Suspension/Ride Quality Improvement

jburch77 · November 18, 2015

I have a 2014 All-Terrain with the Rancho shocks and 2 inch level. I swear I feel every dang bump and crack in the road. Of course the filled in potholes or uneven road work areas are pretty drastic. I have driven over these in my wifes SUV and event test drove new 15s without the rancho shocks and it is not even close the crappy ride I have. Could this be a result of the level kit or just the rancho shocks?

Does anyone have any recommendations for shock upgrades or suspension upgrades I can do?

fondupot · November 18, 2015

Upgrade yourself to some Bilstein 5100's. The OEM ranchos are junk. and the leveling kit you have isnt helping.

If you add the 5100's they have a built in leveling adjustment, so you will need to remove your leveling kit. There are four settings, 0", 3/4", 1.5" and 1.8". I have them and I have them set to the middle 1.5" setting. Truck rides great. Handles the bumps and potholes a lot better too.

Alternatively, if you are keen on keeping your current leveling kit, you can replace your shocks with Bilstein 4600's which do not have any height adjustment and are direct replacements for the struts. The only difference between the 5100 and the 4600 is the adjustable aspect. Otherwise they are valved the same.

I prefer the 5100 method, because it makes the strut and the leveling kit all in one unit. No funky block or bracket to mess with. Everything bolts into the stock locations.

Front Runner · November 18, 2015

I've read that Rancho's have a rough ride. I've also read that many owners felt like their truck rode much worse after installing a leveling kit.

dbcooper748 · November 19, 2015

I've read that Rancho's have a rough ride. I've also read that many owners felt like their truck rode much worse after installing a leveling kit.

I cant speak to the ranchos as mine isnt a z71 but after my level, my ride did not change as far as i can tell. The level kit goes under the strut and doesn't change the travel of the stock strut

15 Z71 · November 19, 2015

I just bought 2015 z71. It does have a stiff ride,but still is a lot better then my 06 z71. I don't think it the best ride but not that bad. I have not rode in a 14 or 15 reg 4x4. Is it a lot nicer ride?

jburch77 · November 19, 2015

Upgrade yourself to some Bilstein 5100's. The OEM ranchos are junk. and the leveling kit you have isnt helping.

If you add the 5100's they have a built in leveling adjustment, so you will need to remove your leveling kit. There are four settings, 0", 3/4", 1.5" and 1.8". I have them and I have them set to the middle 1.5" setting. Truck rides great. Handles the bumps and potholes a lot better too.

Alternatively, if you are keen on keeping your current leveling kit, you can replace your shocks with Bilstein 4600's which do not have any height adjustment and are direct replacements for the struts. The only difference between the 5100 and the 4600 is the adjustable aspect. Otherwise they are valved the same.

I prefer the 5100 method, because it makes the strut and the leveling kit all in one unit. No funky block or bracket to mess with. Everything bolts into the stock locations.

I am on the fence. I do hear the bilstein upgrade will make a significant difference. I have a question about the 5100. I am not level with my 2 inch level at this point. I want the truck to level out. I heard the bilsein at full 1.8 will still leave a lot of rake. Could I stack the 5100 on top of my level and set it at 3/4 to level it out?

fondupot · November 19, 2015

I am on the fence. I do hear the bilstein upgrade will make a significant difference. I have a question about the 5100. I am not level with my 2 inch level at this point. I want the truck to level out. I heard the bilsein at full 1.8 will still leave a lot of rake. Could I stack the 5100 on top of my level and set it at 3/4 to level it out?

I have mine at the middle setting and I have 1" of rake. If you put the bilstein at 1.8" the truck will be level.

You could stack the 1.8" of bilstein and the leveling kit you have, but I DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT advise this.

1. The truck will ride like shit, because it will be riding on the droop stops. Other members have done this and they said it was so bad they had to get the extra leveling kit removed.

2. It would be the equivalent of over cranking torsion bars in previous generation trucks. You will be wearing out balljoints, cvs, and the like a lot faster. Especially with oversize tires.

HondaHawkGT · November 20, 2015

I've read that Rancho's have a rough ride. I've also read that many owners felt like their truck rode much worse after installing a leveling kit.

The Ranchos that come with the Z71 package are junk. Some of the cheaper Ranchos are junk too. The adjustable damping rate RS9000XL's are pretty decent for the money. Same with the rancho quicklifts.

TJay74 · November 20, 2015

I think the ride depends on which end you leveled, I did mine thru the rear and it rides fine other than the ranchos sucking on rough or washboard roads. 5100's are on my list for next spring to replace in mine.

Eddie 70 · November 20, 2015

I have been wondering if it was shocks on my truck that made it so rough. It sounds as if it certainly could be. How do you tell if they are Rancho shocks? The ones on my truck appear to be black. I haven't really got under the truck to check closely yet to see if there is a name on them. Mine is a two wheel drive LT 1LT with Z60 and Z82. Does this help with what shocks may be on it.

HondaHawkGT · November 20, 2015

I have been wondering if it was shocks on my truck that made it so rough. It sounds as if it certainly could be. How do you tell if they are Rancho shocks? The ones on my truck appear to be black. I haven't really got under the truck to check closely yet to see if there is a name on them. Mine is a two wheel drive LT 1LT with Z60 and Z82. Does this help with what shocks may be on it.

The Ranchos are white. The black ones are junk monotube shocks. When I swapped the montubes out this summer one was shock already one its way out at 10k miles.

Green 1364 · November 20, 2015

Which one's have the best ride? I don't want to level it just a better ride.

Travis Whitmore · November 20, 2015

I'm not real pleased with the Rancho ride either. Installed leveling blocks a couple weeks ago and already looking at fox and King shocks.

TJay74 · November 20, 2015

I checked into Fox, unless you are lifted 6" they don't offer anything.

jburch77 · November 20, 2015

I have mine at the middle setting and I have 1" of rake. If you put the bilstein at 1.8" the truck will be level.

You could stack the 1.8" of bilstein and the leveling kit you have, but I DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT advise this.

1. The truck will ride like shit, because it will be riding on the droop stops. Other members have done this and they said it was so bad they had to get the extra leveling kit removed.

2. It would be the equivalent of over cranking torsion bars in previous generation trucks. You will be wearing out balljoints, cvs, and the like a lot faster. Especially with oversize tires.

Thanks for the info. I will definitely rule out stacking them. So the ride is noticeably better? I may go this route.