MC RockSport v OEM Rubicon Shocks - Ride Quality

[AVGeek99]

I'm about to lift my JLUR. I'm going with the MC GameChanger, probably 3.5. Long term I want to go with Fox 2.5 DSC shocks, but I don't want to blow my budget. So I'm trying to figure out a decent shock until I'm ready to pull the trigger on the DSCs.

For those with experience how do the MC RockSports compare to the OEMRubicon shocks primarily from an on road ride quality perspective? I've been very pleasantly surprised by the on road (and off road for that matter) ride quality of the OEM shocks. If the RockSports offer a similar ride quality smoothing out bumps then they would be a no brainer.

My only other frame of reference are Teraflex 3.3 adjustables that I had on my JK. They were better than the cheap Rough Country shocks they replaced, but they were still pretty stiff and harsh even at their softest setting.

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[CarbonSteel]

I had Rock Sports for about 30K miles from the time I installed my Metal Cloak 2.5" lift until the time increased the lift to 3.5" and installed Fox 2.5" DSC shocks (about 30K miles).

They are a good starter shock--particularly if they are included in the lift kit, however, they fade incredibly fast on rough terrain as any "integrated" reservoir shock will.

On road, they are very good and compare easily to OEM.

 

[Jeep Dude]

^^^^^^^this


I still have my Rock Sports on, and have been running them pretty much since the beginning, when I bought the JL new.

They have been a reliable shock thus far. FWIW, found the entire MC 2.5 setup a weeeeee bit stiffer over OEM Rubicon, like maybe 5-10% stiffer, but the changeover from oem C rated to 37in D rated K02's, might of been the real reason for that extra bit of stiffness. I blame the garage that ordered me the tires, I wanted C, but they were too damned lazy to go the extra mile, and ordered the f ing D instead .........

In any case, the Rock Spoorts do offer excellent flex which I like, but my one and only gripe with them, to add to what The Grinch wrote, is that even on slow whoops, they bottom out and hit the bump stops quite easily. So much so, that this is going to be my deciding factor, as to why I will mostly likely go Accutune in the next couple of years(I'm in no rush).

Undecided whether to go King or Fox with Accutune...liking the Fox aluminum body though for added oxidation protection, but also liking King's other features, decisions decisions.

Where I go off-roading to play with my toy, there is a section of road that goes on for a good 20 minutes of slow rock crawling, boulders and rocks that require maximum flex, and the Rock Sports shine there. Then there is a section further up, with sandy higher speed whoops, and there I must say, from the very first slow speed whoop, they are a complete disappointment.

 

[word302]

^^^^^^^this


I still have my Rock Sports on, and have been running them pretty much since the beginning, when I bought the JL new.

They have been a reliable shock thus far. FWIW, found the entire MC 2.5 setup a weeeeee bit stiffer over OEM Rubicon, like maybe 5-10% stiffer, but the changeover from oem C rated to 37in D rated K02's, might of been the real reason for that extra bit of stiffness. I blame the garage that ordered me the tires, I wanted C, but they were too damned lazy to go the extra mile, and ordered the f ing D instead .........

In any case, the Rock Spoorts do offer excellent flex which I like, but my one and only gripe with them, to add to what The Grinch wrote, is that even on slow whoops, they bottom out quite easily. So much so, that this is going to be my deciding factor, as to why I will mostly likely go Accutune in the next couple of years(I'm in no rush).

Undecided whether to go King or Fox with Accutune...liking the Fox aluminum body though for added oxidation protection, but also liking King's other features, decisions decisions.

Where I go off-roading to play with my toy, there is a section of road that goes on for a good 20 minutes of slow rock crawling, boulders and rocks that require maximum flex, and the Rock Sports shine there. Then there is a section further up, with sandy higher speed whoops, and there I must say, from the very first slow speed whoop, they are a complete disappointment.

If your shocks are bottoming out you do not have enough bump stop and you’ll eventually destroy them. This goes for any shocks from any manufacturer.

 

[Jeep Dude]

If your shocks are bottoming out you do not have enough bump stop and you’ll eventually destroy them. This goes for any shocks from any manufacturer.

Sorry I was not clear enough.
I meant to write, hitting the bumpstops ?.

I edited the post, but now, post edit, I'm sure some of the lurking forum lawyers, will accuse me of having too much bump stop ??, yeah?

 

[SargeRubi3.0]

I am waiting for my mc 3.5 392 kit, I am pairing with the fox 2.5 dsc. Hopefully she will ride and perform good

 

[word302]

Sorry I was not clear enough.
I meant to write, hitting the bumpstops ?.

I edited the post, but now, post edit, I'm sure some of the lurking forum lawyers, will accuse me of having too much bump stop ??, yeah?

Yeah that makes more sense. I like 1/2” or so or a little less of shock shaft showing at bump to give room for hard impacts that may move things around a bit. Not surprised the Rocksports don’t do well at speed. They’re a great shock at the price point though.

 

[AVGeek99]

Thanks for the responses all. Seems like the RockSports perform similarly to the OEM Rubicon shocks. This is proably the route I'll go until I'm ready to pull the trigger on the FOX 2.5 DSCs.

Thanks again!!

 

[word302]

Thanks for the responses all. Seems like the RockSports perform similarly to the OEM Rubicon shocks. This is proably the route I'll go until I'm ready to pull the trigger on the FOX 2.5 DSCs.

Thanks again!!

Yeah they’re pretty hard to beat at that price point. Plus you’ll have spares to throw on when it’s time to rebuild the DSCs.

 

[Jtphoto]

You must remember that the RockSports are valved differently then other shocks. They are more of a 50/50 valving rather then 70/30 like other shocks which means they are designed to collapse easier and return faster to provide a better on road / mild off road ride.

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