Stiff Shocks & Unibody
06-21-2017, 07:45 PM
#1
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Stiff Shocks & Unibody
Quick question here.
I recently acquired Rancho RS5000 shocks for my non lifted XJ.
I have heard they are a stiffer ride than stock (many think too stiff), will the stiffer shocks stress and fatigue the unibody more than stock shocks? If so, mildy, badly, very badly, etc...
Let me know what you guys think. Thanks.
I recently acquired Rancho RS5000 shocks for my non lifted XJ.
I have heard they are a stiffer ride than stock (many think too stiff), will the stiffer shocks stress and fatigue the unibody more than stock shocks? If so, mildy, badly, very badly, etc...
Let me know what you guys think. Thanks.
06-22-2017, 01:20 AM
#2
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Quick question here.
I recently acquired Rancho RS5000 shocks for my non lifted XJ.
I have heard they are a stiffer ride than stock (many think too stiff), will the stiffer shocks stress and fatigue the unibody more than stock shocks? If so, mildy, badly, very badly, etc...
Let me know what you guys think. Thanks.
I recently acquired Rancho RS5000 shocks for my non lifted XJ.
I have heard they are a stiffer ride than stock (many think too stiff), will the stiffer shocks stress and fatigue the unibody more than stock shocks? If so, mildy, badly, very badly, etc...
Let me know what you guys think. Thanks.
06-22-2017, 08:25 AM
#3
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and, it's not unibody. It's uniFRAME.
06-22-2017, 06:11 PM
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06-22-2017, 06:16 PM
#8
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I'm sure this is true, but to my understanding a stiffer shock will absorb/dampen less of the suspension travel and feed it through the frame/unibody into the body. Hence the reason some guys running the RS5000s say they will knock your fillings out (over exaggeration ik). This extra force over a period of time certainly adds, to a degree, a small amount of stress to the vehicle. If this is not true, please correct me!
06-22-2017, 06:19 PM
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06-22-2017, 06:24 PM
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Unless your Jeep is an extreme and i mean extreme rust bucket, it ain't crack in half.
-----------
Decades ago, i once had an old Datsun rust bucket i think it was a B210 i used as a work beater.
Worst car i ever owned.
Went over some rough RR tracks on my way home from work one day.
The dam thing bent in half! True story.
-----------
Decades ago, i once had an old Datsun rust bucket i think it was a B210 i used as a work beater.
Worst car i ever owned.
Went over some rough RR tracks on my way home from work one day.
The dam thing bent in half! True story.
06-22-2017, 07:11 PM
#11
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Year: 1996
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Unless your Jeep is an extreme and i mean extreme rust bucket, it ain't crack in half.
-----------
Decades ago, i once had an old Datsun rust bucket i think it was a B210 i used as a work beater.
Worst car i ever owned.
Went over some rough RR tracks on my way home from work one day.
The dam thing bent in half! True story.
-----------
Decades ago, i once had an old Datsun rust bucket i think it was a B210 i used as a work beater.
Worst car i ever owned.
Went over some rough RR tracks on my way home from work one day.
The dam thing bent in half! True story.
Thanks!
06-23-2017, 10:18 AM
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Was it a Toyota? That is common with those, there is a recall for that.
As far as the stiff shocks damaging mounts, I think it is possible. I have no first hand experience with the XJ 'Frame' fatiguing. I do have experience/knowledge of the rear shock mounts on 2nd gen F-Bodies being damaged from air shocks. Apples and oranges I know, BUT the Camaros have an issue with people using air shocks to lift the back of the car to stuff big tires back there. The air shocks then are holding the weight of the vehicle up, rather that the leaf springs. See where I am going? Shock mounts not designed to carry vehicle weight. Again, apples and oranges, but I can see your concern.
I have welded on the XJ frame rails, they are sheetmetal. Probably half the thickness of any 'real frame'. One of the first mods for a 'serious' rig is always frame plating. I don't trust the frame as far as I can throw it. When you flex the XJ out, the rear hatch creaks and moves around. Thats a lot of chassis flex.
All that said, assuming your planned uses are DD and light trail use, I wouldn't sweat it.
As far as the stiff shocks damaging mounts, I think it is possible. I have no first hand experience with the XJ 'Frame' fatiguing. I do have experience/knowledge of the rear shock mounts on 2nd gen F-Bodies being damaged from air shocks. Apples and oranges I know, BUT the Camaros have an issue with people using air shocks to lift the back of the car to stuff big tires back there. The air shocks then are holding the weight of the vehicle up, rather that the leaf springs. See where I am going? Shock mounts not designed to carry vehicle weight. Again, apples and oranges, but I can see your concern.
I have welded on the XJ frame rails, they are sheetmetal. Probably half the thickness of any 'real frame'. One of the first mods for a 'serious' rig is always frame plating. I don't trust the frame as far as I can throw it. When you flex the XJ out, the rear hatch creaks and moves around. Thats a lot of chassis flex.
All that said, assuming your planned uses are DD and light trail use, I wouldn't sweat it.
06-23-2017, 02:11 PM
#13
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When I get my next set of shocks I am looking to get the newer RS5000X, they are supposed to be less stiff than the original RS5000.
Also, don't the shocks mount to the body panels, not the frame rail itself? I know the front mount is made into the pocket in the inner fender, which is a pretty thick piece of sheet metal that is directly mounted to the frame rail. It should take quite a bit of fatigue to crack the mounting point, but then mine is 32 years old so I do keep an eye on things like that.
Also, don't the shocks mount to the body panels, not the frame rail itself? I know the front mount is made into the pocket in the inner fender, which is a pretty thick piece of sheet metal that is directly mounted to the frame rail. It should take quite a bit of fatigue to crack the mounting point, but then mine is 32 years old so I do keep an eye on things like that.