My jeep is mostly stock, just lifted about 1 5/8" with spacers and shackles. It has low mileage KYB GR-2 shocks. When I installed the lift I made some measurements and spaced the shocks to maximize droop without bottoming the shocks at full compression. The rear seems ok but the fronts are too soft, especially running fast off-road. I'd like to keep as much highway comfort as possible but I'm willing to sacrifice a little to gain solid control. Ideally they'd be non-adjustable and just work in every situation, but I'm not opposed to having to adjust for off-road use as long as they don't have to be unbolted for adjustment. The best bang-for-buck option would be best, but I'll unfold the wallet to make it ride right.

 

bilstein if you want their name on the shock. rubicon express mono tube if you don't. they are made by bilstein and come in a little cheaper.

bilstein 5100's if my memory is correct. (exact same shock as the mono tubes)


or you can go with old man emu, but they're a little pricey and only good for 2.5 inches of lift.

 

Thanks. Didn't know about the Bilstein/Rubicon relationship. I looked at a bunch of shocks online and was leaning towards the 5100. They're stated as fitting 0-2" lift but were one of the very few that I couldn't find the measured lengths of so I'm still shopping, I want to be sure I get the most amount of travel without bottoming the shocks. I saw several different ones advertised as stock replacements and they all have slightly different measurements.

 

Correction: the 5100's I looked at did list their length but all start at 3" lift, nothing for stock. Others I was looking at were listed for 0-2" without length specs.

I wound up going through my shock collection (packrat with 20 or so shocks around) and went with a pair of new 4600's that had almost the right mounting set-up. After some modifying I got the fit I wanted, no bottoming and much more droop than stock length shocks and stiffer valving. All seemed great 'till I hit a little dirt road near my house, sadly they're way too stiff. They're obviously for something much heavier than a stock XJ so back to the drawing board.