I'm going to purchase an AC 3" suspension lift in a couple of days and I need some advice on shocks. My X currently has Rancho RS5000's and they are good shocks, but a bit "spongy". I have never had any experience with Bilstein shocks and have no clue as to ride, quality, endurance etc. I do moderate off-roading (no rock crawling) and my X is my daily driver so on road handling is important as well. What are your oppinions of Bilsteins and for those of you that have tried both Rancho and Bilstein, which do you prefer?

I appreciate it!

c'mon... nobody has an oppinion?

I have bilstein, which offer a much firmer ride.

I have Bilsteins, and ordered my second set in the life of the truck last week. I got 3+ years out of them with heavy abuse. I think they're a great shock and you'll hear more people say good things about them than Rancho's. Maybe because there are more using them, but then that says something doesn't it?

I had 20% stiffer due to an ARB and winch up front, and a steel tire carrier/bumper in the back. One of our club members who has they same setup for his truck up front said he really liked the OEM version (he had 20% before). I went with his advice, and while they're really smooth on the road they're too lose for my liking on hard corners. So I'm selling them for his girlfriends Xterra and going back to 20% Bilsteins.

If you're looking for Bilsteins go to www.spencerlowracing.com. They can set you up with OEM-10%-20% and were less than one of our more popular 4x4 shops in town. Tell Josh that Ian sent you. Referrals are good. :D

Hey Schlud, with the 3" suspension lift from AC, do I need to do anything about the bump stops? I heard someone say that if I don't go with aftermarket bump stops, that the front end ride will be terrible when I tweak the "sway away" torsion bars. Is this accurate?


Thanks

Hey Schlud, with the 3" suspension lift from AC, do I need to do anything about the bump stops? I heard someone say that if I don't go with aftermarket bump stops, that the front end ride will be terrible when I tweak the "sway away" torsion bars. Is this accurate?


Thanks

You don't "need" aftermarket bumptops. I have polyurethane ones though and they're helpful on the really big bumps, but are pretty stiff on-road. When you lift your truck with the torsion bars, the gap between the upper bumpstop and the UCA is going to be shortened (the finger-gap rule). That's going to give you more hard bumps. I'm not sure aftermarket bumpstops are going to make much of a difference. Give the stock ones a shot and see how they do. You also get a harder ride because the torsion bars are either tensioned up a lot or have more resistance based on stock or SAW. BTW, I don't have the AC, but there really shouldn't be much difference between that and my SLR UCA as far as ride.

BTW, I don't have the AC, but there really shouldn't be much difference between that and my SLR UCA as far as ride.


That being said, how is your "ride" with the SLR UCA? I'm sure your off-road ride is good, but what about the on-road ride? I'm a bit worried that the on-road ride will be dangerous (ie. sway). How's yours?