This may be the first thing holycaveman has said that I agree with...

Anyone else see tears in the fabric of space?

 

There is a reason everyone seems to be running different ones. There are a lot of factors that are involved. It is not cut and dry. You can just order up the ones you posted and they might work but the proper way to do it is to measure after the lift is installed.

 

This is where I call bull sh** because I know these shocks are probably the most popular,

 

XJPat-"The op is probably a young guy, like me, from the participation trophy generation. Some people my age, wow, just wow."

Freaking awesome! I never heard that term before but if you even run for president-you got MY VOTE!

You are one of the few utes' (My Cousin Vinnie-great movie) that gets it.

 

If you don't have the means or the know how to measure, just call RE in the morning and ask them what extended/collapsed they recommend for your kit. Then find someone who sells them (IRO, Serious, etc) and order them. If you order them tonight they wont ship out before tomorrow and the soonest anyways.

 

I guess I should have been more clear, the lift is not installed on my jeep currently so I cannot do the proper measurements of collapsed and extended, I was looking to buy shocks so when I do put the lift on I have it all right there, like knocking all the birds with one stone. I wasn't trying to be a self centered punk my any means. I feel like the comment "god i hate these people" was a little extreme and un necessary.

 

This:
http://www.seriousoffroadproducts.co....5-4.5in.-Lift

Or these:
http://www.seriousoffroadproducts.co...XJ/5160-Series

 

Thats this forum. You have to take the punches. LOL

You are doing it correctly when you install the lift without the shocks. Then see what your application calls for. You will A. learn a lot. B. have a lift kit that actually may work properly.

A good lift and suspension does not always mean convenience. Good suspension takes a bit of work.

If lift had to do with shock length in reality, then that would mean your shock travel would stop precisely at lifted height. But in the off road world, and even tar mac that is not the case. Your suspension travels (each wheel side) to its max length regardless of ride height. Every rear leaf extends different than the next. This is why its not smart to just buy suggested shocks. Your front suspension travel is much simpler. It travels as far as the LCA stops allow it to, and your track bar. Control arms are different sizes though. So this means the front also will extend a little different. But in my experience you can only make use of a 10" shock with 32's and up with stock lca location.

If you are just mall crawling and don't care about suspension performance then buy suggested shocks. Though why buy quality components if you are not going to set it up right?

 

Stick around son........

 

While I understand what you guys are trying to say, I think you are all discrediting the amount of work manufactures put into their product. The recommended shock size is for the recommended setup with their kit. (almost all have a "we recommend running a XXX tire" etc.). To think that they did not do the math for the scenario they recommend and just send out random, wrong shocks is ridiculous. You trust them with every other aspect of your kit and your life but not the shock?

Now obviously if you are going to cut you fenders, use larger tires and push your Jeep past what the manufacture recommends then you will have to take measurements, bump stop etc.

I have ordered so many shocks trying to adjust for different modifications and you know what I ended up with? The Bilstiens that IRO recommends for my lift haha. I have about 1/2 inch more up travel on the shock then my bump stops will allow. I understand this is only my case and if you are running 37's on a 4 inch kit, that would not be for you.

My point is this OP, If you are going to run the tire size they recommend and are running their entire kit, just call them up and ask them. It will save you time and not render your Jeep useless while you wait for the right shock. If you are going to go outside the parameters that the manufacture recommends for their kit, then definitely save yourself some money, only buy one set, and measure to get the shock that fits closest to what you need (for the average buyer, they only come in so many sizes)

 

Actually the manufacturers don't do as much homework like you may think. I install many different kits for many trucks. I have yet to install one that would make me happy as far as proper shock length.

You have to keep in mind that manufacturers make a kit with a shock length that is Non specific. It will get you down the road, but that's about it. Maybe it works great for you, maybe it does not? If you are investing a good bit of money then do it right. All of them will get you down the road. But why spend 1400$ in suspension to "get you down the road"


I mean how can bilstien sell you a shock for a 3-4” lift non brand specific? A super flex kit certainly calls for a different shock length than a 400$ RC kit.
Like I said, NONE that I have installed would i install on my own jeep.