Looking at these...$ 162.00 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Skyjacker-S...53.m1438.l2649

 

These also Freedom off road $160.00

 

Monroe OESpectrum. I've had them on 2 XJs and liked them

 

Agree times 10x. It's a jeep for crying out loud. Now if you're lifted to the moon that's another story. But for stock build the Monroe OESpectrum shocks ride nice and are priced right.

 

Do you have a lift and if you do how much lift do you have .

 

I have these also on my stock XJ.

 

I haven't tried those Monroe's but I've bought several Monroe shocks over the years for regular street cars ad trucks ..and they just don't last IMO. I'd say 1 out of 4 leak within 2 years. I don't know why I keep kidding myself and buying them. Not going to in the future. Personally I'd fork out the extra money for Bilsteins. Everyone I know has had great luck with them. In the end you'll be way ahead if you had to buy 3x pr of Monroes in the same timeframe.

No experience with Skyjackers personally..

 

Bilsteins are a great performance shock and last forever but imo provide a stiff harsh ride so i've never cared for them.

 

I cant afford the Bilsteins $80 each I'm just a poor boy (well not a boy I'm 58 and have had 4 heart attacks) I'm on a limited income, I have to save up for a haircut. LoL .I do need a good shock and I do need a good deal, I have been getting mixed reviews on the Skyjacker shocks though that's why I haven't jumped the gun and plunked down the cash. I am only going to lift it 2 inches spacers in the front new springs in the rear since i have the droopy Jeep flat springs, I only do mild off roading. fire roads and little mountains I live in KY.

 

Well. I got reamed out by a BMW freak friend of mine that reminded me i had low profile tires and Eibach performance springs on the 850 i used to own so i have no idea what i'm talking about. He says Bilsteins can't be beat so bite the bullet and get them.

 

They are good (Bilsteins) but for stock I don't know if the extra cost are worth it. Now if lifted and offroading hell yea! To me it same as putting performance tires on my Fiesta = waste of money.....then again thats me and the way I think

 

I always go cheap too ...that's the lure of Monroe or Gabriel shocks. But if I buy 3 Monroe's to 1 Bilstein and I didn't save any $$. Thats how I'm starting to look at it.

On one of my pick-ups, which I don't drive a whole lot, and never any off-roading, no pot holes or mud, I've gone through a bunch of monroe's over the years. They just start leaking for no apparent reason. I don't think I've ever gotten 5 years out of them. I even write the date when installed with a paint pen, that's how crappy they've been. And they were even SensiTracs, or Heavy Duty's (commercial shock) ...not the elCheapos. I would have been WAY ahead buying 1 pr of Bilsteins. I put a set of Monroe's on the front of my Jeep ...(and rear), one front shock started leaking in about 2 years ....sucking air bouncing all over, and then a rear one began leaking. Now the rear one may have been my fault b/c the tailpipe developed a hole which *may* have heated up the shock ....or maybe not, I can't say. But I've got other vehicle where Bilsteins were the OEM supplier and they haven't leaked in 25 years!

I don't have anything against Monroe personally, just personal experience says they don't last. If the Bilsteins seem too stiff ...and a lot of guys say that, then consider Koni's as a second. Some of the specialize off-road supplier shocks may be good too. I haven't tried them.

 

At this point in life, I'm more interested in how you survived the heart attacks...

 

I running Pro Comp shocks there pretty good I do like that they have a lift time warranty , they are not real cheap but they don't cost as much as Bilstein .

 

I've got Gabriel Ultras on mine I like them so far, they're firm but they do an excellent job of controlling the Jeep on bad roads. Monroe shocks are good also I've got them on my car and the ride quality is excellent. The rear upper bolts will break so make sure you have a good drill along with a decent drill bit (I used a unibit) and some grade 8 hardware.