Okay, just ordered a set of 9000s for the CC HD to see if I can improve the ride a little in the HD. For those out there that have manufactured their own spacers for their shocks to be used with Green Keys, was it difficult? Do you have any drawings of what they look like or can you post photos? I don't have an issue making parts, just very skeptical about making them for my 40k truck... Any help and advice would be helpful. Oh yeah, I am talking about spacers for the front shocks to help keep them in their "happy" place or the center of the shock where they are designed to have both upward and downward dampening.


Thanks in advance,


Jarrod

Why do you need spacers? I have an 02 HD with the green keys and my 9000's work just fine.

I have heard that with the lift the green keys puts on, it takes the shock out of premium damning position by putting it higher in the stroke? I have heard people using spacers to accomodate for the shorter shock with the larger distance and figured it would help to have the shocks sit idle in the position they were designed for. Do you know what part number your 9000's are? I have heard they have a couple different ones for our trucks and if you are happy with yours I would love the input!


TIA - J

se7enracing, I believe you can order Ranchos for your vehicle based off the amount of lift you have on your truck. I could guess if you were going for a few inches of lift out of it, then you should be able to order a 9000 for that amount of lift, or pretty close. This is all assuming the 9000's you ordered are just the factory stock height replacements. Just something to think about cause if you can, then you wouldn't need spacers at all. Kinda like if you ordered 9000's for your HD that already has a 4" lift on it. They wouldn't give you stock replacement 9000's, they would give you 9000's for the truck with 4 inches of lift. With me? Hope that helps. Good luck.


Ken

9000s come in stock height and 4+" over, nothing in between. use a couple of pieces of 1/4 stock if you cant get a thicker piece

FWIW there is no premium dampening position, the valving on these shocks is straight rate. It doesn't get stiffer as it compresses or anything like that, push down on a shock when it's off the truck and you'll see. You just want the shocks so that they will not bottom out or top out before the suspension stops do it. The 4" lift Rancho shocks are way too long unless you have the actual Rancho 4" lift kit. Get the regular ones (RS99287?) and fab up a 1" spacer and that's as good as it's going to get. Edited by: Camstyn

Just an update for everyone on this... We installed the 9000's this last weekend without spacers and WOW what an inprovement over stock... I know I run low profile tires but the difference is AMAZING... I had 9000's on my last truck but didn't notice just how much of a difference they made til the Dmax with 22inch tires on it... She is a smooth runner now! I don't know if I even need spacers as it rides nicer than my previous 1/2 dodge did! I am still going to flip the overload springs this weekend but I wanted to do everything ONE step at a time to see how much of a difference everything makes...


~J

Yes, they really do make a difference ~ even the missus commented altho she was unaware of me replacing the OEMs.

Do you know what part number your 9000's are? I have heard they have a couple different ones for our trucks and if you are happy with yours I would love the input!
IIRC they were 99274 and 99295. When I bought them they were listed for trucks with 0"-2" of lift. But I also seem to remember someone mentioning that Rancho, in their infinite wisdom, no longer sold shocks for "minor" lifts (like 2"), but instead sold them for stock height or 4" and more.

Thanks Jim. I don't know what #'s my tire guy put on but they work great! I do appreciate you listing them for me though!

FWIW there is no premium dampening position, the valving on these shocks is straight rate. It doesn't get stiffer as it compresses or anything like that, push down on a shock when it's off the truck and you'll see. You just want the shocks so that they will not bottom out or top out before the suspension stops do it. The 4" lift Rancho shocks are way too long unless you have the actual Rancho 4" lift kit. Get the regular ones (RS99287?) and fab up a 1" spacer and that's as good as it's going to get. I could not have said it better. Well, I could havehttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif But I am a nice guy.


By the way, I have the green keys and I have them turned down as far as possible. (So low I had to use thread lock to keep them from falling out. And with this setup the shocks are to short and would top out on some of the big bumps. I had to make a spacer in order to fix this.