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Best Performance shocks for a ZJ

Old Sep 13, 2014 | 03:10 PM
  #1  
wheelerboy12's Avatar
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From: Yamhill county, Oregon
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Default Best Performance shocks for a ZJ

Looking for the best handling shocks for a ZJ, im getting a 5.2L and am wanting to build some what of a go fast ZJ, plans include 1-2" BB and some 31" all terrains with wheel spacers to give it a wider track, looking for a shock that will be the best for this, looking for tight responsive handling, and maybe a decent ride, but id sacrifice ride for handling.
theres a lot of threads out there about shocks but most people are looking for best ride and offroad performance, witch is the opposite spectrum for what im trying, any help is greatly appreciated, Thanks.

Also would like to know stock swaybar sizes, I found Addco swaybars 1 1/8th front and 7/8th rear, not sure if those are stock or if they are bigger, im looking for stiffer then stock bars.
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Old Sep 15, 2014 | 11:02 AM
  #2  
dave1123's Avatar
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From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
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Addco is a good company. I put the same set-up (1 1/8 and 7/8) on my 67 SS Camaro and they were superb! They are solid, not hollow. I ran gymkhana and autocross with it and challenged the 'Vettes on times. I also used Monroe 500 shocks designed for an Impala.

JMHO, but with wheel spacers, you're going to put amazing stresses on your hub bearings throwing it around corners. I would also not lift it and use 60 series tires or even 50s. You've got an awful lot of weight to be stabilized for that kind of driving. The 2 live axle platform is pretty stable by design anyway so it should be impressive. Also, stick with street tires. All terrains won't stick well. You can swap to all terrains for the snow. I'd also switch to polyurathane bushings in your track bars.

Personally, I think you're nuts.

Last edited by dave1123; Sep 15, 2014 at 11:08 AM.
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Old Sep 15, 2014 | 11:35 AM
  #3  
Gary Briggs's Avatar
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From: Escalon, Ca
Year: 1996
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Bilstien or nothing at all.
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Old Sep 15, 2014 | 12:43 PM
  #4  
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Old fart with a wrench
 
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From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
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Bilsteins are great for deep cycling, but I wouldn't waste the cost on a road car.
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Old Sep 15, 2014 | 04:12 PM
  #5  
SeriousOffroad's Avatar
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Bilstein FTW!!!
http://www.seriousoffroadproducts.co...ZJ/5100-Series
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Old Sep 15, 2014 | 10:42 PM
  #6  
wheelerboy12's Avatar
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From: Yamhill county, Oregon
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
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Originally Posted by dave1123
Addco is a good company. I put the same set-up (1 1/8 and 7/8) on my 67 SS Camaro and they were superb! They are solid, not hollow. I ran gymkhana and autocross with it and challenged the 'Vettes on times. I also used Monroe 500 shocks designed for an Impala.

JMHO, but with wheel spacers, you're going to put amazing stresses on your hub bearings throwing it around corners. I would also not lift it and use 60 series tires or even 50s. You've got an awful lot of weight to be stabilized for that kind of driving. The 2 live axle platform is pretty stable by design anyway so it should be impressive. Also, stick with street tires. All terrains won't stick well. You can swap to all terrains for the snow. I'd also switch to polyurathane bushings in your track bars.

Personally, I think you're nuts.

Personally I think I'm nuts too, my last zj blew me out of the water handling wise, with shot shocks and ****y bushings, high performance shocks, and polyurathane bushings with some sway bars will make me a very happy camper, I'm accounting for the extra stress of the wheel spacers, I plan on replacing the hubs and bearings then going with it.
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Old Sep 16, 2014 | 02:57 PM
  #7  
dave1123's Avatar
Old fart with a wrench
 
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
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When I mentioned the urethane bushings, I meant in the TRACK BARS, not the sway bars. The track bars hold the axles centered underneath the vehicle and would take an awful lot of stress in hard cornering. Your ZJ has a ball joint on the one end in the front, that should be fine.

BTW, my Camaro wasn't designed for a rear sway bar and had plates bolted to the "frame" to mount them. I snapped the connecter links in a week. I then made "hiem" joint links but started snapping them also. I went with heavier joints then tore the plates off the frame! The final solution was to bolt AND weld the plates to the frame.
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