brianglawson
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Greensboro, NC
Which Shocks For My Rig (long arms) and Her Rig [(Homebrew 3") Also Track Bar Q?]
Jeep #1 Mine
4.5 springs with coil spacers, around 6.5" front
4.5 leafs with 2" shackles, around 6.5" rear
currently with CAD and fixed arms,
ABOUT to be 3 Linked!!!
Im about to throw on some goodies on my 98 with 6.5" and soon to be 3 Link w/panhard bar. I know I'm going to be doing some measuring on mine to figure out lengths (anxious for crazy long travel, but i do have a few questions.
1. With Long arms, how do people mount the front shocks on the top? surely not the stock, stem mounts?
2. Do people modify their upper rear mounts?
3. I will probably have to cut my axle mounts off and rotate them on them on the rear axle, due to pinion angle, Are their better mounts or is reusing them fine?
4. WHAT BRAND?????
4a. Bilstein? I only see them in 6" lift heights for Xjs.... Even with barpins, would that be enough droop????
4b. OME?? do they even make stuff that long??
4c. Rancho Adjustable? rs9000x???
5. do I really want to fork out for remote reservoirs? probably..lol
6. a break down of long travel shock tech??? I'm very mechanically aware... I do lots of work on various cars... But this is new to me!
7. How much travel is too much travel???? what to do when measuring?
JEEP #2 The Wife's 2000
So I just bought a 2000 Cherokee for the wife and will be doing a budget boost to give her what she wants
BB will consist of:
Jeep Grand Cherokee ORVIS V8 UpCountry Coils
1 3/4 Daystar Coil Spacers
6-Leaf Rear Pack, 2 Xj Main Leafs, 2 XJ second leafs, Xj third and fourth.
Possibly an adjustable trackbar, or just redrill, whatever i feel more comfortable with
Stock Control arms for comfort, but shim the lowers.
T/C Drop
Hoping for about 3" total!!!
Obvioulsy hers will be a DD rig on 30's or 31's. maye 245/16's depending on what wheels we get. My main goal for her is SAFETY. She wants a little lift, so I want it to be done right. Hence, full leafs in the rear instead of a shackle, and also the stiffer front coils instead of just a spacer. I would settle for 2" of lift, but I figure why not go for 3" when it wouldn't be causing any issues. I definitely want to liven the handling up, it is too mushy now with old shocks and stock spongy springs and whatnot. I figure the UpCountry Orivs V8 springs and 6 Leaf spring pack should help that out! My main concern for her is the TRACK BAR! Then the shocks...
1. What should I do for her Track Bar? Redrill? or buy an adjustable? I once had a rusty's adjustable (tie rod end style, which is what she would get at only 3" apparently, i have seen no Double Sheer rods at that price) at 4.5" of lift(came with the kit) and the tie rod end sheered when going around a curve on me!!! damn near wrecked. Another friend's sheered and he flipped his rig!!!
2. Shocks????? More budget minded on this scenario than on my Rig
2a. Monroe Reflex ZJ Upcountry shocks for the front and Reflex MJ shocks for the rear. This should cover a 3" lift just fine
2b. Rancho Rs5000 3" shocks?
2c. Rusty's 3"???
2d. BDS? Teraflex? any others that arent too expensive??? Theyall seem the same, even the Rancho and the Rusty's.... all have the exact same list of specs basically
•Complete Poly Bushing Kit Included
•10 stage velocity sensitive valving
•240 hour salt spray resistant finish
•5/8 diameter hardened chrome shaft
•13/8 diameter piston
•Expanded tube design for increased fluid capacity
•Double wall construction
•Internal rebound bumper
•Double welded mount
•Vehicle specific valving
•Limited Lifetime Warranty
•Shock Boots sold Separately
•Priced Individually
Or... there are the Gabriel Auto Shocks, or whatever they are called from Autozon in the same specifications as the first option!!!
What do you guys think???
Again... I want mine to FLEX!!!..lol
But her rig rally needs to be a good riding, well handling.... C0MFORTABLE rig... it will only see sandy beaches and dirt roads... so I know what I want is out there
Thanks
-Brian
Jeep #1 Mine
4.5 springs with coil spacers, around 6.5" front
4.5 leafs with 2" shackles, around 6.5" rear
currently with CAD and fixed arms,
ABOUT to be 3 Linked!!!
Im about to throw on some goodies on my 98 with 6.5" and soon to be 3 Link w/panhard bar. I know I'm going to be doing some measuring on mine to figure out lengths (anxious for crazy long travel, but i do have a few questions.
1. With Long arms, how do people mount the front shocks on the top? surely not the stock, stem mounts?
2. Do people modify their upper rear mounts?
3. I will probably have to cut my axle mounts off and rotate them on them on the rear axle, due to pinion angle, Are their better mounts or is reusing them fine?
4. WHAT BRAND?????
4a. Bilstein? I only see them in 6" lift heights for Xjs.... Even with barpins, would that be enough droop????
4b. OME?? do they even make stuff that long??
4c. Rancho Adjustable? rs9000x???
5. do I really want to fork out for remote reservoirs? probably..lol
6. a break down of long travel shock tech??? I'm very mechanically aware... I do lots of work on various cars... But this is new to me!
7. How much travel is too much travel???? what to do when measuring?
JEEP #2 The Wife's 2000
So I just bought a 2000 Cherokee for the wife and will be doing a budget boost to give her what she wants
BB will consist of:
Jeep Grand Cherokee ORVIS V8 UpCountry Coils
1 3/4 Daystar Coil Spacers
6-Leaf Rear Pack, 2 Xj Main Leafs, 2 XJ second leafs, Xj third and fourth.
Possibly an adjustable trackbar, or just redrill, whatever i feel more comfortable with
Stock Control arms for comfort, but shim the lowers.
T/C Drop
Hoping for about 3" total!!!
Obvioulsy hers will be a DD rig on 30's or 31's. maye 245/16's depending on what wheels we get. My main goal for her is SAFETY. She wants a little lift, so I want it to be done right. Hence, full leafs in the rear instead of a shackle, and also the stiffer front coils instead of just a spacer. I would settle for 2" of lift, but I figure why not go for 3" when it wouldn't be causing any issues. I definitely want to liven the handling up, it is too mushy now with old shocks and stock spongy springs and whatnot. I figure the UpCountry Orivs V8 springs and 6 Leaf spring pack should help that out! My main concern for her is the TRACK BAR! Then the shocks...
1. What should I do for her Track Bar? Redrill? or buy an adjustable? I once had a rusty's adjustable (tie rod end style, which is what she would get at only 3" apparently, i have seen no Double Sheer rods at that price) at 4.5" of lift(came with the kit) and the tie rod end sheered when going around a curve on me!!! damn near wrecked. Another friend's sheered and he flipped his rig!!!
2. Shocks????? More budget minded on this scenario than on my Rig
2a. Monroe Reflex ZJ Upcountry shocks for the front and Reflex MJ shocks for the rear. This should cover a 3" lift just fine
2b. Rancho Rs5000 3" shocks?
2c. Rusty's 3"???
2d. BDS? Teraflex? any others that arent too expensive??? Theyall seem the same, even the Rancho and the Rusty's.... all have the exact same list of specs basically
•Complete Poly Bushing Kit Included
•10 stage velocity sensitive valving
•240 hour salt spray resistant finish
•5/8 diameter hardened chrome shaft
•13/8 diameter piston
•Expanded tube design for increased fluid capacity
•Double wall construction
•Internal rebound bumper
•Double welded mount
•Vehicle specific valving
•Limited Lifetime Warranty
•Shock Boots sold Separately
•Priced Individually
Or... there are the Gabriel Auto Shocks, or whatever they are called from Autozon in the same specifications as the first option!!!
What do you guys think???
Again... I want mine to FLEX!!!..lol
But her rig rally needs to be a good riding, well handling.... C0MFORTABLE rig... it will only see sandy beaches and dirt roads... so I know what I want is out there
Thanks
-Brian