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06 H3's Rancho build!

Hunner

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,334
Location
Arkansas
Bottom line as I have suggested before, you can't beat going to an established spring shop with the vehicle for them to see what is going on. My old Land Crusher wagon in the 70's needed springs and a lift and I went to a place that has been in business for years. I told them what I wanted and they re-arched my springs front and rear. I was very happy with the results. No gimmick add on devices just a properly designed progressive spring pack.
It seems as many of those lifts Rancho has sold that problem would have been fixed by now. If an installation change will not fix that, I would not try to repair what you have but rather start over or have the stock ones re-arched. That suggestion sort of died on the vine way back when I first suggested it. I have learned over the years to use the experience of people that do this daily for a living instead of try to patch up somebody's mistakes.
If this is really a problem with those springs I think I would want my money back for those and use that to start over.
It would be interesting to compile how many others have had this problem and if it is repeatedly so for all of them.
Hope you can work it out. Now you can be an innovator and fix this problem!
buscreekcr.jpg
 
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autumn walker

Well-Known Member
Messages
707
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada
I would follow up with Rancho on this for sure. If the springs are not suitable for the truck they should change the design and you should be reimbursed or sent proper springs.
 
M

MUTAINT

Guest
You said the springs came then the rest of the kit, right? Did you get the model # off of the springs? Does the model # off of the spring match the shipper? Maybe they sent you the incorrect springs for the H3?
 

06 H3

a.k.a. "The Jackal"
Messages
9,493
Location
Meridian, ID
I knew rancho leafs suck...but not this bad. I do have a few pluses on my side. If a shop needs to get dimensions of a rancho spring or OEM I have both sitting in the garage. I still owe u a picture of them side to side hunner. The next question is designing it for my weight...I know I carry a lot of weight, I have to decide to shed weight (which I may do via spare) or get a spring specially designed for the weight I carry. Is the oem pack good enough even when arched or will it be far arched and cause poor ride and flex....another thought which is important if going with modified stock springs is taking the rancho shim that angles the diff back and putting it on the stock pack.

I did some searching this morning for spring shops but not sure of a reputable place. I gotta double check but I think deaver is out here but i have heard they are way overpriced....



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06 H3

a.k.a. "The Jackal"
Messages
9,493
Location
Meridian, ID
Autumn and MU I will be contacting rancho but will wait for Tim to get back from vacation...I went through him on this and he may have some more leverage. As for the right springs, I am almost sure there correct. Just makes me wonder why rancho/4WP sent me 3 leaf packs...lol

while this may seem problematic I still love the kit. The front portion is great so far and the rear rode nice once I took the hitch off and before the shackle is sitting bottomed out haha

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Hunner

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,334
Location
Arkansas
Keep in mind on my 06 and now 08 I am running the OEM leafs, no shackles and regularly weigh in at a 6000 lbs. or more. I have not had any problems except on the 06 when fully loaded and shackles and that flattened the springs while loaded. I removed the shackles and the springs came back up. So I don't run shackles.
Gross weight on the H3 is 6001 lbs.
 
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Hunner

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,334
Location
Arkansas
Did you put the springs on the center detent on the spring plates or move it front or back? Not sure it would make as an extreme change as looks like you need.
Well I have UCP about as low as it gets.
Brush guard/winch mount/Powerplant hanging on the front.
RR rock rails down low
Light weight rack on roof, sometimes has light camping gear
over the spare rack sometimes with two 5 gallon cans and ice chest.
All spare parts and tools down on the floor with back seat out.
Hutchinsons and 35's add a bunch.
Makes for a real good ride and not tippy.:shifty:
Oh and sometimes my land anchors:giggle:
http://www.hummer4x4offroad.com/for...-Outfit-Armor-Tools-and-Spare-parts-and-Weigh
 
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06 H3

a.k.a. "The Jackal"
Messages
9,493
Location
Meridian, ID
Hunner, uploading pics right now. I am gonna give a call to deaver springs and see what they can do and pricing otherwise I need to arch the rancho or oem springs...The oem ones are pretty beat though. You will see in the pics how they are bent, damn rocks get in the way!
 

Bigunit

Hammer Down!
Staff member
Messages
6,561
Location
Arizona
Wow! Those Rancho springs look like they need to spend some time working out with Barry Bonds and get juiced up! That's a lot of arch and thinner metal than the OEM spring. I'd get a new set of OEM springs and have them rearched - assuming they will be the right length after they're re-arched.
 
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06 H3

a.k.a. "The Jackal"
Messages
9,493
Location
Meridian, ID
YES! I am in the right direction. I messaged bebe yesterday and she recommended deaver springs. I called them and they said they to get the OEM leaf spring number and my VIN so they can get some info on the spring make it for the lift kit :D

This is just the beginning but hopefully its a step in the right direction
 

06 H3

a.k.a. "The Jackal"
Messages
9,493
Location
Meridian, ID
Right leaf pack part #15278386 RPN 1126

Left leaf pack part #15278386 RPN 1076

Is this correct? what is the RPN mean? lol
 
M

MUTAINT

Guest
According to the Rancho Install instructions:
Box 3 of 4
PN#44058 Rear Leaf Spring With Shim 1
Box 4 of 4
PN#44058 Rear Leaf Spring With Shim 1

So I don't know????:huh:
 

06 H3

a.k.a. "The Jackal"
Messages
9,493
Location
Meridian, ID
Sorry I meant OEM springs. Those #'s were for OEM. Deaver needed that info.

Tim and I spoke today and he said the springs may be defective...I pulled that spare off the roof and the crap out of my trunk and I didnt gain any clearance, everything stayed the same :huh:

I did weigh everything though. I have 208lbs of gear and the 2nd spare. The spare is 82lbs. That will be a whole other thread for a different topic. First I gotta get this rancho stuff taken care of. The front looks mean though :)
 

06 H3

a.k.a. "The Jackal"
Messages
9,493
Location
Meridian, ID
Thanks solar. Just gave zach a call and that is the current # It was at one point the # I listed but has been updated. Deaver springs now has the new # and will probably get back to me tomorrow w/ a quote. We also now have to deal with rancho as the springs may be defective...Supposedly reaper had this problem and new springs fixed it.

Zach also informed me that my particular H3 was manufactured on June 10th 2005. wonder when the first production H3 was made...
 

06 H3

a.k.a. "The Jackal"
Messages
9,493
Location
Meridian, ID
Sorry this thread is dragging along...It has been a long road. I just wanna wheel! The rear springs are probably defective as figured. I fit in well over here, I have the so cal lean just like those prerunners do :) Currently the shackle is on the frame. The springs are hopefully going back to rancho. My options are to get new rancho ones and install those, wait for them to sag (not as bad as now but will still sag) and then add something to solve that or get deaver springs made. Deaver gave me a call today but I was working. By the time I got back to them they were dealing with another customer and then closed for the day. I will be putting in a call to them tomorrow AM. I think the deavers will be a good option for us if they can get the spring rate right. OEM spring rates are probably available but doubt I can get rancho spring rates. It will be trial and error being the first one to run deavers and a rancho lift but once its all dialed in I think this can be a good option for us. For those interested an average pair is 375-400. That seems reasonable to me...Lets just hope the price is in the average range. I have about 208lbs in back with the spare and they can account for that. I just cant wait to get a real opinion on the rancho kit on and off road. I am hoping I wont be disappointed and assume I wont be seeing everyone loves it but damn I just wanna wheel!!!! I also wanna go down the road without my damn leafs bottoming out!!!
 

benlaud87

Well-Known Member
Messages
849
Location
Maryland
Did you put up any photos of how far you're sagging? I'm interested in how the deaver leafs will work out. I had just planned on getting some rear air bags to help out the leafs
 

06 H3

a.k.a. "The Jackal"
Messages
9,493
Location
Meridian, ID
Did you put up any photos of how far you're sagging? I'm interested in how the deaver leafs will work out. I had just planned on getting some rear air bags to help out the leafs

I'll get some today. The front is cranked at about 26-27. Which is perfect...level cv's. The rear, last I checked were around 24...isn't 24 1/2 stock??? Lol. I removed ALL weight in the trunk including the spare on top with no change in height...the leafs didn't move one bit. The axle is centered on those leaf pins so I dnt think its an install issue...ill get some pics.

Personally I think the air bag idea is cool. Smooth ride, adjustable and not going to break the bank. Its just air bags wont help here...

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