Rancho RS999909 Quick Lift Loaded Strut

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Price: $178.14 Too low to display   

Product Feature

• Remove Factory Rake
• Improve Ride
• Allows For Larger Wheel/Tire

Product Description

The new Rancho Loaded quickLIFT technology includes the application-matched of quickLIFT with the addition of coil spring and upper mounting plate and no extra cost. Rancho Loaded quickLIFT is finished in liquid metallic silver. This new product is very easy to install for shops and do-it-yourselfers because it is one full suspension unit and generally can put on the vehicle in twenty minutes per corner. Loaded quickLIFT provides 1 to 2.5 inches of additional lift, allowing for the use of larger wheel and tire packages up to 35 inches, which provides an aggressive vehicle stance. Rancho Loaded quickLIFT uses nine point tuning technology that easily adjust your ride quality and performance. It is also compatible with SEMA award winning Rancho MyRIDE Wireless Controller which allows you to control the units wirelessly from the cab. The Rancho Loaded quickLIFT is covered by a limited lifetime warranty and exclusive 90-day Performance and Ride Guarantee, an offer that lets enthusiasts try the Loaded quickLIFT product for 90 days. Consumers can return the product within 90 days for a full refund of its purchase price. Check our www.gorancho.com website to find the Loaded quickLIFT part numbers for your vehicle.

Rancho RS999909 Quick Lift Loaded Strut Review

At 120k, my 2004 F150 SCAB 2WD was floating down the road like my Grandma's old Oldsmobile Delta 88. Since I was replacing brakes anyway, I figured it was time to upgrade the shocks and struts. Problem is, all the Off-road shops wanted $90 to install each new strut on my truck (using my existing springs!). I looked into struts online, which is when I found these pre-loaded struts. Considering the cost and hassle of having to pay a shop to either install them on the truck, or at least swap my existing springs onto a new strut for me, These Rancho's seemed like a heck of a good price-to-performance solution. Since I have been running Rancho RX9000's (and Rancho springs) on my Jeep for 7 years, I already knew they were worthy for both street and off road use.

REAR SHOCK NOTE:
If you are going to go with these, I'd suggest you also pickup a matching set of the rear shocks (a very easy install)... but... you don't need to purchase the suggested shock for the 2WD (RS999285). I'd suggest going with the one for the 4WD model instead (RS999286). Here's why: 1) finding x285 is almost impossible... no one local had them in stock, they were 3 days out in Texas, and even Amazon listed a 3 day delay in shipping... I couldn't wait that long. 2) The 4WD model shocks are only 1.5" longer, fully compressed. Unless you drive over 4" potholes on a regular basis, you will never be hitting your bump stops anyway, or bottoming out the 4WD shock on the 2WD F150. And... if you ever want to add an add-a-leaf to increase your hauling capability for an extra 500 to 1100 lbs by using a General Spring add-a-leaf (or if you just want to add a simple rear block lift), you will be at the same shock ride-height as the 4WD model, which would make this the correct shock for that application ( this would also re-add the F150 forward rake, since adding an add-a-leaf will raise your rear up 1"-2", depending upon which spring weight you add).

Okay, back to these struts; Removing the old strut is a no brainer; just follow the instructions in the aftermarket Hayne's manual (ISBN10 1563929910)(oh...with one exception: tie rod removal... see below). Tool note: You will need a 27mm socket to remove the lower strut bolt and a 10" or larger adjustable wrench to hold the nut.

Since you will be removing your lower tie-rod ends in order to get access to remove the old and add the new struts, you should consider replacing those as well for around $80 (total); my existing ones were dry as a bone and were way too flexible. I used Moog, and they are very nice, with a good serviceable grease fitting (ES3691). Oh.. do not bother to buy a tie rod remover or pickle fork (like I did); first, neither of the common tie rod/pitman arm removers even remotely fit. Second; it only took one minor wack with a 13" adjustable wrench on the top of the thread-end to pop it right down and out (If you search the F150 forums, you will find that most guys say that is the way to go as well... I should have listened to them!). Even if you are going to re-use your tie-rod ends, there is a very low chance of damaging them by removing them this way.

One significant problem I ran into was putting the new struts into place... the darn things are a pain in the arse to make the bottom strut eyes slide across the lower control arm into it's final position in order to get the bolt though the eyelet. After two hours of unsuccessfully pushing, c-clamping, pry-baring and smashing my hand with a 13" wrench, I only then thought to insure that the thing would actually fit correctly, by removing the upper strut from the upper housing and checking the lower mounting fit. It barely fit, and was certainly being impeded by the silver paint. I ended up sanding off the silver paint on the sides of the lower strut mount and lubing it up with lithium grease. That helped some, but the bottom line issue is: the strut/spring is 1.5" taller than the one you are pulling out, which is a bit over the maximum length at full extension to make it fit easy; it has to be compressed an inch or so to get it to fit. Do your self a BIG favor and borrow or rent a spring compressor at a local auto parts store; once you compress the spring 1.5"-2", you will be able to get it into position and get the bolt though it. I made a BIG rookie mistake of using an 8" C-Clamp to TRY to compress the spring... 4 hours, a few bruises, a gallon of sweat and 1500 calories later, and I still couldn't get the first one in. While shopping online for a spring compressor, I ran into a YouTube video which used ratcheting tie-downs to compress the spring: brilliant! I just happened to have picked up a four-pack of cheap 400lb tie-downs at harbor freight a few days before, so I used one and after a while, I was able to get the first strut in: what a pain! On my second strut/spring, I pre-installed two tie-downs on the spring; aside from a bit of trouble getting the strut into place due to the tie-down ratchets hitting the upper control arm, it worked out much better than the first strut. If you choose to go the tie-down route, plan on destroying the ratchet just to get enough tension, and you'll end up having to cut the straps to get them off the spring once in place. Knowing what I know now (and what you vicariously know now too), I could have done the whole job in 2 hours without nearly the pain and frustration I went though if I had picked up a Spring Compressor before I started.

So, the ride height on these struts is 1.5" higher than the stock strut, so it gets rid of the 1.5" F150 forward rake on the 2WD perfectly. Nice firm ride at my preferred setting of 6 in the front and 4 in the rear... less body roll in corners, still comfortable going over potholes and road irregularities. All in all, a great set of struts and shocks for the 04-08 F150 2WD (and I would guess, the 4WD as well). After installing these, I went for a 2k mile road trip up the coast of California, which included at least 10 hours of higher speed sharp corner roads (Highway 1, and highway 299, though six rivers) and 12 strait hours of driving down the 5 Freeway at 85-90mph; I noticed that I had much more control of the truck when going around sharp corners, recovering out of those corners, and much less nose dive with hard braking. At high speed, the truck felt firm yet comfortable. I felt like I was in much more control of the truck when hitting freeway whoops at speed.

I saved around $300 in labor changing my own shocks and struts, and probably another $200 in savings by order my own parts (and premium parts mind you, not the mediocre KYB or lower value Monroe product that most shops are selling/installing for more than what we pay here for Rancho!). So, by doing this job on my own, I saved at least $500, got better components, and learned a whole lot about my trucks suspension... definitely well worth the effort!

Final note: I'd suggest getting a buddy to help you with this moderate project... those struts are quite heavy with the springs on them, and there is a lot of heavy pushing required to get them installed (especially if you don't sand down the paint and use a spring compressor!) It's not really required to have a buddy to help, but it would have made the job easier if I had.

Good luck on your projects my fellow F150 brethren! Please hook me up with a "Helpful?" "YES" vote if you found this review worthwhile.

Keep the Shiny Side up!

-Adam in San Diego
(Black "Darth Vader" F150 w/ARE MX Shell)

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