Mid-level shocks

[Poseidon20]

Need some new shocks for the Jeep. 2dr currently have a 3in lift. This is a weekend vehicle and we go wheeling about 1 every other month on average. I also plan to sell the Jeep in ~3 years so don’t want anything too expensive. I’m looking to keep it at $600-700 for all 4 shocks. Maybe $800 if it’s considerably better.

My favorite at the moment is Rancho 9000xl. I love the adjustability of it. I’ve heard Fox, Bilstein and Falcons are all too stiff. I’m looking for more comfort but capable when we go off road. Let me know if I’m wrong about those 3 or any other suggestions welcome. Thanks.

Sponsored

 

[3TV]

Nice pictures. Looks like a fun trail, and the mud level just below the headlights looks interesting as well.

I'm just chiming in to say that I personally do not think Fox 2.0 shocks are too stiff.

 

[Kracka]

Bilstein or Rancho will both be great choices. We personally have Bilstein with zero complaints.

 

[Soapy]

I have bilstein shocks and do not find them too stiff. Some 5100 should fit into your budget. They ride a little softer than the 5160 remote res. shocks.

 

[Camaroboi13]

The Bilstein shocks may be a bit stiffer on road but they shine off road. My Falcon shocks on my JTOD are much softer than the same Falcons on my wife’s JLU but I also have 50k more miles on them than she does.

 

[Wabujitsu]

Need some new shocks for the Jeep. 2dr currently have a 3in lift. This is a weekend vehicle and we go wheeling about 1 every other month on average. I also plan to sell the Jeep in ~3 years so don’t want anything too expensive. I’m looking to keep it at $600-700 for all 4 shocks. Maybe $800 if it’s considerably better.

My favorite at the moment is Rancho 9000xl. I love the adjustability of it. I’ve heard Fox, Bilstein and Falcons are all too stiff. I’m looking for more comfort but capable when we go off road. Let me know if I’m wrong about those 3 or any other suggestions welcome. Thanks.

I don’t know why anyone would say that the Fox 2.0 shocks are “too stiff;” this is the only brand I can speak about, as it’s the only one I use. I have extensive on- and off-road experience with these.

Ideally when off-road, you want to stay off your bump stops and not bottom out. I have bottomed-out a few times on these Fox shocks, due to driving too aggressively. If anything, they are too soft for some situations.

I find them to be excellent on-road, and a good match for my off-road style of driving. Ideally I would have adjustable shocks, but they are too pricey for me right now.

 

[Poseidon20]

Are the RK Bilsteins 5100 any different than regular Bilstein 5100? I’ll take a look at them.

 

[Poseidon20]

I don’t know why anyone would say that the Fox 2.0 shocks are “too stiff;” this is the only brand I can speak about, as it’s the only one I use. I have extensive on- and off-road experience with these.

Ideally when off-road, you want to stay off your bump stops and not bottom out. I have bottomed-out a few times on these Fox shocks, due to driving too aggressively. If anything, they are too soft for some situations.

I find them to be excellent on-road, and a good match for my off-road style of driving. Ideally I would have adjustable shocks, but they are too pricey for me right now.

Looking at northridge, Rancho 9000xl appear to be cheaper than fox 2.0. Why don’t you get those if you want adjustable? Unless Fox 2.0 are still better?

 

[entropy]

I don’t know why anyone would say that the Fox 2.0 shocks are “too stiff;” this is the only brand I can speak about, as it’s the only one I use. I have extensive on- and off-road experience with these.

Ideally when off-road, you want to stay off your bump stops and not bottom out. I have bottomed-out a few times on these Fox shocks, due to driving too aggressively. If anything, they are too soft for some situations.

I find them to be excellent on-road, and a good match for my off-road style of driving. Ideally I would have adjustable shocks, but they are too pricey for me right now.

Shocks are not there to prevent you from bottoming out. Thats the job of the springs. The shocks are not there to support the weight of the vehicle in any matter. Heck you can compress them by hand lol or your own body weight. Try doing that to a suspension coil. Shocks are dampeners so the springs dont oscillate uncontrollably.

If anyone is bottoming out too much, replacing shocks is not the answer.

 

[3TV]

Shocks are not there to prevent you from bottoming out.

Anyone that has used compression adjustable shocks knows this is not accurate. Dial up compression damping and your suspension becomes much more resistant to bottoming out.

 

[Northridge4x4]

You will be very happy with Bilstein. Personally rancho are not my favorite

 

[entropy]

Need some new shocks for the Jeep. 2dr currently have a 3in lift. This is a weekend vehicle and we go wheeling about 1 every other month on average. I also plan to sell the Jeep in ~3 years so don’t want anything too expensive. I’m looking to keep it at $600-700 for all 4 shocks. Maybe $800 if it’s considerably better.

My favorite at the moment is Rancho 9000xl. I love the adjustability of it. I’ve heard Fox, Bilstein and Falcons are all too stiff. I’m looking for more comfort but capable when we go off road. Let me know if I’m wrong about those 3 or any other suggestions welcome. Thanks.

Bilstein provide about the same ride as my XR shocks did. They are a bit stiffer but not by much. They are longer so do absorb more energy, better offroad. And provide more articulation, because theyre longer.

Bilstein are better quality than rancho. And the fox 2.0 are overpriced.

 

[3TV]

You will be very happy with Bilstein. Personally rancho are not my favorite

Agree with that. Rancho 9000s are adjustable, but every setting sucks. I wouldn't recommend Rancho shocks to anyone.

 

[Wabujitsu]

Shocks are not there to prevent you from bottoming out. Thats the job of the springs. The shocks are not there to support the weight of the vehicle in any matter. Heck you can compress them by hand lol or your own body weight. Try doing that to a suspension coil. Shocks are dampeners so the springs dont oscillate uncontrollably.

If anyone is bottoming out too much, replacing shocks is not the answer.

As shocks respond differently to a slow compression by hand, than a sudden hard hit, yes, shocks do contribute (as do springs) to keeping you off the bump stops - as well as what you said, dampening oscillation. You may want to take another look at that.

 

[entropy]

Anyone that has used compression adjustable shocks knows this is not accurate. Dial up compression damping and your suspension becomes much more resistant to bottoming out.

I can easily compress my shocks with my body weight. 150lbs. A jeep weighs around 5000 lbs. You really think this is gonna keep you from bottoming out?

Maybe they help a lityle bit. But if you bottom out a lot id be looking a stiffer springs.

Sponsored