Adjustable front shocks on L300: Rancho RS9000XL series.

Mitsubishi Delica Camper vans, lift kits & other Delica Accessories!

Moderator: BCDelica

Post Reply
User avatar
Growlerbearnz
Posts: 2041
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2010 1:58 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: Delica P25W
Location: New Zealand

Adjustable front shocks on L300: Rancho RS9000XL series.

Post by Growlerbearnz »

UPDATE: These are still too soft. Their firmest setting was ok for 5000km, but as they break in they get softer until they're as soft as the Pro-comps they replaced. Ugh.
I now recommend Bilstein 24-013369 (https://www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/products/24-013369) shocks. Still a smooth drive, not harsh or sporty, but large bounces are nicely controlled.

TL;DR: Rancho part number RS999188 adjustable shocks fit L300 front suspension, but require a touch of modification to do so safely. On their hardest setting they aren't as hard as I expected, but still show a clear improvement in handling on the road. Softest is like driving a bouncy castle and will be good for off road.
RS999188.jpg
RS999188.jpg (13.24 KiB) Viewed 7738 times
The Pro Comp shocks in my L300 were fine off road, but a bit too soft when towing the caravan. When they eventually shredded their lower bushes (as they do), I looked into adjustable shocks. Which, within my budget, means Rancho RS9000XL.
OldShock.JPG
OldShock.JPG (58.05 KiB) Viewed 7738 times
There's nothing exactly right, but Rancho RS999188 (original fitment is for a 2000-2004 Nissan Xterra) will work with a couple of minor modifications.

First up, you'll need to press the lower sleeve out of the polyurethane bush, and replace it with the cross pin from your old shocks. File any sharp edges off the cross pin before pressing it in, and use grease to help it go in. Silicone grease is perfect for this application.
BottomMount.JPG
BottomMount.JPG (57.27 KiB) Viewed 7738 times


The Rancho shocks are slightly longer (when compressed) than I'm comfortable with (more on that later), so you want to drill out the hole in the lower mounting plate/washer so it fits over the nut on the pin. This gains us another 10mm of clearance.
CutSeat.JPG
CutSeat.JPG (58.5 KiB) Viewed 7738 times
TopMount.JPG
TopMount.JPG (37.63 KiB) Viewed 7738 times


The rubber boots that come with the shocks are too long and bunch up when the shock is fully compressed. Cut off about half of the boot and install it on the shock.

Install the shock as usual, with the adjuster facing inwards. It's easy to reach from underneath through the wishbone.
Adjuster.JPG
Adjuster.JPG (38.07 KiB) Viewed 7738 times


Now, these shocks don't have quite as much travel as the stock shocks. They have internal rebound bumpers so they shouldn't be damaged if a wheel comes off the ground (even on my suspension, which has 50mm spacers, the factory rebound buffer is almost fully compressed before the shock's internal bumper kicks in), but I wanted to be sure they wouldn't bottom out under compression because that's super bad. Here's how I checked that:

After removing the front wheels and putting the van on axle stands, I removed the torsion bar adjuster from the rear so the torsion bar wasn't under any tension, and disconnected one end of the sway bar so it wasn't restricting suspension movement either.
TorsionBarDisabled.JPG
TorsionBarDisabled.JPG (43.75 KiB) Viewed 7738 times


Then I removed the lower bump stop so I could see exactly how far the suspension could compress in a worst-case scenario (a split bump stop). Jacking up the suspension, I found that the suspension stops moving when the top ball joint binds, and the minimum distance from lower wishbone to lower shock mounting point was 235mm. The lower bump stop has a 2mm steel base and a 80mm bolt head welded to it (buried inside the rubber) which add up to 10mm- meaning that if the rubber were to completely fall off the bump stop, the maximum shock absorber compression would be 245mm.
SuspensionMin.JPG
SuspensionMin.JPG (468.28 KiB) Viewed 7738 times


The rancho shocks' minimum height (with the modified top mount)is 240mm. Excellent.
RanchoSize.JPG
RanchoSize.JPG (22.71 KiB) Viewed 7738 times
First impressions: a setting of 5 (out of 9, with 9 being the firmest) feels very similar to my old Pro Comp shocks, your standard off-road comfort oriented shock absorber. A bit bouncy, but nothing catastrophic.

Setting 1 is like driving a blancmange. Not uncontrolled, but very, VERY soft. It would be lovely for a rocky offroad trail.

Setting 9 is fairly firm but not as much as I hoped. Nicely controlled body roll and much improved dive under braking, but if feels like a modern 4WDs suspension tuning (firm enough for confident high-speed road use) rather than harsh like a sports car. Maybe the big soft tyres are smoothing things out. I suspect I'll be leaving them on 9 for around town and freeway driving as well as for towing. We'll see.
Nothing says "poor workmanship" more than wrinkles in the duct tape.
bigsleep55
Posts: 13
Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2018 5:50 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: '92 L300 2.5TD
Location: Vancouver

Adjustable front shocks on L300: Rancho RS9000XL series.

Post by bigsleep55 »

Awesome write up!

If 9 isn't as firm as you'd prefer, know of any other shocks that will give a firmer ride for town and highway use? Betty's shocks are completely shot and is next on the replace list.
User avatar
FalcoColumbarius
Site Admin
Posts: 5983
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:55 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/index.php?cat=11103
Vehicle: Delica; Chamonix GLX ('92 P25W)
Location: North Van, BC, eh?

Adjustable front shocks on L300: Rancho RS9000XL series.

Post by FalcoColumbarius »

I've got these on the Miss Lil' Bitchi. Awesome shock absorbers. Regarding the L300 wagon displacement, "nine" is stiff when you drive over a coin but the wagon will still rock, which gives the impression of soft shocks. To be honest with you, I think that the suspension on these wagons would probably work fine using bungee cords. With my set-up I set my usual street/highway driving at six for the front, three for the rear axle. for towing I'll put six for the front and eight for the rear. for off road I go four in the front and two in the rear.

Great write-up, GBNZ.

Falco.
Sent from my smart pad, using a pen.

Seek Beauty... Image Good Ship Miss Lil' Bitchi

...... Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare. ~ Japanese Proverb
User avatar
Growlerbearnz
Posts: 2041
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2010 1:58 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: Delica P25W
Location: New Zealand

Adjustable front shocks on L300: Rancho RS9000XL series.

Post by Growlerbearnz »

bigsleep55 wrote:If 9 isn't as firm as you'd prefer, know of any other shocks that will give a firmer ride for town and highway use? Betty's shocks are completely shot and is next on the replace list.
9 is about perfect for me, but I would have preferred it if 8 was just right- so I knew I had something in reserve. I believe the Bilstein B6 are a bit stiffer, but I haven't driven a set on the van so I can't guarantee it (http://www.delica.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18889)
FalcoColumbarius wrote:...but the wagon will still rock, which gives the impression of soft shocks.
True- even a racing yacht is going to feel a bit wobbly when you're piloting it from the crows nest.
Nothing says "poor workmanship" more than wrinkles in the duct tape.
demiro
Posts: 40
Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2018 6:58 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: Delica
Location: winnepeg

Adjustable front shocks on L300: Rancho RS9000XL series.

Post by demiro »

Nice write-up. I'm planning to get new shocks for my Delica and looks like the Rancho adjustable shocks are a good option.
dr_airtime
Posts: 130
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 3:39 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: a

Re: Adjustable front shocks on L300: Rancho RS9000XL series.

Post by dr_airtime »

Hey Falco - I'm downtown Vancouver. I've seen Miss Bitchin' on the shore before but not for a few years now. Don't have a space to do suspension myself but have two questions for you:

1) Would you also recommend the Bilsteins for a stock L400 (regular wheelbase, no lift/stock spring mods) two year after this post?

2) Have you heard of any shops on the shore who have worked with Delicas to install the Bilsteins? Crown Tech? RJD?

Thanks! Great Thread. Andre (Current L400 owner, had an L300 written off in crash).
Post Reply

Return to “Delica Modifications”