longer shock question

Working on a 97 xj with a 2" budget boost. I was wondering if anyone knows off hand of what shocks I can grab off the shelf at work (autozone) that are a little longer then stock. My stock ones are shot and I know stock replacement ones are long enough but wouldn't i get a bit more droop if i went with a little longer shock or am I wrong?

Basically what I am wondering is if I should get longer shocks for the 2" lift even though the stock ones that are on it seem to work or if I should find a longer shock. Either way I have to get some since one shock the front is completely dead and the other is on its way out and I have some goofy shocks on the rear with coil helper springs on them

Maybe attempt to find a set of JKUR take-off shocks. OR, just buy replacement rear JKUR shocks from the parts store You will need to swap in a bar pin from your current shocks, or run a BPE.

I thought about doing that but I don't have a press or a bench or access to either to knock the bar pins and sleeves out of them

bench vise i mean

Check the lengths on the ones from a Dodge Ram pick up.

If you stay on pavement, stock shocks will be OK, or you can add some shock spacers.

Shock Lengths


Brand/Model # Extended Collapsed Travel Position
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Napa 37083 (Stock) 21.2 13 8.2 Front
Monroe 32252 (* Stock) 21.25 13 8.1 Front
Monroe 37193 (* 1-3 “ Lift) 24.25 13.37 10.8 Front
Monroe 911524 (* UpCountry) 21.00 13.4 7.6 Front
Doetsch DT3350 ( 3-5” Lift) 26.5 15.5 11.0 Front
ES1000 ES124515 (* 3" Lift) 24.50 14.38 10.0 Front
ES1000 ES121515 (* 0-2" Lift) 21.52 12.72 8.8 Front
ES3000 ES324515 (* 3" Lift) 24.70 14.52 10.2 Front
ES3000 ES321515 (* 0-2" Lift) 20.24 12.45 7.8 Front
ES9000 ES921515 (* 0-2" Lift) 21.75 13.06 8.6 Front
ES9000 ES924515 (* 3" Lift) 24.70 14.52 10.2 Front
Skyjacker SJA-H7016 (* 1-3" Lift) 22.75 13.54 9.2 Front
Skyjacker SJA-H7025 (* 3-5" Lift) 24.75 14.54 10.2 Front
Skyjacker SJA-N8016 (* 1-3" Lift) 22.75 13.54 9.2 Front
Skyjacker SJA-N8025 (* 3-5" Lift) 24.75 14.54 10.2 Front
Skyjacker SJA-M9016 (* 1-3" Lift) 22.75 13.54 9.2 Front
Rancho RS5239 (* 3" Lift) 23.75 14.37 9.38 Front
Rancho RS5128 (* Stock) 20.87 13.00 7.8 Front
Rancho RS99239 (* 3" Lift) 23.75 14.37 9.38 Front
Rancho RS99128 (* Stock) 20.87 13.00 7.8 Front
Rancho RSX17317 (* 3" Lift) 23.75 14.50 9.25 Front
Rancho RSX13036 (* Stock) 20.50 12.87 7.6 Front
Bilstein F4-B46-1798 (Stock+Upcountry) 21.50 13.25 8.25 Front
Bilstein F4-BE5-6241-H8 (4” Lift)……………………………………….………….Front


Brand/Model # Extended Collapsed Travel Position
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NAPA 37027 (Stock) 20.0 12.8 7.2 Rear
Monroe 32269 (* Stock) 21.50 13.37 8.1 Rear
Monroe 37194 (* Upcountry) 21.12 13.87 7.2 Rear
Monroe 911525 (* Upcountry) 21.50 13.87 7.2 Rear
Monroe 37029 (1-3” Lift ) 23.00 14.375 8.6 Rear
Superlift SLF-85112 (* 2-4" Lift) 24.00 14.50 10 Rear
Superlift SLF-84140 (* 3-5" Lift) 26.07 15.57 10.5 Rear
Superlift SLF-85080 (* 0-2" Lift) 21.57 13.32 8.25 Rear
ES1000 ES124509 (* 3" Lift) 24.86 14.84 10 Rear
ES1000 ES121515 (* 0-2" Lift) 21.52 12.97 8.5 Rear
ES3000 ES324509 (* 3" Lift) 24.84 14.82 10 Rear
ES3000 ES322509 (* 0-2" Lift) 22.58 13.71 8.8 Rear
ES9000 ES922509 (* 0-2" Lift) 22.58 13.72 8.8 Rear
ES9000 ES924509 (* 3" Lift) 24.84 14.82 10 Rear
Skyjacker SJA-N8058 (* 3-5" Lift) 24.84 14.82 10 Rear
Skyjacker SKA-H7058 (* 3-5" Lift) 24.84 14.82 10 Rear
Doetsch DT-3000 (* 2" Lift) 22.50 13.50 9 Rear
Doetsch DT-3000 (* 4" Lift) 24.50 14.50 10 Rear
Doetsch DT-8000 (* 4" Lift) 24.50 14.50 10 Rear
Rancho RS5194 (* 2-3" Lift) 23.25 14.37 8.8 Rear
Rancho RS5259 (* Stock) 21.50 13.50 8 Rear
Rancho RSX13037 (* 0-2" Lift) 21.12 13.50 7.62 Rear
Bilstien F4-B46-1799 (Stock+UpCountry) 21.50 13.25 8.25 Rear
Bilstein F4-BE5-6686-H6 (4” Lift) …………………………………………….Rear



Note: * These lift heights were included where the shock lengths were found. These were the suggested shocks for that amount of lift. I have no way to ensure these numbers are accurate.

Front Shocks = Bottom Eyelet With Top Stud Mount
Rear Shocks = Bottom/Top Eyelet Mount

i actually got some gabriel (autozone brand) ultra shocks that cross referenced from the monroes for 1-3" that crossed

detours makes some spacers

Have to ask what do bar pins look like trying to see if my jeep has them

The bar pin is the rod in the bushing



The detours spacers can stretch them out a bit, giving you more length (but not more travel). They are a good alternative if you can't/don't want to press the bar pin

I ran JK Sahara shocks on my 2" lift until I swapped everything when I went to 3.5" - they rode very nice, actually

I did not have a bench, press, vice, whatever, just some Kroil, C-clamp, and a hammer. Used JKS bar pin eliminators up front and enlarged the bottom bushing hole for the rear. Cost me $50 shipped from eBay and about an hours worth of work.

96-early 2000's exploder shocks might work. Not sure exact length but one end has BPE.

Update time...I got all 4 of the shocks installed. Couldn't fine the monroes from the list posted above but crossed them to a set of gabriel ultras that were about a 1/2" shorter then what came off but they seem fine and the Jeep rides completely different now. So much better. I got lucky the rears where super easy this time around. Last time I did xj shocks I snapped one stud off where they mount to the axle and went through the floor to get the dang nuts loose up top...I've since learned better ways and it paid off. Also in the last few days I did the valve cover manifold and o-rings in for the oil filter adapter so no more torrential oil leaks that make me think my jeep is on fire while rolling down the street. Also did new pads and rotors on the front and got a new swaybar link for the front and hooked it back up. Its not nearly as white knuckle terrifying to drive now. Before with no sway bar and bad shocks all the way around it was a rather interesting experience to drive even on the flattest of roads. So yeah got a lot done just in time for ventral hernia surgery on friday...blah...still got some stuff to do. Currently it sits on a 2" bb with bds coil spacers in the front and blocks in the back with stock wheels on new 31x10.50x15s cooper a/t's. Did the cut and trim all the way around but need wheels or spacers to clear the lca's. Anyone got a recommendation on cheap wheels for it? New or something I can find in a junk yard is fine to.

Was a good thing I timed all those repairs accidentally with the employee 30% off weekend at work

Bar pin eliminators from zone offroad will make the shocks about 1 in longer