Monroe Sensatrac shocks are cheap and would be just fine for stock suspension. Amazon had the best price last time I bought them

 

Ive heard good things about bilstein, they look to be about $80 for their HD series per shock. Monroe sensatrac are definitely more in the realm of what I was thinking, look to be around $35-40 per. Thoughts on pro comp or rancho? Don't need top of the line, but would like something a little better than what came stock.

 

All the cheap shocks are the same, but with different labels. They're nice when they're new

 

Exactly, when they are new haha.Thoughts on Rancho or pro comp? price point is a bit more than the sensatrac's. Any benefit besides paying for a name?

 

In my opinion, no

 

Rancho's are stiff, but not bad shocks, I've stood by their steering stabilizers for a while now. Not heard anything about procomp, but the JK lift kits with their shocks don't seem to get terrible reviews. Personally I wouldn't run either as a shock.

Bilsteins 5100s (the ones you want) are $60 on amazon for the cherokee. I guess it depends on how you drive, but I like being able to hold 80mph on the freeway and bilsteins are the only thing I've tried that keep up with bridges and bends. Keep the jeep centered in the dirt too. Only issue is they are very stiff for the first 500 miles, then they break in a bit. Monroe sensatracs are definitely nice for the money, tried and true, but I had some on the van and they didn't control the sway very well, worse than stock, although that was an excessively tall vehicle that wasn't meant to be driven over 60mph.

Don't think anyone can tell you exactly what shock to get, it's all a matter of how you drive, where you drive, and how much you're willing to pay. Monroes are a good deal as far as quality is concerned. I think they are a little softer than stock, but that might be a good thing.

 

The Bilstein 4600 series are supposed to be a little better for what you're looking for. The 5100 are a little stiff, better for a slightly more loaded down vehicle. That said, I like mine alot. They ride great even when I'm carrying a motorcycle on the back.

edit: Research says they're valved the same, 4600 is just for stock height shock lengths...

 

Hell, I was happy with my Monroes hauling a bike. But I didn't mind 4dr JK Rubicon shocks on my empty Cherokee, either.

 

Yeah I have to use one of those crappy hitch racks, and I think they handle the load & bounce going over highway bumps really well. It unloads then never bounces, just stops it within 1 suspension cycle. I'm pretty satisfied!

 

Thanks for the input fellas!

 

Yeah that's the main reason I like the bilsteins. Almost everything I encounter is dealt with in one cycle. No bouncing at all.

 

Yeah, but it's also much harsher relative to a softer shock that cycles twice. It's all a matter if preference.

I've been driving my Wrangler without any shocks for a couple months, and it has a 9" spring over lift. It's annoyingly bouncy, but it still drives just fine

 

Sounds fun. I quit after a day of no shocks on the cherokee and fixed the bolts. Drove a few hundred miles like that though.

Think the wheelbase in jeeps, especially non-jk wranglers, makes you pick and just between a soft ride and bouncy ride or a harsh and stable one. My jeep would bounce for the next quarter mile after a pot hole before the lift with Monroes, but was more comfortable than my friends stock JK.

 

I agree fully. Its all preference. My JK takeoffs stop after 1 cycle on a lot of bumpy roads and it can be rough sometimes. Then on some roads it rides like a dream. Every bump, dip, pothole in every town is different. So Bilsteins may work well for him but not Kim or simm or Tim.

 

Thanks but why run right after resetting with turning key on and off?