(

So some one will need to get the toys we collected
 
NismoFire

NismoFire

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Hmm...yeah, Daddy has vacation days every weekend thru the end of January for hunting, but he even had to work Sunday. First one he's worked since the Altima re-design.


I'm hoping Karen will let us go to Wooly's..if so, I'll take em down there.
 
AZhiAZiAM

AZhiAZiAM

Suspension Lift
Location
Fresno,CA
so reading this tread. i noticed it was just between those two brands. just got off the phone with 4wheelparts here in town and they recommend procomp ES3000 i run procomp on my ford and have never had a problem with them. anyone here any an input on how they run with an xterra. i ran Rancho's on my old xterra and never had an issue with them was just looking into blistien's and they were 60 bucks more at 4wheelparts than the procomps. i will eventually have a 2bl with sl lift. but these shocks need to be done on this one now.
 
Matt2558

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AZhiAZiAM said:
did you mean OEM? if not i'm not sure what OME is...unless its old man emu's from 4x4parts.
Click to expand...

Yes Old Man Emu, they are insane and in my opinion are better fit and finish for Xterra than any other brand. I have them on my truck and they ride amazing on road and perform incredibly off-road. I wouldn't put anything else on my truck.
 
Matt2558

Matt2558

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Also go through nisstec lifts if you get them, they have better prices than 4x4 parts.com and they now give our members 5% off so you can't beat that.
 
AZhiAZiAM

AZhiAZiAM

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Fresno,CA
I believe they only carry them for 2nd Gen if I'm.not mistaken ill look again thouhhknow 4x4 part's carries them for the first gens
 
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