Q. what is good shock? do i need a resevoir?
- Thread starter yrw
- Start date
ExpoMike
Well-known member
One of my very good friends is the R&D manager at Bilstein and has given me a lot of valuable info (and some awesome deals on shocks) over the years.
Resevoir shocks are great if you are cycling the shocks at high speeds where heat builds up and having the extra capacity of the resevoir to disapate the heat. Anything outside of that, they are only for show. Some higher end ones might have external adjustments for rebound and compression but most don't.
My suggestion would be Bilstein 5150 series shocks. You can find them in extended lengths with stock mounting setups but they are better then the HD series ones. Bilstein's are all I have run in vehicles for the last 10+ years and countless vehicles. Hard to go wrong with them.
My .02 worth. :coffeedrink:
Resevoir shocks are great if you are cycling the shocks at high speeds where heat builds up and having the extra capacity of the resevoir to disapate the heat. Anything outside of that, they are only for show. Some higher end ones might have external adjustments for rebound and compression but most don't.
My suggestion would be Bilstein 5150 series shocks. You can find them in extended lengths with stock mounting setups but they are better then the HD series ones. Bilstein's are all I have run in vehicles for the last 10+ years and countless vehicles. Hard to go wrong with them.
My .02 worth. :coffeedrink:
goodtimes
Expedition Poseur
Proper valving is much more important than the remote reservoir. As already mentioned, unless you are really working the shocks, you don't gain anything with them, except an empty wallet.
I have RR's on my front shocks (I'll add them to the rear someday as well), and am happy with them....but I have also overheated a couple of sets of shocks in the past...they don't work to well when the oil gets hot and foamy. Like snorkels, there are some people out there who probably should have them...the rest of the world can save the $$$ and spend it on something that will actually benefit them.
In short, if you aren't overheating your shocks...then you don't need the RRs.
I have RR's on my front shocks (I'll add them to the rear someday as well), and am happy with them....but I have also overheated a couple of sets of shocks in the past...they don't work to well when the oil gets hot and foamy. Like snorkels, there are some people out there who probably should have them...the rest of the world can save the $$$ and spend it on something that will actually benefit them.
In short, if you aren't overheating your shocks...then you don't need the RRs.
hi, my jeep is a expidition Tj rubi 03, " Not a rock craw" .
I going to take some expidtion gear, i have a heavy jeep.
example 2 gas jerry can, 5-10 gallon of water, food, tent, 2 spare tire, etc. and on the future a trailer.
last year we went to Colorado, Utah, and new mexico at some jeep trail like engineer pass "Alpine Loop" , Red Cone Mountain / Webster Pass Trail, Pearl Pass Trail etc for 3 weeks
this year we are going to california.
ps.thanks for you helps :26_7_2:
I going to take some expidtion gear, i have a heavy jeep.
example 2 gas jerry can, 5-10 gallon of water, food, tent, 2 spare tire, etc. and on the future a trailer.
last year we went to Colorado, Utah, and new mexico at some jeep trail like engineer pass "Alpine Loop" , Red Cone Mountain / Webster Pass Trail, Pearl Pass Trail etc for 3 weeks
this year we are going to california.
ps.thanks for you helps :26_7_2:
Brett M
Adventurer
I'm running Rubicon Express monotube shocks on my Cherokee, which are valved for the weight of it. I like them and I'd recommend maybe looking into their offerings. They make different lengths depending on the lift height of your vehicle, so I would imagine that they have a shock specifically valved for your TJ and it's 4 inches.
86cj
Explorer
Bilstein 5100's will "Bolt" on and have the Proper valving for lifted Jeeps. Call the tech line they will talk Jeeps with you, I think Shane was the Jeep guru (great Guy). I use the 3" lift shocks and am very happy, they are perfect for my set up. I took some HD Hydro shocks off and went with Bilstein just like all my other vehicles. I have replaced Bilstein's with around 100,000 miles and seen no huge improvment, they perform close to new for a really long time.
My LJ loaded at 75 MPH on the freeway would bottom out at bridge transitions (small dips) and get a little unsettled in big sweeping corners if I hit a bump. It is now completly stable and corners great considering how soft it rides. They must flex OK I did alot of the trails in Moab with no lockers. Make sure when you order they have the shocks, I had to wait for a container from Germany almost 2 months, the old should be here any day back order run around.
My LJ loaded at 75 MPH on the freeway would bottom out at bridge transitions (small dips) and get a little unsettled in big sweeping corners if I hit a bump. It is now completly stable and corners great considering how soft it rides. They must flex OK I did alot of the trails in Moab with no lockers. Make sure when you order they have the shocks, I had to wait for a container from Germany almost 2 months, the old should be here any day back order run around.
86cj
Explorer
goodtimes said:
When I talked to Bilstein in 04' the 5100's came in different TJ lift heights and short or long arm choices. I was told the weight was figured for typical mods also. They said alot of lifts were tested for valving, street handling was important as well as off road. They have the factory type ends and bolt on, they were $70..Mine work well for expedition type wheelin'.....
The 5150 shocks were generic from a chart and you picked the stroke and had a few choices of valving, they did not have the correct ends and a kit was needed back then. It is a more HD shock and cost more. I was told highway sway is a issue with the 5150's that would work for me and they work better for crawling...
maximumrob
Adventurer
My old man had Rancho 9000's on his Sahara and LOVED 'em. I've heard many positive reviews from other folk, too.
I bought the ProComp MX6's (adjustables) and like them quite a bit. I run them on the softest setting when on the street, as the tight springs I run ride like bricks if I stiffen up the shocks.
If I were to take off across the desert on washboards for many, many miles, I might invest in the remote resevoir shocks, but don't see myself doing that.
I bought the ProComp MX6's (adjustables) and like them quite a bit. I run them on the softest setting when on the street, as the tight springs I run ride like bricks if I stiffen up the shocks.
If I were to take off across the desert on washboards for many, many miles, I might invest in the remote resevoir shocks, but don't see myself doing that.
robert j. yates
Explorer
I run Edelbrock Extreme Travel remote resevoir shocks and I couldn't be happier. The nice thing about the Edelbrock is the IAS valve which will give you a nice road ride as well as off-road ride. I like that I do not have to crawl under my rig and adjust something and that I can take it in any kind of off road environment and have predictable behavior and great performance..
The thing with TJ's is that once we build them up with winches, armor and the like, we really upset the balance. My observations are that loaded down TJ's have a tendancy to porpose or pogo which to me, makes a remote necessary if you want your shocks to last and your ride to hold up over many miles. I'm also pulling a trailer and Edelbrock was kind enough to revalve the compression stroke some for me. Great product and great company IMO.
The thing with TJ's is that once we build them up with winches, armor and the like, we really upset the balance. My observations are that loaded down TJ's have a tendancy to porpose or pogo which to me, makes a remote necessary if you want your shocks to last and your ride to hold up over many miles. I'm also pulling a trailer and Edelbrock was kind enough to revalve the compression stroke some for me. Great product and great company IMO.
Scott Brady
Founder
yrw said:
Heavy = Reservoir
