Until mid-Mar, I had 2" of T-bar lift and Bilsteins. In Mar, I installed a Rancho 4" lift with RS9000X shocks. I found something interesting.


With the Bilsteins on a stock suspension, when the suspension was at full droop the shock limited travel. While it's better to hit a bump stop before a shock runs out of travel, the plus with this set-up was the CVs could never droop so too far be put in a bind.


The RS9000Xs for a 4" lift have a lot of travel. So much that the upper a-arm hits the frame "pad" and the shock still has travel left. While this is better for the shock, it's bad for the CVs if you drive aggressively off road.


If the CVs frequently go to full droop they can wear prematurely or even break--especially if you have a "knuckle" kit that has a steering knuckles that are much heavier than the stock knuckles. I have heard that the knuckle kits (like: Rancho, Fab Tech, Trailmaster, Tuff-Country, Skyjacker, RCD) have been known to tear apart CVs when aggressively off-roading, and I think too much travel is the reason.


The fix to all this is simple. I found that an 11/16" thick piece of plywood, placed on the metal pad on the frame under the upper a-arm, keeps the CV from binding. So I ordered some 11/16" x 1 5/8" poly bump stops. The place on the frame than contacts the upper a-arm at full droop looks like it was made for a bump stop, and all I have to do is drill a hole. I will experiment a bit and may need a 1/16" - 1/8" shim under the bump stop, depending on how far it compresses.


This is definitely something to look at.......................

I just can't believe that at full droop, the shocks are preventing the A-Arm from hitting the stop. I'm not doubting you, but how would a garage with a lift install these shocks? You'd have to put the truck back on the ground and then tighten them down.

As for the Rancho's designed for a lift.....Would they work on a STOCK truck? Or would they be too long?

Not sure what shops with lifts would do. There is no need to lift the truck to install shocks, so it may never come up.


I think the Ranchos designed for a lift would be too long, but I am not sure.Edited by: afp1

afp1 I think a set of limit straps would be best and pretty straight forward. All you would need to do is jack the truck up until you felt the CVs binding or the arms were about to hit the frame. Measure the distance from the bottom shock mount(this would double as the limit straps lower mount) to a pre-determined spot on the frame(this would be the limit straps upper mount) subtract a 1/2" or so for a safety cushion and this would be the length of the limit strap. Biggest reason I think the limit straps would be better is you wouldn't feel and hear the arms slapping the frame everytime they made contact.

I just can't believe that at full droop, the shocks are preventing the A-Arm from hitting the stop. I'm not doubting you, but how would a garage with a lift install these shocks? You'd have to put the truck back on the ground and then tighten them down.
It's simple...when the truck has more droop than the stroke of the shocks the shocks become the limiting factor. Most shops shouldn't need to put the truck on a lift to replace the shocks; if they do a jack under the tire will work.