Hey all,

I've read a bunch of the shock threads, but still can't seem to decide what would be best for my setup. I've got a 2008 2dr rubi with 3.5 RE super flex lift. It's a little pudgy with bumpers, winch, 2 kids, sometimes a jerry can, and the occasional pop up trailer behind it! I've replaced the RE shocks twice now, they seem to only last about 15-20k before they start leaking pretty bad and the ride grows increasingly worse. While the Jeep is a DD, I live 2 miles from work, so it doesn't get driven to the street a ton. It does get wheeled pretty hard, pretty often (probably why the shocks don't last that long).

I've got 2 main questions. 1) best shocks for this setup? 2) the first set of RE shocks i had were too long. they offered a little more flex, but i was frequently resetting my coil's after they would tilt or almost fall out when at full flex. is it best to keep the shocks shorter, or is there a better way to control this?

Thanks,
Jeff

 

What are the specs on the shocks (extended/compressed)? And what's the free length on the springs? Is not a scientific method, but from experience with Toyotas and now the JK, free length + 10" is what the shock should extend max, so the spring doesn't fall out of its bucket.
Nothing beats measuring though, but it should be safe to assume the formula works in the JK's.

 

You need to look at the overall setup - and measure.

For downtravel - with longer shocks and unseating coils, you can get coil retainers that hold the coils in place at both top and bottom. Teraflex also makes some coil spacers with long prongs that hang down to serve a similar function.

For uptravel - with longer shocks you need to make sure that your bumpstops are tall enough to prevent the shocks from over-compressing and blowing out. (which could very well be what is happening !!) So, what is the collapsed length of your current shocks? How tall are the bumpstops? When the tires are stuffed, how much space do you have between the upper and lower stops?

Rather than guessing, do some measuring to make certain that the shocks are not acting as your bumpstops...

 

Limiting straps are something else you should look into if you know that your shocks are currently limiting your downtravel and you'd like to quit blowing them out. Straps are another place where you've got to use the "you measure" method as opposed to internet guesses.

 

Like Karl said limiting straps are the proper way to set up so the coils don't unseat and protect the shocks from being pulled apart.

Proper measurement while articulating the suspension is the only way to get the best fit for flex

 

I measured stuff today. A little tough figuring out how to get the suspension to fully compress, but the extended length was easy. Now I just need to find the right shocks to go with it. Anyone have any good ideas?

Here are the numbers I have, the compressed is just a guess, I couldn't quite get the bumpstops to hit in the garage. I subtracted the distance from them though, so I think I'm doing just fine.

Rear
26.8 Extend
18.2 Compress

Front
28.25 extend
18.0 Compress