Rancho MyRide Remote Control Instal Pictorial

[Lumpy]

[mdmead]

I think you voided the warranty on that Dell computer....

Great pics and great job!

[crash]

wow.. how clean it is under there. and with the template, test fits and all the lock washers and everything.. i felt like i was watching a highly produced truck show on speed channel

[LiftedAWDAstro]

Nice install. So...how do you like the instant, on-the-fly adjustments?

[LaGrasta]

Well done. I have rear air bags, but no on-the-fly pump, that's $100 well spent.

[Lumpy]

OK, the "how do you like it?" stuff -

First, it's not air shocks. The air you pump through the system
TIGHTENS/LOOSENS the shock's damping. The shocks are
traditional gas passers. You adjust the valving by either
the manual knob on each shock (stock) or the MyRide
adaptor thingie. So the remote control is the same as
if you physically climbed under the truck and twisted
the dial on the shock. Adjusting the shocks does
nothing to the lift/drop. Just adjusts the stifness.

The new shocks are Rancho 9000 series
FRONT RS999166
REAR RS999147

Plastic accordion shock boots would not fit the FRONT of my 89 Astro.

The 9000 series shocks are the one's that work with the
MyRide remote control thingie.
MyRide part #RS999705
There is only one part number for the MyRide. The same kit
fits any four shock 9000 series install. Total cost, including
shipping, 4 shocks and one controller, $580.

Range of control is from 1 to 9, 1 is couch, 9 is Porsche.
You can control the front and rear separately. ie you
can make the front 7 and the rear 9 or any other
combination.

I started with front and rear at 1.
The difference was noticible between this setting and
the OEM stock, 282,000 mile shocks.

Part of my backing out of
my usual spot includes a few predictible bumps and holes.
They are pretty good indicators of anything new or amiss
in the suspension/wheels/drivetrain.

During my drive test, I repeatedly drove a lot of streets
again and again, while using different shock settings. Now, for
a moment, I invite you to envision this strange looking
camo van porcupine driving through your neighborhood
while the guy inside is doing something with his laptop...

I drove around the horse trails, over speed bumps, slalom skiing
down my street, changing lanes on the fast streets, all at
different settings. I went to Wally World and did a bunch of
panic stops at slow speeds. I didn't get on the freeway.

I ended up with front and rear both at 9, the stiffest setting.
It's probably part of the novelty of being able to feel the
difference. The old shocks really were a couch on a boat.
But it works great.

Install was simple.
There's an electrical gotcha. Don't ground the compressor.
I initially did, as good electrical practice would suggest.
But I (eventually) found out that the receiver controlls
the compressor via it's ground connection. If you
ground the compressor it will run continuously. The
controller will not shut it off.

Diagrams and instructions are pretty cheezy. Like any project,
it takes a thinking head to see what needs to be done, regardless
of what the documents indicate. I talked with tech support three
times. Real humans in CA. Not overly familiar with the MyRide but
able to look stuff up. The third guy I reached was able to
direct me to the problem. The other two weren't.

The air lines "seem" cheezy. They may or may not stay together
just fine. But I would have preferred something more substantial.
These are "press to connect" fittings. Designated hose cutting
tool was not in the kit. I used a straight edge razor blade.

Lump