Need some shock advice, please.

[dpike]

I meant springs.

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[longfiredragon]

I meant springs.

Okay, then you were referring to when I get the lift and replace the springs. Will do. Thanks.

 

[AcesandEights]

If you were able to get the manufacturer information you'd find many products are manufactured to a specification, but manufactured by the same company. Rancho, Monroe, Ohlins and others are made by Tenneco.

It would be out of the norm for a company to manufacture their "own" product nowadays. Most good products/manufacturers are purchased by larger companies; Tenneco for example.

So, you might ask by whom and where your shocks are made. You may find they are a different valving, and a different sticker, than the OE, or one of the other major "brands", but made by the global manufacturer.

I've used Rancho. I'm not a fan; however, I will say I used them harder than any shock should have to be used and they didn't fail (jumping a vehicle and compressing it should have blown out the seals and I damaged the housing). I don't know how it didn't fail, other than it must have been over-built. They continued to work as if new, no joke.

 

[longfiredragon]

If you were able to get the manufacturer information you'd find many products are manufactured to a specification, but manufactured by the same company. Rancho, Monroe, Ohlins and others are made by Tenneco.

It would be out of the norm for a company to manufacture their "own" product nowadays. Most good products/manufacturers are purchased by larger companies; Tenneco for example.

So, you might ask by whom and where your shocks are made. You may find they are a different valving, and a different sticker, than the OE, or one of the other major "brands", but made by the global manufacturer.

I've used Rancho. I'm not a fan; however, I will say I used them harder than any shock should have to be used and they didn't fail (jumping a vehicle and compressing it should have blown out the seals and I damaged the housing). I don't know how it didn't fail, other than it must have been over-built. They continued to work as if new, no joke.

@AcesandEights

Thanks for the info. I am aware that lots of companies nowadays have parent companies. Also familiar with Tenneco and who they own.

Sounds like the rancho shocks you had at the time really took a hammering and kept on going.

I am not in a position right now to do what I want. The wife and I currently live in our RV and are going to continue traveling for a bit longer.

So I am doing what I have to right now to keep things going and still have a good time off road. I do all my own maintenance, so being in an RV and traveling, trying to keep things simple.

The fox shocks I am sure will do what I need and allow for change and adding on to later as well.

 

[AcesandEights]

@longfiredragon I think you misunderstood my post. I think you should spend less, not more.

 

[longfiredragon]

@longfiredragon I think you misunderstood my post. I think you should spend less, not more.

@AcesandingEights

Maybe I did misunderstand. Lol. Didn't mean to.

I did read a bunch of reviews on all three, Bilstein, Rancho, and Fox. And I read comparisons. Each one is designed with a different theory and each mfg is trying make a all around shock in this category of shocks. Meaning, good on road, and off. Bilstein in most reviews took the street honors although most agree it's a little harder/rougher over lines, holes etc. And off road it didn't soak up the bumps as good. But on road handling was the best.

Rancho seemed to take top honers for both on and off road comfort. Although most agreed it is not the best off road and was meant for more moderate off road. Not that it won't handle heavier stuff, just not as good. All this even though it's adjustable.

Fox is the only one that gives itself the name "racing shock" it's softer on road, overall feel wasn't as tight as Bilstein. However all agreed the fox shock excelled off road over the other two, and by a noticeable difference. Most also agreed the fox shock was made with a little more premium parts, and as a bonus it can be a lifetime shock because it can be rebuilt.

Also against the Bilstein the outside diameter of the housing is bigger, and the piston diameter is bigger. Not sure about the rancho.

I decided when I got my jeep I was going to beat the dog snot out of the Rubicon shocks before replacing them. And as I stated in my first post, they did good, but I never felt they were great on or off road.

Personally I have never ran any of the listed three. I took a chance that for a couple hundred more I can live with the fox on road manners and hopefully being aired down they will be much better off road. Some for me, and some for the wife who has commented a few times about being beat up. Lol.

I will report back ASAP on how I like them.

 

[longfiredragon]

It's Christmas in February. Not really but I love getting new jeep parts. LOL.

New shocks came in. First impressions, wow! Super nice looking. Looks like great build quality. I watched a rebuild video yesterday. Seems to me to be very well engineered shock. When the time comes as long as I can get all the stuff, I can rebuild these no problem. I don't see how they won't be a lot better than the stock Rubicon shocks.

Also Northridge gave me a good price on the racing roost's for the rear shocks, so I figured a little more protection can't be a bad thing.

Install set for Thursday.

 

[longfiredragon]

Later this afternoon I will be installing the new shocks.

Had a couple minor questions.

If your shocks are stiffer do they change the ride height at all? Even if it's very little?

Also read somewhere to use red 272 loctite. (Supposedly the 272 you can still get loose without heat, supposedly) Now I can't find where I read it, and all the install videos I watched never mentioned loctite on any of the bolts.

Would blue 242 loctite work. (Serviceable)

So yes/no on loctite.

And one last thing, no videos used any kind of lube/grease on the shock ends where the bolts go through? Normally this is something I would consider, a thin layer of grease in the threw holes.

Thanks.

 

[Roky]

Later this afternoon I will be installing the new shocks.

Had a couple minor questions.

If your shocks are stiffer do they change the ride height at all? Even if it's very little?

Also read somewhere to use red 272 loctite. (Supposedly the 272 you can still get loose without heat, supposedly) Now I can't find where I read it, and all the install videos I watched never mentioned loctite on any of the bolts.

Would blue 242 loctite work. (Serviceable)

So yes/no on loctite.

And one last thing, no videos used any kind of lube/grease on the shock ends where the bolts go through? Normally this is something I would consider, a thin layer of grease in the threw holes.

Thanks.

I don’t put any loctite on the shock bolts, just tighten up good….never had any problems….. but if you wanted to, I’d use orange or blue….no need to lube bolt hole, but doesn’t hurt to put a little silicon on rubber where it touches the bracket, if it does….

 

[longfiredragon]

I don’t put any loctite on the shock bolts, just tighten up good….never had any problems….. but if you wanted to, I’d use orange or blue….no need to lube bolt hole, but doesn’t hurt to put a little silicon on rubber where it touches the bracket, if it does….

@Roky

Thanks brother, I have the torque specs. So all good. Just curious what others have done.

 

[Roky]

@Roky

Thanks brother, I have the torque specs. So all good. Just curious what others have done.

Sure man, no worries…… I think you’re gonna like those shocks, I’ve run almost all the other brands over the years, at one time or another, and not knocking them at all, but none of them impressed me like Fox did…. From the quality of products to their customer service, always answer the phone and are very helpful, at least in my experiences with them…….I’m sure others MMV though……..

 

[longfiredragon]

@Roky

Agree. Without getting long winded, cause I already did earlier between the three I was looking at. And nothing against the others.

The general consensus is the fox shocks are just a better shock, period.

I am not a fan of the plastic according cover either. I have had some experience in this area, and even when you think it's all good there is a crap load of stuff getting inside there.

I like that you can get to the internal piston and keep it clean, even with the roost installed.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Like a kid in a candy store, can't wait to get them installed.

Just one small thing though. Fox should tell you where to install the roost because there is a floating rubber grommet and the roost needs to be above that so the grommet can still slide freely.

It may be common sense, and I was 99% but I confirmed with fox anyway.

 

[JeepRubi318]

I have 2021 JLUW sport. Came with the Rubicon shocks.

A full lift will come later. Something like the Clayton 1.5 overland. But, right now I need shocks, two are leaking. I'm not upset because I have wheeled the piss out of my jeep this last year. It's just time for an upgrade.

I am on a 2" spacer lift currently, so someone correct me here, but I believe I just need stock size/travel shocks.

2 questions.

Can I get shocks that will work with the Clayton (or other 1.5" lift) now?
Then I won't need shocks later when I get the lift. Which will actually be around 2"s of lift on my sport.

Second question.

What shocks would some of you recommend. My budget is between $600 to $800 dollars.

There is just so many. Bilstein,fox,king,falcon,etc.

Thanks for the help.

If you wheel extremely hard and want a robust, heavy duty shock that is tuned for that then you need to check on the rock krawler 2.25 shocks. Really durable and would fit your need and be close to your price range.

 

[AcesandEights]

No locktite, and no they don't change ride height.

 

[longfiredragon]

If you wheel extremely hard and want a robust, heavy duty shock that is tuned for that then you need to check on the rock krawler 2.25 shocks. Really durable and would fit your need and be close to your price range.

Thanks. I don't do extreme off reading, yet. Will see what comes in the years ahead. For now I got the Fox 2.0 IFPs and I feel they will be great for what I do.

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