Rancho 9012's in the front of a Lux?

[Leithfield]

After purchasing a set of Snake Racing front shock hoops to run longer shocks, I invested in a set of 4 9012's on the following assurance:
http://www.snakeracing.com.au/2001/hiluxindex.html#
"If you run a Solid Axle front end and find your standard shock absorbers limit the amount of wheel articulation available from your modified suspension, then you might consider running longer shocks like the Rancho RS 9012 or RS 5012."

(fitting instructions):
"This set up on a Hilux with standard suspension will allow you to run the longest Rancho shocks (RS9012 or RS5012) that boast 14 inchs of travel. With the standard Hilux suspension this modifications allows for 4 inches of up travel and nearly 10 inches of down travel !."

WELL, imagine my surprise and delight when my already well lifted lux could not accomodate 9012's ... and the response from Snake Racing:
"You would need at least 8 inches of lift to make 9012 work in the front of a hilux. (wayto long) 9005's is what you would need."

Thanks Snake Racing! - any one here running 9012's in the front of a Lux, or am I confined to a learning exercise and expense of another purchase.

Cheers,
Leithfield.

[lil86]

i've been told by superior engineering that you only need about 4 inches of suspension lift to fit the 9012s under a hilux, why dont u just mod the hoops to suit??

[professor]

I run them in the front of my hilux, with x over steering and parabolics and a 2" drop front x member aswell.

found to have good travel but I had to raise bump stops so shock would not become the bump stop and i also welded rear shackel mounts under the chassis on the front to help with alignment.

Chad

[killalux]

i found the exact same thing when i bought my snake hoops and 9012 shocks, and had a similar responce when i rang snake. i found the 9112's work best with the snake hoops and standard bumpstops.

i later upgraded back to procomps the same length as 9012's but that included fitting 65mm longer bumpstops and making new towers that sat about 2" higher then the snake hoops, and cutting the inner guards out to fit them.

[lil86]

what advantage does mounting the shackles under the chassis give you appart from lift?

[slosh]

Since I had to change everything on the front of my ol girl I went the extra yards to fit 9012's. Well Superior Engineering did.

Anyhow, I HAVE NO BODYLIFT, so Superior had to cut down his shock hoops to fit under guards, 130mm suspension lift (approx 5.5 inches), and made new lower shock mounts on rear side of diff, then slotted the 9012's in upside down.

Josh.

[slosh]

what advantage does mounting the shackles under the chassis give you appart from lift?

No advantage at all except that you can lay shackle back a bit for softer ride.

The main reason it is done is because longer springs are used and/ or different diffs have been put under vehicle, and the leaf packs have to be offset out wider to allow clearance for pumpkin on diff.

Disadvantages are usually too much lift that will make vehicle unstable, and short shackles must be used or lift will be greater still, which wont flex as well as same leafs with longer shackle.

Josh.

[professor]

what advantage does mounting the shackles under the chassis give you appart from lift?

I moved the diff forward 50mm, so putting the mount under made it easyer to setup the angle on the shackel.


I managed to get close to full stroke on the 9012!