anyone found any differences between the monroe monromatic shocks compared to the rancho 5000 shocks? monroes are on ebay brand new for 79 bucks for all of them. ive heard rancho makes horrible stuff, but having original suspension with 250,000 miles my kidneys are starting to hurt when driving, especially if i find a good lookin trail. ouch.

 

Ppersonally, I'd buy KYB Gasadjust or even Blistein (fantastic but you only get ONE for that price!) over POS Monroe or Rancho shocks. They aren't worth two dead flys...

 

monroes are garbage. rancho's are ok. i'm running rancho 5000's because i didn't want to shell out $80/shock

 

a guy at this tire place recommended rancho 5000's to me a while back... but i know on here that bilsteins are much better if you can get them.

 

I just replaced my stock 20 year old shocks with new Bilsteins and I couldn't be happier.

The ride went from bone jarring to nicely damped and comfortable although still truck-like. Handling is MUCH improved also.

250 shipped from Ebay was very worth it.

 

Tenneco makes both Monroe and Rancho. Monro-matic plus is their cheapo line.

 

I am personally running Rancho RSX shocks and struts on my 99 Limited. I would have to say that so far so good. I use this on a regular basis to run clients around town to see property. I have also used the 5000's before on a 94 Isuzu Trooper I had. They really helped that vehicle out.

I am not opposed to the Monroe's but you get what you pay for.

 

Ditto with what Habanero said, Rancho is made by Monroe.

 

Good call! In 1991, Tenneco, manufacturer of Monroe, purchased Rancho. Even though Rancho was the first pioneer in the offroad suspension market, they are now, like Monroes, some of the most cheaply made name brand shocks on the market. Some of the reasons?...

-They use Peanut Oil for hydraulic fluid. This is not a joke. KYB and Bilstein use a di-ester synthetic oil.

-Low budget rolled welds

-Ever wonder about that little dimple on the outside of a twin-tube shock? It's a hole, into which the manufacturer injects the Nitrogen charge. They then tack weld it closed. Monotube shocks (and KYB's twintube GR-2 models) are charged, rather, by inserting a flat needle past the upper seal: no holes in the body of the shock.

-cheapo rubber seals and bushings, rather than Dupont Viton like KYB.

-seamed center tubes rather than seamless extruded types like Bilstein and KYB.

-seamed eyelets, rather than the seamless variety found, once again, on KYB and Bilstein.

-low grade piston rods and taped piston bands (KYB and Billys use multiple chrome platings on their piston rods. To prove it to yourself, drag a knife across a Monroe piston rod to feel the rough texture. The KYB or Bilstein will feel smooth as glass by comparison.)

I could go on all day!

 

That guy knows his shocks right there!

my meaningless opinion is as follows- If your getting the 5000 series by rancho, get the high end monroe's(with a lifetime warranty, granted you will change them more). The ranchos 5000's are stiff stiff stiff to me, I really like the Monroes on my truck FOR THE PRICE RANGE - I have also run the 9000 series from Rancho and love them - the only similarity TO ME between a rancho 5000 and a 9000 is the name - take the opinion for what its worth - and yes I have run bilsteins as well and love them, but they also have a low end model that i dont like....

Justin

 

my 5000's have lasted 10 years. pretty much highway miles. the 5000's were way stiffer/harsher than factory. i am going bilstein heavy duty.

 

thanks everyone. trust me i would be running bilsteins, but like most of you, i dont have 80-200 bucks a shock.. haha

 

bilsteins or kings... one of the two.. if i could afford em

 

i am getting 4 bilsteins heavy duty for 260 bucks, free freight.

 

yeah i dont have 260 to spend on shocks. i just want somethin that handles good both on and off the street. i mean i wont be racin or nothin, im just sick of havin my kidneys knocked around on a normal drive or offroad session.. haha

 

wheres that? i could find em for $260 online at a couple places, but they all wanted like $60 for shipping on top of that

 

KYB has a new part number for their Monomax line (big bore High Pressure monotubes....2.0" dia. piston!) that'll fit my Tacoma w/ 2" lift.
I'm stoked, because those OME's I'm now running in the rear are so soft. By switching to the KYB high-pressures, I'll eliminate the rear end squat during take-off. I'm cheesed!

(Oh, I used to be a factory rep for KYB. In the general auto repair industry my competition was mainly Monroe. They were easy to beat quality-wise, but they beat us by price most of the time. It's tough selling an expensive shock/strut to Joe Blow car owner, especially when a full set of struts, bearing plates, alignment and labor costs a driver damn near a thousand bucks.
Our chief competitor in the performance world was Bilstein.

 

I'm new to the Toyota world but i currently have Rancho 9000's on my GMC duramax diesel. They were definately a huge improvement over the stock shocks (that doesnt say much), but will never buy them again. After only 20,000 km the ride just keeps getting worse, and worse. I'll likely be replacing them with Bilstiens very soon.

 

reto - not to be rude, but your expecting a lot out of a light duty shock on a heavy duty truck like you have - i would not think of putting them on my superduty -- it is a vast difference with lightweight vehicles --

i run bilstiens on the superduty by the way

 

when i bought the Rancho's i was told they were a heavy duty shock, specific for the 2500 HD chev or gm truck. I don't expect them to last forever but 20k is ridiculous. i must admit i did not do much research on them before i bought them, i kinda figured that Rancho is a reputable name and they should be alright.