i have a 2000 xj with a 4.5 lift i wanna replace my shocks what do u guys have that can give u a better ride on the road and also good in the trails ????

 

Bilstein 5100 are the gold standard of shocks for a reason.

 

Here ya go...
http://www.seriousoffroadproducts.co....5-4.5in.-Lift

 

^ That's exactly what I used ^

 

Anyone have any....budget recommendations for 4.5" of lift?
I unfortunately don't have the luxury of dropping $300 on new shocks


I know there wont be much comparison, and the cheaper shocks wont last as long, but I figure it wouldn't hurt to ask

 

AHEM.......

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f10/ro...ffroad-214734/

Cough, cough...
You should have a rough idea where to look right about now.

 

What about fox? Anyone with experience running them?

 

The "best" anything is the one that meets your needs and expectations. If it doesn't do these things, it's not the "best".

The other thing you want to consider is suspension and steering geometry. If the angles are not correct, it wouldn't matter which shocks you have on it, it will handle and perform poorly.

Another way of putting it is you could have low-end shocks installed that may very well handle/perform well with proper geometry, whereas you could have high-end shocks installed that will probably handle/perform poorly due to improper angles. In this case, you're just throwing good money after bad.

Having said all this, Bilstein's are widely recognized as being one of the premier shocks for many applications (and for good reasons).

As far as Fox goes, again, it depends on each individuals needs and expectations. Many, if not all, of them are re-buildable and tunable. For some people, this is important to their application, but, even Fox cannot fix the consequences of poor geometry, so again, this is just throwing good money after bad.

Lastly, the price Serious is showing for a set of 4 Bilstein's is a great price.

 

^ I agree Franks price is good on those ^


JMO but these are reasonable price shocks I looked at others but couldn't justify $200 + each for them. You can get cheap white body shocks from places like Rustys for like $25-30 each like come in all the entry level lift kits, they are all the same. I gave mine away to a friend for a 3" when I went to a 4 1/2" lift and Bilstein shocks a world of difference in ride.

 

bilstein for the win. they have a set just for xj's that are valved perfectly.
not sure if the rubicon express monotubes are any cheaper, but they are bilstein 5100's that are valved for wranglers.

pretty much all cheap white bodied shocks are all made by the same maker at the same factory but are sold through lift companies to add their stickers with them. they are cheap, but seem to work for all intensive purposes. but they don't ride like a bilstein.

 

Yeah, I'll take the Bilstein's anyday for what I do. I've run 3 sets on 2 XJ's and I've run them on some European cars and had nothing but superior results when everything else is set up correctly.

 

love em. definitely recommend. and they are rebuildable. the last shocks you'll need if you stay at the same height.
kinda a stiffer ride, but it helps body roll. i dont feel like i need to run my front swaybar anymore.
* if buying from quadratec MAKE SURE you get the right length ones.
a 3.5" tj uses the same shocks as a 2.5" lifted xj.
they are listed on the same page. when searching for 3.5" xj shocks you WILL get results for 3.5" tj. i just higher clearanced my rears and made them work. need shorter shocks for that anyways.
somehow i managed to order the correct front ones?

 

http://www.seriousoffroadproducts.co...rs/7100-Series

 

Best is subjective, however I must say that Bilstein is the famous shocks here. OME are good as well.

 

What is your jeep built to wheel? Rocks, mud, trail riding etc.? You need to buy shocks that suit your type of wheeling. If you don't do rocks, or need that up and down travel, 5100s will do you just fine so long as you get the correct length.