Shocks limiting wheel travel?

Hi guys,

before I decided to tear down my jeep I bought some Rancho rs5000 shocks for it,they fit good. Now that I've torn it down,I'm on the putting back together stage. I find that the shocks lack 1/8-1/4 of an inch to fitting.I's this common or are my shocks to small? Should I just flex the suspension down and slide them in or do I need different ones? I have not put a lift or new shackles on. Its all factory, I did do new bushings and stuff like that.

Landon Bell

 

I'd say they are to short.

 

I bought them at sears about a year ago and since then I drove the jeep once before tear down.I told the guy at sears that it did not have a lift on it so if I order more should I get ones for a 1-2" lift? Do you think I could sell the ones i have?

 

If so, should I go ahead and put the shocks on? The transmission and transfer case are not in it yet,but they will be in a week or so. Would that make enough of a difference?

 

The droop should still be same wouldn't it?

 

it just does not seem like the shocks should limit the droop cause I think it does stay the same.I'm not planning on doing rock crawling or anything like that,maybe some light trails. It does seem like it would really stress out the shocks.

 

You could put longer bump stops or limiting straps on it to limit droop some.
It will hurt the shocks long term but if your not going to be really flexing it dont sweat it.

 

Everyone else seems to understand, but I don't (nothing new!)... Are the shocks too long, or too short to fit right now?

 

Too short.

 

When I rebuilt Old Bill, I originally used the stock springs, and they sure looked a lot better at first, even with it all back together. After driving it for a while, they settled back to nearly flat. I then exchanged them for new 0~1" Rancho springs, and they 'settled' slightly as well. I used Monroe's designed for the stock set up with no troubles. I'd say you'll be OK as-is.

 

well I tried what I thought was the front on the front and then I switched them, I dont think there is a difference.

 

they are too short

 

It sounds to me like those shocks are definately too short. Granted, you may get the springs to compress some by putting the body back on like Boyink suggested. I always like my shocks to be about their travel midpoint when my Jeep is just sitting there. That way, I know I have about the same amount of travel up as down. If you can't even bolt your shocks on, they are for sure going to limit downtravel, even if you are just driving around on the street. As for resale on the shocks, I don't know, the Rancho 5000 shocks are pretty stiff on small Jeeps like we have. Just my .02

Mike

 

Don't "fall" for their RSX shocks either. Still waaay too stiff...Don't ask how I know...

 

I agree with Mike - your shocks should be close to their mid-point when you install them. If your springs sag, say, 2 inches - then you'll be able to install the shocks. But - at most, you'll have only 2" of down-travel. That's not enough and you'll "hang the axle" by the shock every time you make a turn into a parking lot with a substantial curb. This isn't good for the shock or the shock mount (which will probably break off eventually).

I'd spring for some longer shocks. Go to the Rancho website and look up the compressed and extended length recommended for your CJ with no lift. Then, compare those figures to the shocks that you have... You don't have to buy Rancho shocks, but at least you'll know the size that you need.

 

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