Question - about rear shocks. NEED HELP QUICKLY!

[tomp]

I do not have rear air suspension. I just noticed the OEM rear shocks are gas charged. When I removed one of the them, that side dropped down a couple of inches. Are these non-charged Rancho 9000 shocks going to provide the same vehicle height?

[Ed G.]

I put a set of 9000's on 2 weeks ago. I noticed that I had lost a bit of height in the rear, I'd guess about an inch. The ride is great.

[tomp]

Finished installing and it's lower in the back. Probably should have measured it before starting. I am not happy about it being lower than before. Now I will probably have to drop the torsion bars back down some and do another alignment

[KenP]

Originally Posted by tomp

Finished installing and it's lower in the back. Probably should have measured it before starting. I am not happy about it being lower than before. Now I will probably have to drop the torsion bars back down some and do another alignment

Don't do a thing until tomorrow. If you're not happy, be prepared to remove them.

There are too many alternatives out there for you to not be happy.

Pull them and get something else.

That sucks.

[ASTAR]

That is really surprising to me that you lost height with a shock swap. The shocks are not meant to suspend the vehicle but to dampen the suspension movements. I can't imagine a shock (other than a true air shock) changing the ride height of the rig. I guess if its lower, its lower but its just really weird.

[PARAGON]

gas charged shocks are "charged" for only one reason. To keep the dampening oil in suspension. The compressed gas inside the shock keeps the oil from frothing.

The negative side of that is that it forces the shock to full extension. But it's not enough to pick up a vehicle.

Put it this way, the pressure in the shock is low enough that one can simply push the shock back into compression. That is not enough "power" to lift the truck which would likely be over 1500 lbs at the to rear corners.

Back to the height of the vehicle when you removed the shocks, that doesn't really mean much. The height is dynamic as you move and the shocks work themselves as the truck moves over rough surfaces. Drive around on the new shocks for a few days and if afterwards you still don't like the way the truck looks, get some coil spaces to raise the rear.

IMO, it's dumb to sacrifice ride quality and function of the suspension just to have the truck sit level when it's still and the Ranchos are the shiznit.

[tomp]

TBs were adjusted few thousand miles ago and alignment already done.

The Ranchos did not appear to be gas charged, as I had to pull out on them to get them the right length to fit.

Seriously though, when I removed the rear shocks, the side I was working at that time on dropped down at least an inch or more. I can also tell it sits lower in the back now with the 9000s on.

[PARAGON]

Originally Posted by PhilD

BTW I believe the Rancho's are gas charged also.

the remote reserviors are for sure. The 9000's aren't, I don't think. Some shocks like Ranchos are low pressure charged but the crappy shocks like the stock shocks are high pressure charged, therefore push apart when you take them off.

[tomp]

Can anyone confirm if the OEM shocks from an H2 with Rear Air Suspension are gas charged or not? I am wondering if they put these gas charged shocks on just non-air H2s since they dont have the air bags.

[PARAGON]

Originally Posted by tomp

Can anyone confirm if the OEM shocks from an H2 with Rear Air Suspension are gas charged or not? I am wondering if they put these gas charged shocks on just non-air H2s since they dont have the air bags.

gas charged are on air-ride as well, same shocks.

[tomp]

Thx Paragon

[tomp]

I just spoke to Rancho Tech Support and they researched the Hummer H2 shocks. He confirmed there is an issue here. He states the OEM shocks are high pressure 300psi monotube shocks. He went on to add that even their remote resevoir shocks that are gas charged are only 100psi and that the regular twin tube 9000s are considered no-pressure.

He stated this will cause the rear to be lower

This sux because I really like the shocks. I remember seeing somewhere on a link here, that there is a 1" coil spring spacer that I could use. Anyone know where this link is? I will try and search on it.

Another option is a stiffer coil spring if anyone knows of some?

[CO Hummer]

Ahhhhhh! This sucks. I just bought some 9000s and I don't want the reat to sag (I have air susp too). I have not yet installed them.

tomp,
Can you post some pix of the rear sagging?

[PARAGON]

Originally Posted by CO Hummer

Ahhhhhh! This sucks. I just bought some 9000s and I don't want the reat to sag (I have air susp too). I have not yet installed them.

tomp,
Can you post some pix of the rear sagging?

tom does NOT have air. If you have air, it's not going to sag since the air controls the height regardless.

[CO Hummer]

Originally Posted by PARAGON

tom does NOT have air. If you have air, it's not going to sag since the air controls the height regardless.

OK, thanks. Didn't read too close. I soiled myself for nothing.