Shocks?

Ted

TJ Enthusiast
Original poster
Joined
Nov 20, 2016
Messages
695
Location
Spokane Valley, WA, United States
Im in the market for new shocks. I have been using Rancho 9000 XL's. Currently I am running 5.5 inch Rubicon Express springs on the rear and 4 inch Curries on the front. Anyone have any recommendations on a better shock or should I just stay with the Ranchos?
 
Personally I love the Bilsteins 5100s. I had the Fox shocks and I didn't like them as much as I like the Bilsteins.
 
Yeah I haven't run Ranchos yet so I can't comment on them.
 
Another vote for the 5100's. I have em on both my TJ and XJ. Ride is excellent!
 
Im having trouble finding parts numbers for them

Here ya go:
http://cart.bilsteinus.com/search/mmid=174527/drivetype=4WD

There's numerous models to choose from, but the most popular is the 5100 series.

There's numerous versions of the 5100 (and therefore multiple part numbers) depending on your lift height. So, check that page out and find the 5100s that have the right amount of travel for your lift height and you'll be good to go!
 
Im in the market for new shocks. I have been using Rancho 9000 XL's. Currently I am running 5.5 inch Rubicon Express springs on the rear and 4 inch Curries on the front. Anyone have any recommendations on a better shock or should I just stay with the Ranchos?
Rubicon Express's 5.5" springs are well known to give more like 6 to 6.5" of additional ride height. I installed RE 4.5" springs on my previous TJ and they gave roughly 5.5" of lift height (plus my 1" body lift) and even that was excessive for my 35" tires. Why the extra tall springs in the rear? What size tires are you running?

Rancho's RS9000xl is an excellent shock, I'd run that before I'd go with the Bilstein 5100 which I personally find too stiff/jittery. A well known Jeep builder (mrblaine) gave a humorous opinion on them..... install Bilstein 5100 shocks if you want to know if the quarter you rolled over was heads or tails.

I've had 8-10 different shocks on my two TJs and three favorites stood out... Rancho RS9000 (their previous model), Old Man Emu Nitrocharger, and currently Rancho's new RS5000x. The OMEs were absolutely superb & when they finally went bad after a lot of hard use, Rancho hooked me up with their new RS5000x and I was not prepared to like them as much as I do. They're so good I don't miss my previous OMEs at all, I have yet to see anyone who bought them who didn't like them. Good ride on the highway but better yet, they handle extremely (!) rough rocky trails with aplomb and don't beat me up with a rough ride in the process.

Personally, I'd be between the Rancho RS9000xl, Old Man Emu Nitrocharger, and Rancho RS5000x, all of which are gas-charged. Don't confuse the good riding/handling newer gas-charged RS5000x with the older hydraulic RS5000 which would be a terrible and too stiff of a choice for a Wrangler. :)
 
I was running the Rancho 9000's. I love them. But am having problems finding the part numbers I need. I added body armor and the Currie 4.5's started sagging. Rear was down and the front up. Currie said the 4.5 inch springs was make for the LJ.
I have Cooper STT Pro's 37/12.5/17's

I also have a JKS body lift going on soon


red.webp
 
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No where near the suspension you all have, only a bit over stock, but I really like the 5000x from Rancho. Ride is great on road, handles bumps, washboards, etc off road very well.
 
Rubicon Express's 5.5" springs are well known to give more like 6 to 6.5" of additional ride height. I installed RE 4.5" springs on my previous TJ and they gave roughly 5.5" of lift height (plus my 1" body lift) and even that was excessive for my 35" tires. Why the extra tall springs in the rear? What size tires are you running?

Rancho's RS9000xl is an excellent shock, I'd run that before I'd go with the Bilstein 5100 which I personally find too stiff/jittery. A well known Jeep builder (mrblaine) gave a humorous opinion on them..... install Bilstein 5100 shocks if you want to know if the quarter you rolled over was heads or tails.

I've had 8-10 different shocks on my two TJs and three favorites stood out... Rancho RS9000 (their previous model), Old Man Emu Nitrocharger, and currently Rancho's new RS5000x. The OMEs were absolutely superb & when they finally went bad after a lot of hard use, Rancho hooked me up with their new RS5000x and I was not prepared to like them as much as I do. They're so good I don't miss my previous OMEs at all, I have yet to see anyone who bought them who didn't like them. Good ride on the highway but better yet, they handle extremely (!) rough rocky trails with aplomb and don't beat me up with a rough ride in the process.

Personally, I'd be between the Rancho RS9000xl, Old Man Emu Nitrocharger, and Rancho RS5000x, all of which are gas-charged. Don't confuse the good riding/handling newer gas-charged RS5000x with the older hydraulic RS5000 which would be a terrible and too stiff of a choice for a Wrangler. :)

I've heard Blaine's opinion about the 5100's a few times. Usually I agree with him about pretty much everything but not so much regarding the 5100's. I've run them on two different jeeps with a number of different suspension components/tires and they do fantastic in soaking up the rough PA roads. My Cherokee has leaf/coil suspension and it's a joy to drive with those shocks on it. My lady even says it rides better than her Hyundai Elantra, which does exactly what Blaine says the 5100's do. You feel every single bump in the road.

The RS9000xl's that were on my TJ were stiffer than the 5100's that just replaced them.

I know it's all personal opinion and also varies based on the rig's setup and bunch of other factors but I feel the 5100's are pretty soft and ride great.