06 H3's Rancho build!

[06 H3]

I will be linking this to the rancho lift kit thread and my own build thread but wanted something separate for a detailed review.

I got the rancho 4in lift kit with rancho9000XL's.

I only have the shocks and spacers to keep the OEM rims for now. Tomorrow morning I will make a few phone calls and figure out why the kit didnt come thursday as it was supposed to...

The spacers seem top notch and the shocks seem ok for now. Tim claims the 9000XL's ride smooth but I may change them over time. My biggest complaint was shock travel in the front. Rear is about 10.5inches of travel.

I plan to do the install on my own, in the driveway or in a friends shop. I will be fabbing up my own UCP for the front. Slowly but surely I will make improvements on the rancho kit on where I personally think they could have done a better job.

I will be taking measurements for everything so we can compare stock to lifted height in areas like front diff and skid, bumper height, rocker height etc.

I think level front end components and the added height is worth gold in ride quality, along with on and off road performance.

Feel free to stay tuned and ask questions. I will be referring back to here in the future to get answers, as time goes by I want to make sure this lift kit makes a better rig for off road performance not a worse one that is just for looks

 

[cgalpha08]

Subscribed!!

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[BW_Hummer H3]

I really looking foward to this build!

 

[Hunner]

I can remember not so long ago when I detected a sense of spirit in you and was glad to take your side in past projects. I'm glad to see I must have been right as I still follow your exploits and mods and you are coming along nicely.
I know you have learned the best way to understand this stuff is to get dirty hands on experience, by your statements. Just remember as you move up the food chain there will always be different ways to see things, some are right and some are not but you will know at some point which ones work, for you.
Yea, I'm bragging on you! Get to work, mod on.
About that delivery, tis the season ya know.

 

[06 H3]

thanks hunner Trail and error is the best way for this kind of stuff. I will definitely be asking questions for you guys as in you, bebe, speedy, recon and all the other suspension geniuses.

I will also be installing the steering rack sleeve during the lift install. It will be much easier to get in there with the whole front end apart.

 

[HUMMER INVESTMENTS]

Congrats! Your rig will look awesome after the build! Sub'd!

 

[H3-ING]

Looking forward to the lift updates on the rig.I really like the rancho set up. Maybe one day after my warranty ends and if i can fit it my garage ??

 

[06 H3]

Lift the garage :thumbs:

Other then one new so cal member no one has a rancho lifted 3 so I think we can get alot of feedback and review on this lift for everyone else in the H3 community.

 

[H3-ING]

Yes or lower the floor

 

[Hunner]

There are a few around with the Rancho, they have just been quite lately.
Mine right now, without a lift just does make it in the garage. I should have raised it while I was building the shop and had help because I did install a new door, but I would have had to leave it open for a few days in bad weather so, never happened.

When I built my shop it got a 10 foot tall door, just for the Hummer, just in case.

 

[benlaud87]

I'm definitely not a suspension genius but if you have an rancho specific questions/problems I might be able to help. If you're just installing the lift you'll have no problems. Compared to some jeep lifts and truck lifts I've seen this is pretty simple

 

[Hunner]

One question I would like addressed is what is the deal with the rear springs they furnish. The lifts I have seen installed raise the front but the rear looks low now? I have seen that written up several times. I would think they furnished springs that "raised" the rear too. Is that still a continuing issue and has not been addressed by Rancho?
In my past I have had Superior Spring here in Arkansas re-arch or add leaves to vehicles I wanted raised. They custom shape the package to get the result desired. They have always gotten it right.
I took the H3 back in 06 to them to get some ideas of a spring over and they suggested maybe de-arching the stock package and adding a stiffer lower, or some type of additonal spring that only came into affect when loaded down leaving a better ride for most driving. In other words reduce the lift overall gained even with more flush front mounts but end up with a practical level with the spring over. They said they could build whatever worked. I have never liked shackles as a cheap fix and did not like the immediate results and effect over time on the handleing and springs and reduced rear clearance and exposure to damage on the H3 anymore than I have on other vehicles I tried it on. Just my opinion, posted with pictures before where the springs were reverse arching.
I mentioned back in 06 when some peeps were claiming their OEM springs went soft on them and were coming up with all kinds of fixes, to go to a good spring shop that could recommend a solution and was pretty much ignored.
I'm looking forward to fresh ideas and comments when you get into that part.
I did have someone with the Rancho on a T ask me about the front skids and the clearance under the spring at full droop. This has come up before and I have made several changes to the angle and length of the part that turns up. I suggested cutting off about an inch to make sure the spring could not hit.
I have modded a set for someone concerned by cutting off an inch and reshaping a set for him. I guess they have not been installed yet because I was hoping for some pictures and a report.
So when you get to that point jack it up by the frame and let the rear suspension droop and let me know if you have any trouble removing the front end of the read springs with the skid in place. I thought I had that about right but nobody I know of yet has done that.
I think on the next batch, if there are any, it will be easier to have them cut that way on the laser to begin with. I went thru a couple of disks cutting that set up.
So here is a set with the new increased angle back which makes a shorter distance to the lower spring, BUT I cut 1 inch off and reshaped it. If he will post up some pictures of how this looks with his Rancho springs and it seems to solve the issue and allow more clearance I may just have them all made that way in the next batch as I have seen others with the OEM springs think it needs more room. At some point though it will defeat the purpose of making a skid for that area if you hang up backing into a rock to get that better line. Just another MORPH of the product, trying to keep up with all the mods people are making, like disconnecting the anti-sway bar. Pulling the springs to install Rancho springs or to have your OEM re-arched is still a concern as I have not actually done that. I thought with my original design there was enough room to lift and pull out the front end of the spring. I will know someday because I will probably need to do that.

Anyway, let me know if I can help or if you have problems with the front skid or have to cut them off. I will work with you to get you what you need. I have done that with a thin blade grinder to change out one set of prototype on mine. I would not use a torch and risk messing up that front hanger unless you plan to do something about that anyway.

 

[05Mudiak]

Yup deff the easiest IFS lift I have ever installed ( i have done a lot). Not much of a difference between the tuff country and Rancho really other than the rear support bars for the rear crossmember not much of a difference oh and front jounce lowering brackets. tuff country just gives you extend jounces that end up falling out. Any questions I can be of help too. Did mine about a year ago but I think I still rememeber :huh:

Biggest thing is follow step by step even if that point it doesn't make sense. Me thinking I have done atleast a hundred IFS lift kits I will do the steps as i see fit yup i ended up taking stuff back apart because i though the instructions didn't make sense. lol

 

[06 H3]

thanks mudiak, I will most likely be asking questions so I will be sure to ask you.

Hunner, thanks for the heads up on the spring skids. I have a spot up the road from me to flex out the suspension and will let you know if I run into that issue. If I do ill probably just take out the angle grinder and start cutting away till the skids clear the spring.

The leaf springs suck, that is a given. Personally I cant say if the rear is higher then stock but I am assuming it is, its just not as high as the front is. I would of been happy just buying the front rancho and do my own thing in the rear set up but I wanted to first get the kit on the way it was designed then make changes. A spring over would be great but I would have to make sure that it doesnt sit too tall. I saw the rolled rancho front spring over rear H3 in town and the rear sat way up. I spoke to the owner and he said in the snow/ice he felt unstable so if I was to do a spring over I would keep it low with some custom arched springs or dearched springs for that matter I will have to temporarily get YJ boomerang shackles to clear the aftermarket hitch I have then solve the rear issues. I just want to see the problem myself so I could get under the truck and get some ideas...

 

[Hunner]

This is what I was trying to explain,
I think you need to check the spring skid clearance BEFORE you wheel it by jacking it up by the frame so the suspension will droop to max. If those springs they include have a different arch on the bottom leaf, if they come down on the skid with force it would put leverage there in that one spot and could cause a problem.
Same thing on your front end, check all that on the ground lock to lock and jacked up at full droop lock to lock using whatever combo of spacer and wheels you are using BEFORE you take it wheeling and check your clearances.
It would be a mess if the upper ball joint end of the upper a-arm machined off part of the inside of your wheel or if the caliper ground off the rim.
If you are trying a set up that has not been tried or that we know of just be sure to check all that and resist driving it until you are sure you have good clearance on everything.

 

[Can007]

I know u have been wanting this lift for some time now, Congrats...

 

[08SolarFlareH3]

My fix for the rear spring issue with the Rancho would be a SOA coversion but after dropping over 2k on a kit, I can understand it if thats something someone wouldn't want to do right away. I have been working with my Monroe/Walker rep for sometime about getting just the front pieces from the kit and extended length 9000XL shocks for the front and stock length 9000XL shocks for the rear so I could do a SOA conversion like the MOAB concept.

Only difference is I would reverse the u-bolts so the bolts/nuts are not down and exposed. Another plus to a SOA coversion is the added clearance from the relocation of the factory shock plate mounts.

 

[benlaud87]

does anyone have the front hunner skids mounted with a rancho lift? im going to have to modify mine in order for them to fit.

are you still waiting on your wheel spacers 06h3?

 

[gfbh3t]

I have the front hunner skids on my T, and yes at full droop the rancho springs will touch the skids. I should cut off 3/8" off the ends but have not done it yet.

 

[06 H3]

hunner, my bad for the mis understanding...I have the front hunner skids not the rear..for the rear I have tomps skids

 

[Hunner]

Yea that is what I'm talking about is the front ones might touch with the Rancho springs. I did not know about those when I made these and even with the changes they still might touch from what people have said. Now your confusing me, wait maybe I am confused about being confused. I would just whack off 1 inch and be safe.
You don't have that on yet?:giggle:

 

[Bigunit]

Good luck 06, can't wait to see the install pics! :thumbs:

 

[06 H3]

UPDATE: the kit is gonna be here Thursday 1/5/11. 4WP screwed up and UPS is slower then pony express...

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[08SolarFlareH3]

4WP screwed up? That's nothing new. I think I told you about the Thornbird incident. :giggle:

 

[06 H3]

I never had issues with them till now...then they just screwed my brother on gears and 2 of my friends this is all recent...

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