Rubicon/ Willys shock vs Bilstein 5100

[Pismo61]

Had Bilsteins on a JK,now on a JL.I like them and don't find them too firm.

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[jbtrails]

Hi John. Is your suspension otherwise stock? Do you have the Bilstein part number for the shocks you purchased? Bilstein has a good online product selector allowing you to drill down to the engine and submodel (Rubicon X) but they still have different models based on lift height. I'm assuming that since my Rubicon X is stock it would be the models that are 0"-1.5"?

Yes, stock: the fronts are 33-316314 (0-1.5” lift), rears 33-292632 (2-3” lift), it’s been flexed out at the max a few times. I didn’t adjust anything with the rear brake cables or lines either.

 

[azjl#3]

i was a fan of terraflex entry level shocks over rubi's.

 

[PunksJL]

Yes, stock: the fronts are 33-316314 (0-1.5” lift), rears 33-292632 (2-3” lift), it’s been flexed out at the max a few times. I didn’t adjust anything with the rear brake cables or lines either.

Interesting. Thank you. Is there a reason you went with the 0-1.5” in the front and the 2”-3” in the rear? Since you’ve had it flexed out can you confirm there was no driveshaft contact with the rzeppa flange on the front driveshaft with the Bilsteins? You didn’t by any chance get measurements on the stock front and rear shocks such as compressed length and fully extended length? Lots of questions but I sure appreciate it.

 

[m3reno]

I changed my shocks on day 1. I have the sport Altitude and the shocks were just too harsh. I changed them to Rancho's 9000XL adjustable and the ride is perfect and it handles like a sport car. You can change the valving to make it firm or softer by twisting a knob. I have it set on 4 which is not too harsh and not too soft.

 

[JINO]

I got black rocksport shocks (metalcloak). They're adjustable.
Honestly I keep them at 1 or 2 for all driving, I like comfy driving.
If I was doing heavy duty crawling, I think firm would be best, but mostly I like mountain trails, and be able to hit the throttle and not shake to hell.
Sometimes I think I should of gotten a TRX.

 

[Speed331]

I replaced the Rubicon shocks that came with the take off suspension a few years ago with the 5100's. I've had the AEV/Bilstein stablizer for just over a year now, and really like it. So when it came time to replace the shocks I was leaning Bilstein from the start.
I have a '20 2door sport s with a takeoff lift from a rubicon recon + longer lca's 2.5" all around. I went with the 5100's for a 1.5 to 3' lift.
Very noticable improvement in ride and handling. It's a touch stiffer over really small stuff but it also carves a turn much better because of it. Big bumps are a huge improvement. Hits that use to make the whole Jeep 'ring' are now soaked up with hardly a care and no rebound bounce.
They are simply a more refined shock all around. The tuning has a sublety to it that the Rubicon shocks lacked.

My first long trip with the 5100's was Vegas to Sedona for a week, and knowing the condition of parts of the roads between the two, I couldn't wait to feel the difference.
To BLUF it - the 5100's are noticably superior to ruby shocks. They soaked up the chunked up - by heavy semi traffic - portions of the roads without the 'skipping around' feeling from previous trips. It just felt more planted and stable all around. Even my wife commented on how much less harsh the ride felt.
Needless to say they also performed better on the trails and forest service roads throughout Sedona and in the Coconino.

 

[jbtrails]

Interesting. Thank you. Is there a reason you went with the 0-1.5” in the front and the 2”-3” in the rear? Since you’ve had it flexed out can you confirm there was no driveshaft contact with the rzeppa flange on the front driveshaft with the Bilsteins? You didn’t by any chance get measurements on the stock front and rear shocks such as compressed length and fully extended length? Lots of questions but I sure appreciate it.

Well I think I read I could go a little longer on the rears. I did take measurements before I threw them away, guess I could have used the shorter ones on the rear.

Front shock absorbers 68596282AA 23.375”, 17.375” center of eyes
Rear shock absorbers 68596283AA 26.625”, 18.625” center of eyes

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