shocks

[Swamprat]

it seems my XJ is bound to destroy it self, my shocks are either shot or going out. what shocks should i look into when shopping for new ones? i was told i should go with bilstein 5150's or the 7100's.



-Ian

[JCS JP]

I would not get SkyJacker. They don't give at all. I have a bastard pack and at the time I put it in I did not have shocks. It was boncey as heck and then I put SkyJacker nitro or the hydro on not sure what one. When I go over a speed bump it hits realy hard.

[dakineJ]

it seems my XJ is bound to destroy it self, my shocks are either shot or going out. what shocks should i look into when shopping for new ones? i was told i should go with bilstein 5150's or the 7100's.



-Ian

I would say those are good choices.A little less, the 5100's are good. Also,check out FOA. Basicly,I think you want the best that will fit your budget.

[vegas_baja]

I always recommend a good rebuildable shock.
bilstein 7100, fox 2.0, sway-a-way, foa.
The ride is fantastic, resale value is great, they last forever.
After 2 vehicles and 6 years of hard use, my rear foxs finally blew out a seal :shocked:
$20 for a rebuild kit and some oil....good as new :D
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e43/vegasbaja/100_4364.jpg

[Swamprat]

well im looking for bang for my buck. i really like the bilsteins and fox, and i think i should check out foa never heard of them before.

[Swamprat]

and im also thinking of running the shocks up through the floor, but thats just an idea

[Ryan93]

what would you say the minimum amount of lift would be to run 10in travel shocks? oh and Bilstien dont they have short body shocks and long ones? whats the benefits of either one.

[xcm]

what would you say the minimum amount of lift would be to run 10in travel shocks? oh and Bilstien dont they have short body shocks and long ones? whats the benefits of either one.

fitment is #1 benefit of short/long body shocks... when i took my measurements, fox was the closest to my desired length, and i went with fox, couldnt be happier... the 5150's are a great bang-for-buck, and are half the price of pretty much anything else w/ a reservoir... foa is a smaller company from vegas, http://f-o-a.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=25_27&products_id=4 as far as skyjacker, you should get banned from this sub-forum for recommending shit like that for a jeepspeed... as you obviously dont know anything worth sharing w/ others...

[xcm]

also, if your running them above the rear floor, you can run up to a 16' shock, as your upper mount can be as high as possible.... as long as you dont bumpstop, or limit droop w/ the shock, your fine.

[Jimbo_1321]

also, if your running them above the rear floor, you can run up to a 16' shock, as your upper mount can be as high as possible.... as long as you dont bumpstop, or limit droop w/ the shock, your fine.

just a note on that, 7100's are meant to be limiting factors in travel.
though that's more for the rock crawling crowd.
I don't think it'd work too well for high speed stuff.

[xcm]

just a note on that, 7100's are meant to be limiting factors in travel.
though that's more for the rock crawling crowd.
I don't think it'd work too well for high speed stuff.

while that may be true... if your shocks limit your droop, that means your sheetmetal limits droop... which wouldnt be a problem unless you air the jeep often... in which case, you have a cage and hydro's. Imho, more damage is to be had from bumpstopping on the shocks than drooping em out. i think its safe to say, if you beat the crap outta your rig, dont rely on the 7100's as a limit strap, even if they could theoretically take some abuse. i would love photo's of how the 7100's shafts enter the shock, i know for a fact i wouldnt want my fox 2.0's being my limit strap.....

[BoringDave]

well im looking for bang for my buck. i really like the bilsteins and fox, and i think i should check out foa never heard of them before.


Same specs as the 5150 but no res.

http://www.onefreeshock.com/

[Swamprat]

im running 4" of lift in the rear, and i really dont understand all the technical stuff.

[Darky]

as far as skyjacker, you should get banned from this sub-forum for recommending shit like that for a jeepspeed... as you obviously dont know anything worth sharing w/ others...
I'm not sure anyone here recommended Skyjacker...the only mention before you was someone saying don't get Skyjacker.

[Ryan93]

Same specs as the 5150 but no res.

http://www.onefreeshock.com/

yeah i currently have the 5100s i would recommend them they work great the guy i bought them from said not to bother with the 5150s cus they "disposable" shocks meaning they cant be rebuilt... i dunno i took his advice and got the cheaper ones (5100) kinda wish i got the 5150s tho just cus they look cool...

[GrimmJeeper]

if you want bang for your buck shop used. rebuild kits for shocks are less than 30 bux, and you can get killer deals on old race truck schocks, or ones that people just go tired of and went another direction. then you just rebuild em and have them valved for what you want to do. the shocks in the back of my XJ probably cost close to if not more than $1000 brand new, i got them used for $300.


http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w37/grimmpics/IM001198.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w37/grimmpics/IM001199.jpg

[xcm]

grimm speaks the truth.... rdc classifieds rock....

[Swamprat]

how bad does the dust get in your jeep grimm? thats the only problem i see with that set up. but im sure i could make a dust boot.

[BoringDave]

yeah i currently have the 5100s i would recommend them they work great the guy i bought them from said not to bother with the 5150s cus they "disposable" shocks meaning they cant be rebuilt... i dunno i took his advice and got the cheaper ones (5100) kinda wish i got the 5150s tho just cus they look cool...

I was told the same thing buy my sales guy. I used the poor economy to work him over and got my 5150's for $10. ea. more then the 5100's. I got them for $100.00 ea.

I want the 7100's but didn't have the $$ for all of them so I am going to buy 7100's by the each as the 5150's go bad.

Dave

[Swamprat]

so i should get the 5100's rather than 5150's so that i can rebuild the shocks. i'll really start looking alot more seriously after i move to Georgia.


and i've been out doing some jumps in my XJ, i finally worked up the courage to hit something that would get all four tires off the ground. and im impressed, my jeep faired alot better than i thought. the landing was soo soft that my crappy radio didnt skip on the CD. lol

[GrimmJeeper]

how bad does the dust get in your jeep grimm? thats the only problem i see with that set up. but im sure i could make a dust boot.

quite a bit but i keep my windows down so i cant say how much the holes in the floor effect it haha. around town i have 2 old towels rolled up and wrapped around the shocks, pushed down against those holes. i still havent figured out how i want to go about sealing it up. but, as my jeep sees mostly desert sand and im not worried about dust and dirt, i doubt i'll do anything about it.

[Jimbo_1321]

you should get some wetsuit material, cut a slit in the middle, squeeze it onto the shock and stick it down over the hole

[GrimmJeeper]

you should get some wetsuit material, cut a slit in the middle, squeeze it onto the shock and stick it down over the hole

i was thinking that, or an ATV innertube, but im pretty lazy i'll probably never do anything about it lol :D besides, it wont matter once the cage goes in and the hatch comes off.

[Swamprat]

i was thinking you could pick up two of the shifter boots at an auto part store for around $13, and cut the opening to fit over the shock and ziptie it down.

[Swamprat]

hmm it looks like i might have to get some shocks before the move. so would i be looking on ebay? or is there some ninja flea market, that sells used racing parts?

[tbburg]

i still havent figured out how i want to go about sealing it up. but, as my jeep sees mostly desert sand and im not worried about dust and dirt, i doubt i'll do anything about it.Try going to a roofing supply outlet, or if you're lucky maybe HD/Lows, and look for rubber roofing pipe boots, or flashing boots.
The rubber boots are round, about a foot across, and have a stepped cone design. You trim the cone to the stem that closely fits your shock body, and slide it over.
the flashing boots are generally 12x12, 12x16, etc, aluminum sheet with a bulge in the center. the bulge has a hole with a rubber collar attached to it. You could trim and screw one of these down with no modification at all.

[BoringDave]

so i should get the 5100's rather than 5150's so that i can rebuild the shocks. i'll really start looking alot more seriously after i move to Georgia.


and i've been out doing some jumps in my XJ, i finally worked up the courage to hit something that would get all four tires off the ground. and im impressed, my jeep faired alot better than i thought. the landing was soo soft that my crappy radio didnt skip on the CD. lol

There not rebuildable but with the buy three get one free and they are the same spec as the 5150's and standard 7100's 255/70 valving you can replace them later as you blow out the 5100's.

I was also told by my sales guy not to use them a travel limiters at all.That they will fail the first time the tires leave the ground. he showed me a blown out 5100 that was on a tj that did a wheel stand and slammed back down on them. They looked fine but was way mushy compared to one right out of the box. He told me that was also true for the 5150's

Dave

[Jimbo_1321]

There not rebuildable but with the buy three get one free and they are the same spec as the 5150's and standard 7100's 255/70 valving you can replace them later as you blow out the 5100's.

I was also told by my sales guy not to use them a travel limiters at all.That they will fail the first time the tires leave the ground. he showed me a blown out 5100 that was on a tj that did a wheel stand and slammed back down on them. They looked fine but was way mushy compared to one right out of the box. He told me that was also true for the 5150's

Dave


only the 7100's should be used as limiting factors.
and not for high speed stuff

[Swamprat]

so what other possibly cheaper shocks could handle the abuse.

[dakineJ]

I think the bottom line is you do'nt want to use your shocks as limit straps or bump stops. I think alot of peaple allow about an extra 1/2" inch of travel at both ends of the cycle to be safe ,for this reason.

[JeepFreak21]

I think the bottom line is you do'nt want to use your shocks as limit straps or bump stops. I think alot of peaple allow about an extra 1/2" inch of travel at both ends of the cycle to be safe ,for this reason.

DING! DING! DING!!
Billy

[Swamprat]

true, i dont want to use my shocks as limit straps or bump stops. im working the bump stop issue out, thats the some what cheaper part. im just a cautious buyer.

[Ryan93]

So are 7100s good to use or no? I seem to like them i remember seeing them on a few go fast jeeps on here. and they are a little cheaper than King or Fox (brand new)

[dakineJ]

So are 7100s good to use or no? I seem to like them i remember seeing them on a few go fast jeeps on here. and they are a little cheaper than King or Fox (brand new)

An excellent choice.And definately better than Rancho,Edelbrock,and Procomp resi's.

[Swamprat]

hmm im thinking i want to go with 7100's and limit straps

[Swamprat]

i ended up going with the 5100 from bilstein, couldnt resist a deal buy 3 get the 4th free. and i get all the warranty stuff too. you just gotta love 4wheelparts

[Ryan93]

Ah nice deal! Ive had the 5100s for over a year now they haven't failed me yet!

[Swamprat]

yea, if i wasnt moving i would have gone with the fox shocks. but alas i am, and cant afford to go broke in the move.

[dgrigorenko]

ok i am going to continue the spirit of this thread with a shock question:
does anybody run these, and how are they?

http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/...ocks-p-84.html (http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/BBCS-Shocks-p-84.html)

[tcm glx]

7100's work awesome, I ran them in my Jeep through the fast stuff. And by the way, shocks are not meant to be a limit strap, period.. no matter which one, no matter how you use them... they should not see that type of abuse... its not good!

[GrimmJeeper]

7100's work awesome, I ran them in my Jeep through the fast stuff. And by the way, shocks are not meant to be a limit strap, period.. no matter which one, no matter how you use them... they should not see that type of abuse... its not good!

this man speaks the truth. thats why that make limit straps ;)

[tone]

I have had 7100's in the front of my XJ with Deaver coils, RE long arm kit, and the T&Js/Currie anti rock system and the shocks are really smooth on and off road I think they are great for the price. Dont forget if you plan on running the T&Js upper shock mount the 7100's need a 90* fitting on the resi.

[Swamprat]

and just letting ya'll know all but one of my front RE monotubes were shot.