Shock question

[JeepinDon]

Hello everyone!

My name is Donny and I have a TJ with a 4.5" Rubicon Express short arm kit. My problem is that the rear is way flexy and soft ( it's great on trails but it always leans to the right rear wich according to RE is normal ) and with the added weight of a spare tire carrier, fullsize spare, C02 tank, tools, etc. it bounces down the trails. It's so bad that it bottoms out sometimes on big pot holes and rutted dirt roads and even hops a little. I'm thinking of upgrading to a set of rancho RS9000 shocks to replace my es3000 procomps. My question is do you think I'm making the right decision or should I go with an alternate kind of shock and more importantly why?

I've talked to RE as well as others who have this same kit and even some 4x4 shops and they all agree it is more than likely the shocks. PLEASE HELP ME...LOL

Thanks for all your help.

Donny ( my back hurts )
desenice@bellsouth.net
www.cardoamin.com/id/jeepindon (http://www.cardoamin.com/id/jeepindon)

[Matt]

If the Ranchero's are the adjustable type, it might help somewhat. The one thing that you cant change is that spring, which seems too weak, and from what you say, RE isnt about to change the spring rate which would be the correct way to fix this even by their own addmission is too soft

[Don]

Donny: The whole spring issue has me puzzled, why would a manufacture engineer a lift that makes the vehicle lean to one side? I guess the question is, do you have a weak shock, or a weak spring. Does the vehicle lean, or sag when on flat pavement? Based upon what you said, other Jeeps with same lift, and same weight in rear are not having this problem.. is this correct? Have you stood on your bumper and bounced your Jeep, then did the same on theirs? Any noticable difference from right to left side?
I have the RE 3.5 Super-flex.... man my springs are STIFF, there is no give to them.... but they are also still fairly new.

[mudholebound]

some where on the web i have seen a company offer a different rate spring for the passenger side i have this problem too but my springs are stock height

[gmbtj]

If you want LUXURY, get the Old Man Emu shocks.

[BillM]

I can tell ya that the RS9000's are stiff as steel. You will be VERY unhappy in my humble opinion. I have the Superlift Softrides and they are pretty great. I agree that RE should fix the whole spring rate problem.

[Hipee]

I have heard/read that the TJs are prone to sagging/leaning on the right (passenger) side. This is due to the way the suspension gives when the rear end moves due to engine torque (or something to that effect). RoughCountry list it in a little more detail on their site and make replacement springs for that problem. Give them a shot.

http://www.off-road.com/jeep/news/2004_07/roughcountry.html

[JeepinDon]

Thanks for all your help guys. I've ordered some new shock from RE and have decided to just roll with it for a while until they release the rear triangulated set up. Then I'm hopefully gonna purchase that set up along with some new springs.

You guys are great!

Donny

[Tonka]

Hope I am not to late for this but I installed the RS9000x shocks on my CJ. I really love them. I also bought the incab remote that adjusts them but I have not finished installed that yet. All the wiring is done I just have to install the hosed from the compressor to the shocks.