EZEARL

Hey guys,
First off,GREAT SIGHT y'all got here!

Ok,I've got a '96 Cherokee w/stock suspension I'm getting ready to replace the original shocks on. It's a daily driver on roads (WV!) paved and unpaved that are rough to say the least. I'm also off of state roads a good bit on logging roads,farm roads,etc. I'm trying to decide between Bilstein HD's and KYB Monomax shocks. I want the heavier valving of the two but their web sights don't give valving specs so I figure I'd join and ask here before calling them. I started at the last thread on this forum and am back to #280 (Great info!!). About all I've found so far was 1 pc of info saying that the Cherokee specific Bilstein HD's aren't valved as hvy when compared to their other applications. NO mention of KYB's at all (uh oh?!).
Any opinions or advice would be APPRECIATED.

Jeep450r

Check out OME shocks

SeriousOffroad

Bilstein 5100 series FTW.

EZEARL

The OME's are a bit more than I can afford.
I thought the Bilstein 5100 series was for lifted vehicles only?

SeriousOffroad

They come in a wide variety of sizes.

EZEARL

Got all shock hardware loose in just over an hour without a problem including the 4 uppers on the rear shocks. This thing is really clean underneath. For now anyways.

FrankZ,I found the 5100's that fit my Cherokee but I can't afford 'em. Any opinion on the two choices in my OP? APPRECIATE it!
I also found a pic showing how much smaller the piston rod is on the HD's when compared to the 5100's and the KYB's.

SeriousOffroad

No experience with KYB's.

EZEARL

I had a set of KYB Gas-A-Just's on my off road '78 Power Wagon work truck. Never lost a shock. Even after my son used it as a mud bogger they were good to go. But I figure since they've got no variable valving they'd be rough on my Cherokee. Can't find much out there on opinions between the Bilstein's and KYB's even though they're suppose to me similar. I have not seen mention of KYB's anywhere in the 500 pages I've covered here. I'm stumped.