Best shock option.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 871
Likes: 74
From: Houston TEXAS
I tried out the RS9000XL's towing our fifth wheel last weekend, and the difference was amazing. Very smooth and well dampened with the rears set at 7. We didn't experience the chucking we had on some of the roads. My wife was very pleased and you know that's all that really matters!
Last tow I did was with all four set to 7. 1000 times better than stock shocks.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 871
Likes: 74
From: Houston TEXAS
Yes, I did use the boots. They are in no way, shape or form watertight. At best, they only provide marginal impact protection. The biggest problem is the "black chrome" coating on the rods. It isn't much better than a plain mild steel with no coating. The Bilsteins use a REAL chrome plating. The Ranchos might be ok if you never drove in salt environments like we have up here in the snow belt.
I'm not sure about the "black chrome" you mention. I think my 9000s shafts were shiny silver chrome.
Thankfully I have no experience with salty roads. Hope I never do.
I did however, after reading about the adjusting mechanism rusting and freezing up, lube mine up straight out of the box when brand new. So far they still function.
I highly recommend this stuff to lube and protect metal parts.... Corrosion X
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Yes, I did use the boots. They are in no way, shape or form watertight. At best, they only provide marginal impact protection. The biggest problem is the "black chrome" coating on the rods. It isn't much better than a plain mild steel with no coating. The Bilsteins use a REAL chrome plating. The Ranchos might be ok if you never drove in salt environments like we have up here in the snow belt.
Regarding the rod corrosion, the finish is called "nitro-carb" finish. It doesnt have the bright finish of chrome so looks more like a black chrome. Since we have a Rancho representative monitoring this thread, I'd be interested in a better explaination as to what exactly is used to finish the rods?
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 72
From: West Virginia
Yes, I did use the boots. They are in no way, shape or form watertight. At best, they only provide marginal impact protection. The biggest problem is the "black chrome" coating on the rods. It isn't much better than a plain mild steel with no coating. The Bilsteins use a REAL chrome plating. The Ranchos might be ok if you never drove in salt environments like we have up here in the snow belt.
REAL chrome rusts and pits just like any other type of chrome. Nothing particularly durable or magical about it. Though it is better than paint.
My truck and I live in the snow belt and visit the ocean regularly, though I do admit to washing them every now and then.
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 543
Likes: 33
From: Extreme NW Ohio
Mine are. In fact, they held a vacuum when I installed them and then let the rod extend, I had to "burp" them to let air in so they wouldn't stay collapsed.
REAL chrome rusts and pits just like any other type of chrome. Nothing particularly durable or magical about it. Though it is better than paint.
My truck and I live in the snow belt and visit the ocean regularly, though I do admit to washing them every now and then.
REAL chrome rusts and pits just like any other type of chrome. Nothing particularly durable or magical about it. Though it is better than paint.
My truck and I live in the snow belt and visit the ocean regularly, though I do admit to washing them every now and then.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 72
From: West Virginia
Nitrocarburizing hydraulic cylinder rods offers several benefits over conventional hard chrome:
- Superior corrosion and wear resistance
- Better oil retention (longer seal life)
- Dimensional uniformity
- Dent resistant - without the need for induction hardening
- No pitting, flaking or micro-cracking
- Environmentally friendly process
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 72
From: West Virginia
I too have been very happy with the rancho 9000xls we added to our f250.
Regarding the rod corrosion, the finish is called "nitro-carb" finish. It doesnt have the bright finish of chrome so looks more like a black chrome. Since we have a Rancho representative monitoring this thread, I'd be interested in a better explaination as to what exactly is used to finish the rods?
Regarding the rod corrosion, the finish is called "nitro-carb" finish. It doesnt have the bright finish of chrome so looks more like a black chrome. Since we have a Rancho representative monitoring this thread, I'd be interested in a better explaination as to what exactly is used to finish the rods?
I have copied information directly from the website of a company called Bodycoat. They provide about the best summary of what the process is and its benefits:
Nitrocarburizing is a variation of the case hardening process. It is a thermochemical diffusion process where nitrogen, carbon, and to a very small degree, oxygen atoms diffuse into the surface of the steel part, forming a compound layer at the surface, and a diffusion layer. Nitrocarburizing is a shallow case variation of the nitriding process. This process is done mainly to provide an anti-wear resistance on the surface layer and to improve fatigue resistance
Relative low cost;
High resistance to wear;
Excellent scuffing and seizure resistance;
Fatigue properties improved by up to 120%;
Considerably improved corrosion resistance;
Good surface finish;
Negligible shape distortion;
Predictable growth characteristics; and
Alloy substitution - plain carbon steels replacing low alloy steels.
Nitrocarburizing ? Bodycote plc
In a nutshell, chrome plating is just that, a thin plate that coats and adheres to the metal it is intended to protect, and nitrocarburizing actually infuses the surface of the metal with protective material.
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 543
Likes: 33
From: Extreme NW Ohio
I have copied information directly from the website of a company called Bodycoat. They provide about the best summary of what the process is and its benefits:
Nitrocarburizing is a variation of the case hardening process. It is a thermochemical diffusion process where nitrogen, carbon, and to a very small degree, oxygen atoms diffuse into the surface of the steel part, forming a compound layer at the surface, and a diffusion layer. Nitrocarburizing is a shallow case variation of the nitriding process. This process is done mainly to provide an anti-wear resistance on the surface layer and to improve fatigue resistance
Relative low cost;
High resistance to wear;
Excellent scuffing and seizure resistance;
Fatigue properties improved by up to 120%;
Considerably improved corrosion resistance;
Good surface finish;
Negligible shape distortion;
Predictable growth characteristics; and
Alloy substitution - plain carbon steels replacing low alloy steels.
Nitrocarburizing ? Bodycote plc
In a nutshell, chrome plating is just that, a thin plate that coats and adheres to the metal it is intended to protect, and nitrocarburizing actually infuses the surface of the metal with protective material.
Nitrocarburizing is a variation of the case hardening process. It is a thermochemical diffusion process where nitrogen, carbon, and to a very small degree, oxygen atoms diffuse into the surface of the steel part, forming a compound layer at the surface, and a diffusion layer. Nitrocarburizing is a shallow case variation of the nitriding process. This process is done mainly to provide an anti-wear resistance on the surface layer and to improve fatigue resistance
Relative low cost;
High resistance to wear;
Excellent scuffing and seizure resistance;
Fatigue properties improved by up to 120%;
Considerably improved corrosion resistance;
Good surface finish;
Negligible shape distortion;
Predictable growth characteristics; and
Alloy substitution - plain carbon steels replacing low alloy steels.
Nitrocarburizing ? Bodycote plc
In a nutshell, chrome plating is just that, a thin plate that coats and adheres to the metal it is intended to protect, and nitrocarburizing actually infuses the surface of the metal with protective material.
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