06 H3's Rancho build!

[benlaud87]

when I go over bumpy roads I can feel the bounce in the rear from what I assume is the bump stops bottoming out. Not so much even bumpy roads but even older highways that arent completely smooth. I should have my firesone ride-rite kit installed in a week or two depending upon when I have time.

 

[cgalpha08]

you should take it over to GAS or west coast customs and see what they can do haha :shifty:

 

[benlaud87]

yes and while he's there he can have the entire truck chrome plated

 

[06 H3]

Went to work and saw an H1 on 40s body lifted and rear steer!!! I chased him down and told him to join here....I hope I didn't scare him. Lol

The ride to work was better then yesterday. I felt the bottoming out when I had 2 friends sitting in the back, still both combined were 400lbs. Felt bottoming out though. Today when it was just me the ride was nicer...really concerned about the rear ride quality. I hope ride quality is important to me. Jeff at deaver said his springs would ride nice. Probably flex better too.

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[06 H3]

another update...just pulled into the driveway and the rear shackle hit the frame again, you can hear it...I also took a video of it with me bouncing on the bumper

Front is measured at 26 the back is 24 1/2...last set I was at 24? gotta check my posts back on this thread.

 

[cbetts]

another update...just pulled into the driveway and the rear shackle hit the frame again, you can hear it...I also took a video of it with me bouncing on the bumper

Front is measured at 26 the back is 24 1/2...last set I was at 24? gotta check my posts back on this thread.

Maybe what you really need to fix the problem is a BowFlex . . .

 

[Sierra H3]

Benlaud, how are yours riding? The front end is really smooth I love it! The rear on the way home was smooth and the first set were smooth for a day or two. Now it is back to bouncing and bottoming out. That was after a few hours! lol maybe the first set was better, that one lasted a few days.

Deaver has still been in contact with me. Jeff, the spring designer is a really nice guy. He has built springs for rod halls H3 and rancho contacted him to design the rancho springs but then they went out and went a cheaper route. I have been down to his shop and he has seen the rancho springs and he see flaws...idk what they are because they all look the same to me but seeing he looks at leaf springs all day he knows stuff I dont.

I will get more pics up of the shackle today. I even had it installed at a shop to eliminate the possibility of a bad install on my part and the same thing is happening so its safe to stay I installed em right the first go around.

Greg, I love that rancho is here for the H3, without them we would have little to no options. They make good stuff and I truly believe that, There is no doubt I would buy the front end of the lift kit again, I would even buy the rear end of the kit if I carried no weight. Lets face it though, what off roader carries NO weight?? I may have more weight then others up top but in overall weight I feel I am comprable to others. I weighed my stuff...its 208lbs. I dont even think thats excessive seeing that can be a persons weight. Those springs ride smooth when there not bottoming out so I feel rancho does make good stuff but I also feel these springs were designed with nothing in the back which is unrealistic for a wheeler. On a so cal run I can probably find atleast 100lbs in everyones trunk...wheelers must carry some stuff...

The H3 is basically a truck with an SUV body. The trucks that I have known could handle 500+ lbs added weight in the rear. The use of something like air bags was just to level the truck while fully loaded. These trucks always stood back up after the weight was removed. The front end is probably most of the Rancho kit. So, good to hear that part worked out. Hopefully, Deaver will come up with a solution that will parallel the stock spring performance with the lift in place. Would Rancho consider just selling the front end parts? Saving a few dollars while compromising one of the truck's basic functions does not seem like the way to go to me. Thanks for documenting your experiences so well on this install Chris, it is really helping to sort out these issues.

 

[speedy]

another update...just pulled into the driveway and the rear shackle hit the frame again, you can hear it...I also took a video of it with me bouncing on the bumper

Front is measured at 26 the back is 24 1/2...last set I was at 24? gotta check my posts back on this thread.

Are you ready to do a spring over yet?
i will set you up with a parts list and where to get it all for under 200.00 The rest is labor and consumables

 

[06 H3]

The H3 is basically a truck with an SUV body. The trucks that I have known could handle 500+ lbs added weight in the rear. The use of something like air bags was just to level the truck while fully loaded. These trucks always stood back up after the weight was removed. The front end is probably most of the Rancho kit. So, good to hear that part worked out. Hopefully, Deaver will come up with a solution that will parallel the stock spring performance with the lift in place. Would Rancho consider just selling the front end parts? Saving a few dollars while compromising one of the truck's basic functions does not seem like the way to go to me. Thanks for documenting your experiences so well on this install Chris, it is really helping to sort out these issues.

I am not sure if they are willing to part out a rancho kit. If I was to do it again I would see if they would give me the entire kit minus the rear leafs. I feel everything else is still needed in the rear, like the bumpstop extensions, brakeline bracket, and sway bar endlinks. Even if they gave you a few hundred off the springs in that kit that could help cover for the deavers. In my mind if the springs were dropped from the kit, the money saved should cover atleast 1/2 of the price paid for the deavers.

I couldnt agree more with you...these things should handle the damn weight! I could feel the difference in ride with 2 people in the back, it was the difference between bottoming out or not. It wasnt like I had sumo wrestlers in the back either. They were both under 200lbs. I would say 350 would be an accurate weight for the 2 of them combined.

Are you ready to do a spring over yet?
i will set you up with a parts list and where to get it all for under 200.00 The rest is labor and consumables

Unfortunately no. :sigh:

I will definitely be asking you in the future for a list of parts needed. I just cant do it right now...It may be cheaper but with school starting monday I gotta keep my head in the books not under the truck. It may cost more now then just going straight to a SOA but for my sanity I think its gonna have to wait till a summer or winter break project

While costing more on my part one plus side for others is that if I can get deavers designed and all the bugs worked out this can be a good soultion for those who dont have the tools or time or know how to do a SOA.

Will be contacting you in the future though!

 

[06 H3]

Yay for sagging again. . .

 

[JoshuaL]

Hey 06h3 i was just wondering if you still have your tortion bar cranked up. I'm sure that would shift everything towards the back and could possibly cause that problem with the springs. I don't know I'm just throwing it out there. I just think its weird that you got two bad sets. I've yet to have that problem with mine and my sister has the rancho kit and she has not had a problem with hers either. Hope you get it all figured out.

 

[benlaud87]

I measured my rear height last night. It was pretty dark so I didnt care to get exact, but it was around 25 1/2"-26" from fender to center of the wheel. I'll get a more accurate measurement today when its light outside.
"

 

[06 H3]

JoshL: my bumstops are on the a arm and the cv's are pretty much straight. Ill snap some pics of those too. Thanks for bringing that up as another possibility. I measured hub to fender and was at 26 so who knows...

BenL:thanks for that. I guess ur sagging is as bad right now...who knows if it will get worse or not. I've ruled out improper install due to the fact that a shop did a set and I did a set...

If you guys jump on ur back bumper does the shackle hit the bumper? If so, you will hear it. Mine does...I actually took a video of that yesterday I just gotta post that too...

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[Sierra H3]

Hey 06h3 i was just wondering if you still have your tortion bar cranked up. I'm sure that would shift everything towards the back and could possibly cause that problem with the springs. I don't know I'm just throwing it out there. I just think its weird that you got two bad sets. I've yet to have that problem with mine and my sister has the rancho kit and she has not had a problem with hers either. Hope you get it all figured out.

It sounds like Rancho needs to check their supplier. They probably manufacturer these springs in batches and order a new batch when stock dwindles. This last batch may be a lemon.

 

[benlaud87]

looks like my front is right around 26 and the rear is at 25". My leaf springs have the military wrap in the front and i believe most people have the military wrap in the rear on their rancho. I dont know why that is, Its not like i can just flip it around, because the axle isnt centered on the leaf spring.

 

[06 H3]

Lol talk about overextending a driveshaft! You said that ur leaves are the old design...that may be why...Greg it's either a lemon batch or squeaky needs to lose some lbs...I feel its a lemon batch seeing there is a noticeable sag when people sit in the back

 

[JoshuaL]

I think you got a lemon batch too, since I pull a offroad trailer for camping and mine never hit.

 

[06 H3]

Gahhhh!!!!

 

[Timgco]

Chris, sent you a PM, Engineering is on it. also told them about Deaver. we'll see. I have no doubt they will do something to fix this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[06 H3]

I would hit the "thank" button but its denying it on tapatalk lol

I got an email, no pm if u meant email I got it
Thanks for helping me out here, once we get this taken care of I wanna go in the sluice box might take the doors off for that one

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[Hunner]

I would think they would be concerned if they are told that there have been 5,051 views, well 1 more now, of this thread even if some are the same people, and have read about the problem and it has been brought up before several times here and other forums.
Probably just 06H3's fan club.

 

[06 H3]

06 h3's fan club??? :emb: well thank you

 

[06 H3]

Where is serge??? I need him to step into his "technology center" and find out what the russian guy did on his rancho lift...he had the same exact problem with sagging as I did. The guy with the sagging issue is the guy that upgraded to the 17" hutchinsons and 36" iroks (guy from 08solarflares post.) While researching it via translator I learned a few things... 1) a lift kit to russians is called an elevator 2) I am not the only one with sagging springs to this degree and 3) Russians really do call hummers "hamsters" lol

 

[Hans3T]

Russians really do call hummers "hamsters" lol

:giggle: You learn something everyday! That explains his nickname for the truck!

 

[Timgco]

Where is serge??? 1) a lift kit to russians is called an elevator 2) I am not the only one with sagging springs to this degree and 3) Russians really do call hummers "hamsters" lol

lol. you need an elevator for more clearance to give your hamster better breakover angle? just sounds weird.