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RS9000X's can you run them upside down?

88K5Jimmy

88K5Jimmy

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RS9000X\'s can you run them upside down?

There is an arrow pointing down towards the dial. The rod extends out, away from the dial. Can I run them upside down so the dial is not in harms way of a rock or anything?

Thanks
 
Re: RS9000X\'s can you run them upside down?

I'll third that. Any monotube can be run upside down.
 
Re: RS9000X\'s can you run them upside down?

Talked to the local 4WD shop I trust and they said that if you run them upside down, the air bubble inside will affect at fast the shock reacts. They said it won't dampen for a 1/4"-1/2" of rod travel and that they become a softer. Instead of a 4 setting I would need to run a 6 setting.

I mounted them normal, we'll see what happens.
 
Re: RS9000X\'s can you run them upside down?

The shock rep just came from KYB to my store and I spoke with him at length on this issue.

He stated that his monotubes along with everyone elses as the gas cylinder is made by the same company, can be run upside down with absolutely no effect on performance.

There should be no air bubble, just a high pressure gas cylinder over the oil, which doesn't care if it is upside down or not. If their is an air bubble, you've got a problem with your shocks.

KYB's shocks appear to me to be of very high quality, but their monotubes don't come anywhere near long enough for our purposes. They're only about $50 each, too, so it's a shame they don't come longer. They've got synthetic oil inside of them, and the same gas cylinder that Bilsteins, Pro Comp MX-6, Rancho RS 9000s, etc. all use along with a 46 mm bore. Too bad the longest one they have only has 10" of travel and is 29" total length.
 
Re: RS9000X\'s can you run them upside down?

Wow, some guy over at PMS just pointed this out and I looked into it.

RS 9000s are not monotubes. They are twin tube gas pressureized shocks. So, they should not work correctly upside down. /forums/images/graemlins/yikes.gif All these years guys have been running them upside down, and the KYB guy had told me that the RS 9000 was a monotube.

Well, he was wrong. The RS9000 is a twin tube shock.
 
Re: RS9000X\'s can you run them upside down?

I run Rancho 5000's upside down and know of several other guys running non- monotube shocks upside down, it works for us plus I dont understand the "air bubble" logic???
 
Re: RS9000X\'s can you run them upside down?

The oil will have to defy gravity to return to where it belongs in the shock if you mount it upside down. /forums/images/graemlins/rotfl.gif
 
Re: RS9000X\'s can you run them upside down?

Ive got some freaky shocks then! /forums/images/graemlins/histerical.gif

This vehicle see's very little highway use so maybe I just dont notice it. /forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif
 
Re: RS9000X\'s can you run them upside down?

Maybe I just don't clearly understand how a twin tube shock works, but from what the rep showed me (he had a shock cut open) a twin tube shock shouldn't work correctly upside down.

I'm certainly not the expert, but from what I saw in the shock he had cut open, I can't understand how a twin tube could work if it was upside down.
 
Re: RS9000X\'s can you run them upside down?

Well I asked the RANCHO rep for the eastcoast when he came to our store and he said it was fine to run them upside down. /forums/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif
 
Re: RS9000X\'s can you run them upside down?

I'm actually going to call them and ask. I would like to understand how they'd work if they're upside down.

From what the KYB rep told me, there's no way a twin tube can work if it's upside down.

This is an interesting reference I've found online explaining a few different types of shocks:
http://www.therangerstation.com/Pick_The_Right_Shocks.htm
 
Re: RS9000X\'s can you run them upside down?

Rancho used to say that their RS9k's could be run body up/shaft down, but they do not say that any more. I don't know anything about the RS9kX's.

True monotubes can be run either way.
 
Re: RS9000X\'s can you run them upside down?

According to Rancho, RS9000X's are supposed to be Triple-tube shocks. I do not know if this means anything to the topic of the post.
 
Re: RS9000X\'s can you run them upside down?

[ QUOTE ]
True monotubes can be run either way.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I knew this and I thought the RS 9000s were monotubes until I did a little bit of research today, and they are certainly not.

I'm actually going to call them on monday and ask, I'm very curious to see what they think of running a shock upside down.
 
Re: RS9000X\'s can you run them upside down?

I e-mailed Rancho a while back about this question and here was the response:

Thank you for your interest in Rancho products. The RS9000X units and the RS5000 units can be mounted upside down, but they will run softer and have a greater chance of failure.

Rancho team member
Vladi
 
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