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Blast from the past - Rancho Kicker Shocks

AJMBLAZER

AJMBLAZER

Better to be lucky than good.
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I just Googled it and found that image. Looks like it's a cobbled together setup and not the correct installation.
rancho_kicker.jpg


Who remembers Rancho Kicker shocks? Basically like a steering stabilizer shock mounted from the rear spring's front eye to the U bolt plate. Supposed to fight axle wrap.
Pretty much vanished beginning of the last decade. I figure their fad was over and they disappeared along with other relics of the 80's.

Friend of mine had them on his truck when I was a teen and swore by them. Always thought they looked cool. However they went away so I forgot about them...

...now a member on here has a set on his K5 and wants to be rid of them. I told him I'd take them and he's graciously offered them to me.:thumb:


These things actually work? At worst could they hurt any thing? Right now I have a bit of axle wrap on the 201,000 mile saggy springs. Couldn't hurt and would at least look cool I figure:woot:...but I've been wrong before.:dunno:
 
Yep, I remember seeing them in magazines all the time back in the day. Also remember the local towing/junkyard guy with a couple of nice Chevy trucks that ran custom dual kicker shocks. I'm sure they help some, just don't know how much.
 
I remember fox body Mustang GTs and LX 5.0s had a kicker shock on the rear axle from the factory. It prevented wheel hop caused by axle wrap under hard acceleration. And those cars were link and coil sprung rears, the rubber bushings and stamped arms would deflect enough to cause it. Evidently the engineers thought it worked in that situation.

I'm pretty sure that design dissappeared for trucks because it was replaced by a more effective means of axle wrap prevention. I used to see these long traction bars (almost ladder bar style) that went from the bottom of the axle to the frame at, or in front of, the spring eye. These were good for mall crawlers on lift blocks, very good at preventing axle wrap but not so good for suspension articulation. Used to see these bars alot on the covers of the 4x4 mags in the 90s, usually chromed out.

While searching for a pic as an example and under the search heading 'mall crawler' I came across this... :haha:
BlazerChicks.jpg


... and I know, no matter how hot she is, I don't think he'd let some chick kneel on the hood of this truck. :D
 
But I bet the chick would kneel before Craig instead. :waytogo::whistle:
 
I remember the kickers very well. Rancho was big on those, dual and triple shock setups also. I have the Rancho triple shock hoops in the shop.
 
i remember those.....and the rest of the horrible 2 1/2" kit i used in the early '80's.......good God i remember how horrible that truck road with the honkin dual shocks and stabilizers and friggin red shock boots everywhere.

what was i thinking? :eek1:
 
I remember crazily staring at the catalogs in the late 90's and wanting to lift my '92 Blazer K1500 with the ProComp 6" setup with their traction bars, shock hoops, and like 3-4 shocks per corner. It was going to be SO BAD ASS!










...and probably ride worse than a dump truck.
 
Remember those well; had them on my '85 Toyota pickup. Also had the dual shocks up front.

Truck rode like a horse-drawn wagon.

Haha.
 
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