Topic: Shocks

[Jesse-James]

I am looking for input on selecting new shocks for my YJ. I am currently running Rancho's, but cannot say how good they ride since they were getting bad when I bought it. My wife has a bad back but she won't give up riding in the Jeep (who can blame her) so I am going for a comfortable street ride on our horrible Wisconsin roads. I'm running 31" MTR's with what I think is a 2.5" spring lift though I don't know what brand of springs. Any suggestions? Is there a big difference?

[Jeffy]

Most of the guy's I know who used to run Rancho 9000's have moved on to Bilstein 5100's or 5150's.  I'd go with 5100's since you probably won't need the remote reservoir.  They are nice shocks though.  I suspect you're running Rancho 5000's.  Bilistein's are much better shocks.  Still, shocks are only half the equation.  The other half being springs.

If you haven't already, look into removing the track bars.  It makes a huge difference in ride quality.

[wrangler387]

I've heard really good things about the 5100 and 5150, when i get new shocks i'm probably going to go with the 5100s.

[joe-joe]

I have had great results with the jeep specific Teraflex Vss shocks. They are gas charged and they ride great! I got them for $175 shipped form Jeepers and Creepers about a year ago.

[Jesse-James]

I looked at Q-tec and they have the 5100's for 79.00 each, is there any way to know for sure what springs are on it? Or at least what size they are? I'm not sure how exact the size of the shock needs to be. This is my fist off-road vehicle that I have money to improve instead of just to keep running unlike my 86 Toy and my 79 Power Wagon. So try to bear with me. Also, are saying to remove front and rear track bars? This won't make it handle funny or cause strange tire wear?

[chrisfranklin]

I've been running Bilsteins for a while on my YJ for about 4 years and they are a big improvment over stock.  Had a family member who started using Bilsteins on his Explod...er Explorer in 96 and I drove before and after the install and was also quite impressed.  So I think you can't go wrong with Bilsteins.  And I beleive they are designed to last for the life of your vehicle (though, may be wrong on that)

Have also heard good things about the Edelbrock IAS shocks.  I admit, when I think of Edelbrock I think of intake manifolds for V8s, but they apparently picked up the rights to the shock design from somewhere else and then handle the manufacturering themselves now.  Supposedly these shocks seem to provide a variable rebound depending on the force of the shock compression or something like that...makes the suspension a little more nimble on in-town speed-bumps and stiffer on the trail or in harder road driving.  

If the Bilsteings ever wear out, which I doubt, I may give the Edelbrocks a go...but, the Bilsteins give the solid axle jeep a kind of bank-vault, Mercedes feel on the road which I kind of dig...so, probably stick with Biltein

Good with Bilstein, though.

[Jeffy]

I looked at Q-tec and they have the 5100's for 79.00 each, is there any way to know for sure what springs are on it? Or at least what size they are? I'm not sure how exact the size of the shock needs to be. This is my fist off-road vehicle that I have money to improve instead of just to keep running unlike my 86 Toy and my 79 Power Wagon. So try to bear with me. Also, are saying to remove front and rear track bars? This won't make it handle funny or cause strange tire wear?

Look on the spring for any ID painted on it.  Pictures might be nice too.  One of the top of the leafs, and then one of the Jeep.

For shocks, you will want to measure the distance between the shock mounts.  Then you will want to compress the suspension the best you can to see what the minimum length is.  Then measure the other side for the maximim length.  This would have to be done for the front and rear.  This isn't practical for everyone but would be the best way to measure for shocks.  You can also see if they have a charts are pretty generic and could be off a few inches.  If Bilstein doesn't have a chart you can look for a Rancho chart and it should have all the lengths, max and min's listed on it.

Now the trackbars.  They were added to the YJ to stiffen the suspension simply without having to do major redesigning.  The rear trackbar is only there to match with the front.  The front is there for two reasons.  One is to stiffen the suspension but the other and more importantly, help with bumpsteer.  Now this insn't really a problem when your Jeep is stock  but once you start lifting it it becomes more noticable.  Most of the time when braking hard, the Jeep will want to change lanes.  Now a stiff suspension will prevent this.  Correcting the steering geometry is the better solution though.

In any case, remove the rear and forget about it.  Take the front off then try it out for a while.  It will make a night and day difference.

Oh and the trackbars have no bearing on steering geometry and tire.  YJ's are pretty basic and don't have much to adjust.  Steering can only be adjusted for toe-in.  Caster and Camber is for the most part fixed by the axle.

[Jesse-James]

Here is a pic of the Jeep, I'll try to get a pic of the springs tomorrow. Note the shackles are all stock and so are the body mounts. I'm pretty much settled on the 5100's and Q-tec has a guide for the correct number if you know how tall the lift is, so as soon as I can tell if this is 2.5" of lift or other I will be ordering them.

[wrangler387]

^ its definately not bigger then a 3" lift. Have you tried removing the front/rear trackbars? I have no track bars or sway bar and the ride is waaaaaaaay better. It really is night and day difference. :wink:

[Jeffy]

It looks like a 2.5".  Any markings on the leafs themselves?

[Jesse-James]

None that I can see, here are the pics though...

[SMC4WD]

The spring wraps look like Rancho's...  

Not sure what springs...   With red shock boots and white bodied shocks it could either be Rancho, or even Explorer Pro Comp.

New shocks may help the ride, but if those springs are stiffer than sh*t, no shock can fix you.

Take the shocks off and drive it up the street...   If the springs still don't even move, then your stiffness has to do with those springs.  Not even the best shock could help you.

Transversely, if you pull the shocks off and drive it up the street and you can't even keep it on the road (because it's sooo bouncy), then shocks will dissipate that bounce.  The shocks will improve that ride.

[Jeffy]

I was thinking it might be a AAL since there are no markings.  How many leafs are in each pack?  Most lifts have 4 in the front and 5 in the rear.  If it's a AAL, you'll have one extra.  Rancho make a 2-2.5" AAL?

[Jesse-James]

The shocks are Rancho, the markings are still on them. Spring count is 4 in the front and 5 in the rear, doesn't look like AAL. Are Rancho springs junk?

[wrangler387]

I would remove that front trackbar if i were you and try that. I dont know how big of a deal it is, but my RE kit came with an adapter to mount the track bar to axle mount higher since you are raising the vehicle. If i were you i'd remove those track bars first. Easiest and cheapest to do :)