Best shock option for 3 inch lift

TJim

TJ Addict
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Dec 23, 2019
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Athens, Greece
Hey guys!

**A little back story**
Some months ago I decided to install some 31s, so I needed a suspension lift. I decided to run OME 2" Light Duty Springs (932 & 941). I had no idea how much actual lift I would get, but I was thinking close to 2" without the spacers. Because of how light my 4 cylinder TJ is I ended up with roughly 3" front lift and roughly 2.5" rear lift.

I was excited so I purchased Rancho RS5000X Shocks (RS55128 & RS55240) in the same day as the springs, and I didn't wait to see how much would the actual lift be. That means my shocks are short. Very short.
**

I have come into the conclusion that 3" is an awkward lift as far as shocks, but Ranchos RS5000x and Skyjacker Black Max are the 2 best/most suggested "budget" options so I made the following calculations.

FRONT SHOCK SELECTION
With my current 3" front lift, my shock at ride height measures at 18.75", so I have the following results:

Shocks
Compressed

Travel

Extended

Up Travel

Down Travel
% Up Travel
% Down Travel
Rancho RS55128​
13.05"​
7.98"​
21.03"​
5.70"​
2.28"​
71.4%​
28.6%​
Rancho RS55239​

14.43"​
9.41"​
23.84"​
4.32"​
5.09"​
45.9%​

54.1%​
SkyJacker Black Max B8516​
13.52"​
8.78"​
22.30"​
5.23"​
3.55"​
59.6%​
40.4%​
SkyJacker Black Max B8525​
14.52"​
9.78"​
24.30"​
4.23"​
5.55"​
43.3%​
56.7%​

REAR SHOCK SELECTION
With my current 2.5" rear lift, my shock at ride height measures at 18.20", so I have the following results:

Shocks
Compressed
Travel
Extended
Up Travel
Down Travel
% Up Travel
% Down Travel
Rancho RS55240​
12.94"​
7.19"​
20.13"​
5.26"​
1.93"​
73.2%​
26.8%​
Rancho RS55241​
13.69"​
8"​
21.69"​
4.51"​
3.49"​
56.4%​
43.6%​
SkyJacker Black Max B8518​
13.93"​
8.78"​
22.71"​
4.27"​
4.51"​
48.6%​
51.4%​


Front Rancho RS5000x Shocks
Rancho RS55128 would be great* with around 1.30" lift.
Rancho RS55239 would be great with around 3.40" lift.

Rear Rancho RS5000x Shocks
Rancho RS55240 would be great* with around 0.80" lift.
Rancho RS55241 would be great with around 2.00" lift.

Front SkyJacker Shocks
SkyJacker Black Max B8516 would be great with around 2.16" lift.
SkyJacker Black Max B8525 would be great with around 3.66" lift.

Rear SkyJacker Shocks
SkyJacker Black Max B8518 would be great with around 2.62" lift.


WHAT SHOULD I CHOOSE?

  • As you can see, my current selection of Ranchos (RS55128 & RS55240) is bad. They give me an unbalanced relationship between Up Travel and Down Travel both in the front and in the rear end.
  • I am running 31s, and If I ever run 33s it would most likely be by combining a Body lift with the existing Suspension lift.

Option #1 - Longer Ranchos

  • If I choose RS55239 my ratio would be better. It would be closer to 50/50 if I use a 10mm OME spacer (0.4" spacer). That would move me close to 3.5" front lift, which seems a bit excessive with only 31s, but also vibes problems would be worse.
  • If I choose RS55240, my springs would still sit a bit higher that the lift but I cannot do anything about that! (adding weight in the rear is not an option)

Option #2 - SkyJacker Black Max B8516 or B8525 & B8518
  • This options has not a clear choice for the front end. I am leaning more towards B8525 than B8516, but same as above. 3.5" lift seems a bit excessive.
  • The rear B8518 seems like the better choice for the rear.

Option #3 - Ranchos Front & SkyJacker Rear
  • I don't really feel great about combining shocks.

Option #4 - Your suggestions
  • Do you have any other ideas to suggest??
 
To throw another option in there, you could customize your shock mounts to adjust the bias as well. If I wasn't planning long travel shocks in the not too distant future I would have already done that.
 
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To throw another option in there, you could customize your shock mounts to adjust the bias as well. If I wasn't planning long travel shocks in the not too distant future I would have already done that.
Can you elaborate οn that? Do you mean cutting and welding the shock mounts?
 
Last edited:
Can you elaborate it that? Do you mean cutting and welding the shock mounts?
Yep, cut them off and move them around the axle. It's a good bit of work but does give you flexibility.

To your original question, I wouldn't be too concerned about mixing brands front and rear.
 
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With about 2.75” of front lift, my Jeep has ~20” from shock mount to shock mount.

Thats weird. But I can confirm my number by one more measurement. The amount of up travel of the front shocks.

5.7" (up travel) + 13.05" (compressed length) = 18.75"
 
Thats weird. But I can confirm my number by one more measurement. The amount of up travel of the front shocks.

5.7" (up travel) + 13.05" (compressed length) = 18.75"
I don’t doubt your measurement and assumed your shock shaft showing length would confirm it. I don’t know where the discrepancy is.

Anyone else care to take measurements of their Jeeps?
 
I don’t doubt your measurement and assumed your shock shaft showing length would confirm it. I don’t know where the discrepancy is.

Anyone else care to take measurements of their Jeeps?
Which shocks are you running? How much of up travel do you have?
 
My Jeep is sitting and waiting for shocks to arrive. I have B8525 and B8518 coming. BDS 2” springs with .75 spacers up front.
Have you measured how much lift did the springs actually give you?

Stock measurements are 12" front and 8" rear. (For Springs)
 
I ordered 3" JKS springs and 239/241 Ranchos. I'll measure when i get them on probably sometime next month.
 
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I ran into the same problem with my shocks ended up with 239/241 ranchos pics for real world
0C1B54AB-B32C-4245-86B4-D145D16CC312.jpeg

Rear shock at ride height about 4” shock shaft rancho 241
3DC29B99-096D-42B0-B4C7-7706022DEF88.jpeg

Front shock 4 1/2” shock shaft rancho 239
E8F88DF0-EA93-4DEA-8BC4-B4F1F6A1DE6D.jpeg

Front spring about 14 1/2” so about 2 1/2” of lift front
25E7F86C-DA17-498E-A2F1-DEAC411DDBFF.jpeg

Rear spring about 9 1/2” so about 1 1/2” lift rear
 
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I ran into the same problem with my shocks ended up with 239/241 ranchos pics for real world
View attachment 290420
Rear shock at ride height about 4” shock shaft rancho 241
View attachment 290421
Front shock 4 1/2” shock shaft rancho 239
View attachment 290422
Front spring about 14 1/2” so about 2 1/2” of lift front
View attachment 290419
Rear spring about 9 1/2” so about 1 1/2” lift rear
What is the distance between your front shock mounts at ride height?
 
Hey guys!

**A little back story**
Some months ago I decided to install some 31s, so I needed a suspension lift. I decided to run OME 2" Light Duty Springs (932 & 941). I had no idea how much actual lift I would get, but I was thinking close to 2" without the spacers. Because of how light my 4 cylinder TJ is I ended up with roughly 3" front lift and roughly 2.5" rear lift.

I was excited so I purchased Rancho RS5000X Shocks (RS55128 & RS55240) in the same day as the springs, and I didn't wait to see how much would the actual lift be. That means my shocks are short. Very short.
**

I have come into the conclusion that 3" is an awkward lift as far as shocks, but Ranchos RS5000x and Skyjacker Black Max are the 2 best/most suggested "budget" options so I made the following calculations.

FRONT SHOCK SELECTION
With my current 3" front lift, my shock at ride height measures at 18.75", so I have the following results:

Shocks
Compressed

Travel

Extended

Up Travel

Down Travel
% Up Travel
% Down Travel
Rancho RS55128​
13.05"​
7.98"​
21.03"​
5.70"​
2.28"​
71.4%​
28.6%​
Rancho RS55239​

14.43"​
9.41"​
23.84"​
4.32"​
5.09"​
45.9%​

54.1%​
SkyJacker Black Max B8516​
13.52"​
8.78"​
22.30"​
5.23"​
3.55"​
59.6%​
40.4%​
SkyJacker Black Max B8525​
14.52"​
9.78"​
24.30"​
4.23"​
5.55"​
43.3%​
56.7%​

REAR SHOCK SELECTION
With my current 2.5" rear lift, my shock at ride height measures at 18.20", so I have the following results:

Shocks
Compressed
Travel
Extended
Up Travel
Down Travel
% Up Travel
% Down Travel
Rancho RS55240​
12.94"​
7.19"​
20.13"​
5.26"​
1.93"​
73.2%​
26.8%​
Rancho RS55241​
13.69"​
8"​
21.69"​
4.51"​
3.49"​
56.4%​
43.6%​
SkyJacker Black Max B8518​
13.93"​
8.78"​
22.71"​
4.27"​
4.51"​
48.6%​
51.4%​


Front Rancho RS5000x Shocks
Rancho RS55128 would be great* with around 1.30" lift.
Rancho RS55239 would be great with around 3.40" lift.

Rear Rancho RS5000x Shocks
Rancho RS55240 would be great* with around 0.80" lift.
Rancho RS55241 would be great with around 2.00" lift.

Front SkyJacker Shocks
SkyJacker Black Max B8516 would be great with around 2.16" lift.
SkyJacker Black Max B8525 would be great with around 3.66" lift.

Rear SkyJacker Shocks
SkyJacker Black Max B8518 would be great with around 2.62" lift.


WHAT SHOULD I CHOOSE?

  • As you can see, my current selection of Ranchos (RS55128 & RS55240) is bad. They give me an unbalanced relationship between Up Travel and Down Travel both in the front and in the rear end.
  • I am running 31s, and If I ever run 33s it would most likely be by combining a Body lift with the existing Suspension lift.

Option #1 - Longer Ranchos

  • If I choose RS55239 my ratio would be better. It would be closer to 50/50 if I use a 10mm OME spacer (0.4" spacer). That would move me close to 3.5" front lift, which seems a bit excessive with only 31s, but also vibes problems would be worse.
  • If I choose RS55240, my springs would still sit a bit higher that the lift but I cannot do anything about that! (adding weight in the rear is not an option)

Option #2 - SkyJacker Black Max B8516 or B8525 & B8518
  • This options has not a clear choice for the front end. I am leaning more towards B8525 than B8516, but same as above. 3.5" lift seems a bit excessive.
  • The rear B8518 seems like the better choice for the rear.

Option #3 - Ranchos Front & SkyJacker Rear
  • I don't really feel great about combining shocks.

Option #4 - Your suggestions
  • Do you have any other ideas to suggest??
I found that 3.5” front and 2.75“ rear worked really well with Rancho 55239/55241.

Given your situation, I’d run the Rancho 55239 in front and the Skyjacker B8518 in the rear.
 
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