Me neither. All four of yours won't even buy one corner for ours.
Shock Comparison: Rancho RS5000X vs Skyjacker Black Max vs KYB Monotube
- Thread starter TJim
- Start date
$60 is less than the tax for each "shock" I have on order
jesseshoots
TJ Enthusiast
I'm about ready to pull the trigger on a set of the black max shocks. I'm looking at the 11" rears and 10" fronts. Right now I'm running the nitro's as listed below and have 6" shaft exposed on the fronts and 7" on the rear (at ride height). I have a 4" suspension and 1" body lift. I'm installing a tummy tuck and really need to get shocks with a shaft down mounting option.
Fronts:
Rears:
I wish they had an 11" front option, but the next best is 12.25" which is too much for the stock upper mount.
Fronts:
| Shock | N8056S (Nitro) | B8525 (Black Max) |
| Extended Length | 24.3" | 24.3" |
| Compressed Length | 14.52" | 14.52" |
| Travel | 9.78" | 9.78" |
Rears:
| Shock | N8088S (Nitro) | B8563 (Black Max) |
| Extended Length | 24.94" | 27.07" |
| Compressed Length | 14.91" | 15.94" |
| Travel | 10.03" | 11.13" |
I wish they had an 11" front option, but the next best is 12.25" which is too much for the stock upper mount.
Therbytj
Member
This is just a bandaid for the time being, I’ll be up there soon enough.
im still gathering ideas
5” stretch
Fox 2.0 resis tuned (outboard rear) fox hydro bumps
should be good enough for some go fast stuff while still crawling
Hey! Sorry I am not very active the past few weeks. Because I don't really have much time, do you mind writing the the summary that I should post on the first post of this thread? So I can copy paste it? Credits will be given of course! haha
It actually isn’t bad, just have to pic the right line. My buddy made it up the front side with his 01 grand Cherokee with 31’s and 2” spacers. Obviously not up the front ledge but the right side of it
MountaineerTom
LJ Enthusiast, Retired USAF Weapons Loader
Supporting Member
Ride of the Month Winner
So I got my Black Max replacement shock Friday. Yesterday I opened it up to make sure everything was there. I went to extend it and nothing. Pulled and pulled on the shaft and it wouldn’t budge. Even tried rotating the shaft and still nothing. I’m starting to get pissed. Then I remembered…the shaft extends out of the bottom of the can.
Yep, works like it’s supposed to and no signs of leaks or defects on the shaft.
Can we add the Fox offering here. I think it is relevent to a shock with travels that are contained to the stock mounting points.
Therbytj
Member
Replaced my old bilstein 5100s with the ranchos.
between the shocks and adding an extra 80 pounds for the warn tire carrier
the jeep rides much better now, I didn’t believe it would be such a noticeable difference but well worth it.
Im happy with my 5” uptravel in the front.
the rear is a touch over 4” uptravel, want to get more. But I believe its the 160lbs between the spare and tire carrier.
between the shocks and adding an extra 80 pounds for the warn tire carrier
the jeep rides much better now, I didn’t believe it would be such a noticeable difference but well worth it.
Im happy with my 5” uptravel in the front.
the rear is a touch over 4” uptravel, want to get more. But I believe its the 160lbs between the spare and tire carrier.
Quick update on my black max shocks. I had an opportunity to drive on some gravel roads last night. I'm liking these more and more. I was traveling about 45-50 over washboard and potholes with no ill effects. A wrangler is still a short wheelbase vehicle, but the rear end never stepped out of line, I never got the sensation that the jeep was floating or about to pivot in the center. Very well controlled. For 55-60 a corner, I'm thinking these are a win.
I'm with you on this one. The more I drive them, a few hundred miles now, the more I like them. Having been through several shocks myself, these appear to have the potential to be a best bang for the buck shock. They exhibit all the good things you'd expect from a twin tube shock, i.e. a soft controlled ride, but none of the bad things, i.e. excessive fade. I drove some back roads that normally have a tendency to make the back end feel loose, with none of that same effect.
That said, I'm still reserving final judgement until I log more miles. Also, I noticed a tiny bit of oil on one of the rear shocks. It wasn't enough to concern me, like what @MountaineerTom experienced, but it was there. It's entirely possible this is normal, as the seals settle in. In terms of the ride, it is exactly what I wanted on this particular build, soft, compliant, and controlled. I'll keep an eye on it and report back!
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Now you two are just ganging up on me!
MountaineerTom
LJ Enthusiast, Retired USAF Weapons Loader
Supporting Member
Ride of the Month Winner
They had a rebate going on when I got mine. Can’t remember when it ends though and it wasn’t a lot. Something like $35 or so.
MountaineerTom
LJ Enthusiast, Retired USAF Weapons Loader
Supporting Member
Ride of the Month Winner
I haven’t noticed any oil on the 3 originals or the 1 replacement so far.
Following up on a couple things. First, I logged a couple hundred more miles this weekend on the BlackMax shocks. I'm happy to report that I didn't see any additional oil residue on rear shock that I had previously seen. Also, as @Mike_H did, I conducted a little non-scientific experimenting of my own. On a 8+ mile circuit, including a newly paved 4 lane road, a twisty and rolling hill backroad, and a two lane road with construction, I ran three sets of shocks back to back. Using the seat of the pants meter, here's what I found out:
Bilstein 5100 - these provided, by far, the harshest ride. On the 4 lane road you could tell the ride was firm, but it was manageable. On the twisty rolling hill road, the shocks were firm and only exhibited negative characteristics during abrupt changes in the road surface. When that happened the jarring sensation was noticeable, sometimes resulting in an unsettling feeling at the steering wheel. On a couple occasions, I let off the gas because I wasn't comfortable.
It wasn't until I got to the two lane road, with construction, that I realized just how bad of a fit the Bilstein 5100 shocks are for my light TJ. The constant abrupt road changes made it so I was very uncomfortable driving at 45 mph or more. At one point, I hit a set of railroad tracks at speed and the rear rebound was so abrupt that the backend jumped a little sideways. Bottom line here, these shocks may be okay for a heavier rig, which mine is not!
Stock JK Rubicon - These were new take off shocks a buddy gave me. Like the Bilstein's, they are a gas charged shock, but not nearly as firm. Overall, they exhibited similar characteristics to the 5100, just not as harsh or severe. The two lane road with construction was not as scary to drive as the previous shocks, however, the train tracks resulted in a similar experience as before. Abrupt rebound, which translated to the rear lifting and shifting. Albeit, not as severe as the 5100.
BlackMax - Suffice it to say these are my new favorite "inexpensive" shock. They exhibited none of what I experienced with the previous two rides. They were firm enough that you could tell they were doing their job, but soaked up any abrupt road changes relatively easily. I was able to hit the railroad tracks at speed and didn't have to let off the gas, or feel uncomfortable at any point in the ride. The biggest question for these shocks is going to be, how do they hold up over time?
That said, shocks, like tires, wheels, etc. are subjective. There is no one size fits all. If you're the type that likes a super firm ride, these are not the shock you're looking for!
Bilstein 5100 - these provided, by far, the harshest ride. On the 4 lane road you could tell the ride was firm, but it was manageable. On the twisty rolling hill road, the shocks were firm and only exhibited negative characteristics during abrupt changes in the road surface. When that happened the jarring sensation was noticeable, sometimes resulting in an unsettling feeling at the steering wheel. On a couple occasions, I let off the gas because I wasn't comfortable.
It wasn't until I got to the two lane road, with construction, that I realized just how bad of a fit the Bilstein 5100 shocks are for my light TJ. The constant abrupt road changes made it so I was very uncomfortable driving at 45 mph or more. At one point, I hit a set of railroad tracks at speed and the rear rebound was so abrupt that the backend jumped a little sideways. Bottom line here, these shocks may be okay for a heavier rig, which mine is not!
Stock JK Rubicon - These were new take off shocks a buddy gave me. Like the Bilstein's, they are a gas charged shock, but not nearly as firm. Overall, they exhibited similar characteristics to the 5100, just not as harsh or severe. The two lane road with construction was not as scary to drive as the previous shocks, however, the train tracks resulted in a similar experience as before. Abrupt rebound, which translated to the rear lifting and shifting. Albeit, not as severe as the 5100.
BlackMax - Suffice it to say these are my new favorite "inexpensive" shock. They exhibited none of what I experienced with the previous two rides. They were firm enough that you could tell they were doing their job, but soaked up any abrupt road changes relatively easily. I was able to hit the railroad tracks at speed and didn't have to let off the gas, or feel uncomfortable at any point in the ride. The biggest question for these shocks is going to be, how do they hold up over time?
That said, shocks, like tires, wheels, etc. are subjective. There is no one size fits all. If you're the type that likes a super firm ride, these are not the shock you're looking for!
deadbeat son
TJ Addict
I can’t recall, did you post the weight of your TJ once you completed the build?Following up on a couple things. First, I logged a couple hundred more miles this weekend on the BlackMax shocks. I'm happy to report that I didn't see any additional oil residue on rear shock that I had previously seen. Also, as @Mike_H did, I conducted a little non-scientific experimenting of my own. On a 8+ mile circuit, including a newly paved 4 lane road, a twisty and rolling hill backroad, and a two lane road with construction, I ran three sets of shocks back to back. Using the seat of the pants meter, here's what I found out:
Bilstein 5100 - these provided, by far, the harshest ride. On the 4 lane road you could tell the ride was firm, but it was manageable. On the twisty rolling hill road, the shocks were firm and only exhibited negative characteristics during abrupt changes in the road surface. When that happened the jarring sensation was noticeable, sometimes resulting in an unsettling feeling at the steering wheel. On a couple occasions, I let off the gas because I wasn't comfortable.
It wasn't until I got to the two lane road, with construction, that I realized just how bad of a fit the Bilstein 5100 shocks are for my light TJ. The constant abrupt road changes made it so I was very uncomfortable driving at 45 mph or more. At one point, I hit a set of railroad tracks at speed and the rear rebound was so abrupt that the backend jumped a little sideways. Bottom line here, these shocks may be okay for a heavier rig, which mine is not!
Stock JK Rubicon - These were new take off shocks a buddy gave me. Like the Bilstein's, they are a gas charged shock, but not nearly as firm. Overall, they exhibited similar characteristics to the 5100, just not as harsh or severe. The two lane road with construction was not as scary to drive as the previous shocks, however, the train tracks resulted in a similar experience as before. Abrupt rebound, which translated to the rear lifting and shifting. Albeit, not as severe as the 5100.
BlackMax - Suffice it to say these are my new favorite "inexpensive" shock. They exhibited none of what I experienced with the previous two rides. They were firm enough that you could tell they were doing their job, but soaked up any abrupt road changes relatively easily. I was able to hit the railroad tracks at speed and didn't have to let off the gas, or feel uncomfortable at any point in the ride. The biggest question for these shocks is going to be, how do they hold up over time?
That said, shocks, like tires, wheels, etc. are subjective. There is no one size fits all. If you're the type that likes a super firm ride, these are not the shock you're looking for!
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