XJ?2010

Hey guys what do you think of shock boots? Are they worth it? Do think they protect the shock or ruin it by trapping mud and dirt in there?

99XJDad

My friend has a RC 4" lift on his 99 with 31's and he doesn't have shock boots. It's been in deep mud numerous times and wheeled hard. His shocks are fine.

Might not always be alright to run without them though.

donnmcc

I ran shock boots for 2 years on my old 250,changed the shocks and the boots were full of crud and the rod was pitted and rusty.I changed them cause 2 of them were leaking fluid.

XJ?2010

yeah RC doesnt recommend them so i dont think i will buy them

okcjeeper

Bah who needs shock boots.. I don't run them and found them to be more annoying when i had the 2" lift so when I went bigger the new shocks didn't get them. They will harbor crap you don't want in there. Without them you can clean the shocks much easier.

XJ?2010

by clean u just mean wipe off?

99XJDad

Or pressure washer.

donnmcc

really wouldn't want to blow water past the seal into the shock.Get a rag squirt a little oil on it and wipe the rod down.
Same with tie rods,u-joints,ball joints,etc...you really don't want to blow water or dirt past the seals into the component.

donnmcc

the shock seal does a good job of cleaning the rod,you might want to just lube it a little especially higher up on the shock where you don't compress all the time.It will rust and will ruin the seal.Then you can be like me and buy some more new shocks.

93XJLI

the bodies on my crappy old rustys shocks were almost completely rusted over after almost 3 years but the shafts were still pristine when i threw them away.

99XJDad

I wasn't implying getting up close and blasting the seals.

donnmcc

lol,I am in no way saying this has to be done to every shock.When you live in a area that uses salt alot ,rust and corrosion are inevitable without proper maintenance.

donnmcc

Just looking out for the inexperienced guys.It happens all the time.Sorry didn't mean to imply you did.

93XJLI

?

i threw them out bc they sucked and i put better shocks on, not bc they were rusted.

donnmcc

Rusty's were rusty huh?lol,I couldn't help myself.

I was talking about the rod not the shock body itself.