What is the difference between the Rancho RS9000X and Rancho RS9000XL shocks?

Good question. The Rancho RS9000XL shocks supersede the RS9000X as a series or brand line. They are not an additional product line to the Rancho family.

Much of the new range is about fresh branding. New look (nice metallic silver finish). New graphics design (charlie would approve). New packaging.

Feature-wise, all new Rancho RS9000XL shocks have a beefier 18mm hardened and double-chromed shaft. The original 16mm shaft was plenty. You'd wouldn't break it unless you radically mis-applied the shocks. Plus, the beefier shaft looks cool.

Next, the 9000XL shocks are supplied in 3 different body diameters (reserve tubes). These are 55mm, 60mm, and 'super-duper' 70mm. Which size you get is application specific. You don't get to choose. The shocks for a 1999-2004 Ford F250 feature the 70mm body shocks front and rear. The shocks for a coil-sprung Nissan Patrol have 55mm body shocks at the front, and 70mm body shocks at the rear.

The 55mm body units are generally over-size compared to original-equipment shocks. A fatter shock body means more oil-content. More oil content means greater heat dissapation (cooling), so your shocks can perform at their best for longer. The 60mm body units look really tough, and the 70mm body units look like the rocket launchers on a military tank.

Finally, the new Rancho RS9000XL shocks are gas-charged. This means that the shocks contain nitrogen gas to pressurize the oil within the shock body. The pressure on the oil greatly assists with preventing the oil from boiling (when the shock is working hard). Boiling/foaming causes the shock to fade and reduces performance. Pressurizing the oil means optimum performance in off-road conditions.

The superseded RS9000X were foam-cell shocks. We have always been big fans of foam-cell shocks. They control the oil and prevent foaming, but in a different way to the gas-charged units. Instead of containing nitrogen gas, inside the shock body is a "foam-cell" sleeve (it looks like a piece of wetsuit material). Under normal driving conditions, the foam-cell material retains its regular appearance. When the shocks are working hard and the oil gets hot and wants to bubble and boil, the foam-cell material expands to pressurize the oil in that instance, preventing it to do so, and allowing for maximum performance.

Gas-charge shocks can prevent fade and boiling slightly better than foam-cell shocks. However, compared to the average-supply of gas-charged shocks in the market place, the foam-cell units can have an advantage in terms of life-span or durability. This is because the foam-cell shocks only place pressure on the top seal of the shock when the shock is working very hard. On a gas-pressure shock, there is load (tension) on the the top seal of the shock 100% of the time. Less stress on the top seal of the shock is better as premature failure of the top seal means premature failure of the shock.

You might have had the experience at some time where you have owned a 4WD vehicle from new, and after a number of years (possibly more than 8) needed to replace the original-equipment shocks. Then you did with an aftermarket brand touted as a premium product. The aftermarket shocks were not much more than some minor variation of a generic manufactured shock re-marketed, and after a couple of years (just outside their 2-year 40,000km warranty), the shocks start leaking (top seal) and you need to buy new shocks.

For a gas-charge shock to provide great long-term performance, top seal retention is everything and the quality, fit and function has to be just right.

The Bilstein brand of shocks get it right with their gas-charged shocks and they provide long-term performance. Rancho get it right with their RS9000XL shock series and we put our money where our mouth is on warranty.

Where most of the shock brands in Australia feature a 2-year/40,000km warranty (whatever comes first), 4WD1 offers on their approved purchases, a 3-year warranty with no limit to the kilometers travelled within the 3-year period.

We realize that a lot of people these days travel 40 and 50,000km per year, so a 2-year/40,000km warranty is really no warranty at all. We would not want to offer the warranty that we do to Aussie off-roaders if the product was going to come back to us - especially given our market and user type.

So gas shocks can provide the very best on and off-road performance provided that the quality and design is first-class, and Rancho get the RS9000XL product right.

All the other amazing features of the 9000X and RS9000XL shocks are the same. Same amazing 9-position external ride-adjustment knob with around 800% difference between the first and the ninth setting. Same exclusive use of 15-stage velocity-sensitive valving. Same micro-polished cylinder walls with teflon band piston seal, etc, etc.

Cheers,
KB.
Posted by Kirk Barker.



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