Rancho or Bilstein

nadrojcote · March 26, 2015

Also if the vehicles weight causes the coil to compress just as much as stock then you wouldn't get any lift out of the 5100's. They are preloading the stock coil so that it takes more weight to compress it anymore.

It would would have to raise the top coil plate as well in order to not be compressing the coil any more than stock height.

5RWill · March 26, 2015

I guess i can see how it pre-loads the spring but i can't see how that effects the displacement of the spring due to compression, when all that is compressing the spring is the truck. So i guess my understanding of pre-load is wrong, it is indeed considered pre-loaded but i don't see how it effects the ride of the vehicle.

This wasn't necessarily my main point though. My point was the rancho is lifting the front end by the exact same design. Now really what i'm saying is get the damn things and tell me how you think they feel compared to your bilsteins you had? Kapeesh? lol ;)

Two good reads on the matter.

http://fixbroke.tumblr.com/post/39188918110/spring-preload-and-sag-what-does-it-really-do

http://www.zoomsquared.com/technical-information/coilover-spring-preload-explained

Jon A · March 26, 2015

Also if the vehicles weight causes the coil to compress just as much as stock then you wouldn't get any lift out of the 5100's. They are preloading the stock coil so that it takes more weight to compress it anymore.

It would would have to raise the top coil plate as well in order to not be compressing the coil any more than stock height.

The spring is compressed more at full extension, not at ride height. The biggest reason for the downgrade in ride quality is less extension travel, which causes the suspension to "top out" more often and more abruptly.

The longer total length of the Ranchos will give more extension travel from the same ride height, provided it's not limited by the upper arm/ball joint (which it probably is).

Those who want the best ride with a substantial level should probably have a new set of upper arms on their shopping list no matter what brand of shocks they go with.

nadrojcote · March 26, 2015

If it wasn't compressed more at ride height with 5100's it would create a lift. They are preloading the coils, bilstein even says this themselves...... Which increase the rate of the coil, creating a harsher ride.

Believe me guys, if I am not at all happy with the rancho's you will hear it. I'm not spending that much money on shocks to decrease my ride quality.

Jon A · March 26, 2015

It does create a lift. That's the whole point. You have the same amount of weight on the coil and it compresses the same amount. The lift comes from the snap ring being higher off the ground. The only time the coil is compressed more than stock is when the wheel is lifted off the ground.

Unless the coil is a variable rate, its pre-load does not affect its rate. That's just how things work. Don't get hung up on the "popular vernacular" among customers who don't know very much and manufacturers who pick up the vernacular of their target customers. You've probably heard many level kits describe the coilover as a "strut" as well. Just because a company calls it that, doesn't mean it is.

austinkillough · March 28, 2015

I had the front ranchoquicklift installed a few days ago. It gave me 3.25 inches of lift. Quite a bit more than its supposed to. The ride is pretty much the same as stock when I have them on the #6 setting. I tried #3 and that was wayyy to bouncy. Felt like a bobble head. I also tried #7 and that was too stiff.

I had the front ranchoquicklift installed a few days ago. It gave me 3.25 inches of lift. Quite a bit more than its supposed to. The ride is pretty much the same as stock when I have them on the #6 setting. I tried #3 and that was wayyy to bouncy. Felt like a bobble head. I also tried #7 and that was too stiff.

nadrojcote · March 28, 2015

If your truck is like mine and has settled pretty low after lots of kms. I currently sit over 1" lower in the front compared to new, which would give me about the same amount of lift as you.

Ezekiel2517 · April 15, 2015

What is the deal with the Rancho 7000MT? They look more like the Billstein 5100s than the Rancho Quicklifts? Are they the same concept as the 5100s? I have been reading hundreds of pages of the threads debating these two and still dont know which is a better ride. And no one really talks about the 7000MT at all. Yet Ranchos site specifically lists our trucks for these. Any insight? thanks!

5RWill · April 15, 2015

I could never find out anything on the 7000mt, noone has them it appears, or at least they don't talk about them. I ended up with Bilsteins and love them. Consensus seems Bilstien>Rancho most everywhere i've read. Maybe with the exception of some Jeep owners. Both have lifetime warranty, Bilstein has a higher reputation from what i can gather.

Spurshot · April 15, 2015

I had the front ranchoquicklift installed a few days ago. It gave me 3.25 inches of lift. Quite a bit more than its supposed to. The ride is pretty much the same as stock when I have them on the #6 setting. I tried #3 and that was wayyy to bouncy. Felt like a bobble head. I also tried #7 and that was too stiff.

That much lift may seem like you got a "better" deal than a product that gives less lift. But the downside to 3+ inches of lift with a coilover only, is the high angles on the axles and steering, and potentially a problem with ball joints. There's no free lunch.

Spurshot · April 15, 2015

If it wasn't compressed more at ride height with 5100's it would create a lift. They are preloading the coils, bilstein even says this themselves...... Which increase the rate of the coil, creating a harsher ride.

Believe me guys, if I am not at all happy with the rancho's you will hear it. I'm not spending that much money on shocks to decrease my ride quality.

You have a misunderstanding of the mechanics of how a spring works. Any "pre-load" that is put on a Bilstein 5100 or any other brand of coilover, doesn't approach the load the weight of the vehicle puts on the spring. The weight of the vehicle along with the mechanical leverage of the suspension geometry is what determines the compressed height of the spring, while the vehicle is at rest.

I guarantee you that the spring length will be nearly identical with weight on wheels, in any two adjacent spring retainer settings of a 5100. They certainly won't change loaded weight on wheels length in correlation with the distance between the grooves of the retainer.

nadrojcote · April 15, 2015

7000mt is similar to the 5100 but provides more lift and they're not adjustable. I can attest for the quicklifts. I'm liking them more and more every day. With the rebate they have on they were only $100 more than 5100's for the full set. I've had 5100's in the past and didn't like the ride with the compressed coiled.