"Overland Journal" Tests Shocks
02-13-2014 | 02:23 PM
#1
Thread Starter
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,796
Likes: 366
From: Midwest City, OK
"Overland Journal" Tests Shocks
The just-released Overland Journal gear guide includes a test of several brands of shocks. Their test platform is a JK, so this is particularly useful for our community. Suggest anyone interested in shocks get the issue. It includes lab testing, and highway and off-road performance.
The short answer is: Ranch RS900XL. "In nearly every category, from yaw response and damping, to body roll, traceability, and feedback, it received maximum points ... Cornering was flat like a sports car, not a normal characteristic for a lifted JK ... In G-outs and hard cornering, the vehicle simply hunkered down and moved on. There was almost none of the normal steering wheel feedback you get from a live axle (chatter) and limited body roll. ... In short I can say that Joe, Ned and I were impressed, and shall I say, surprised. ... On our desert loop, the vehicle's predictability instilled confidence and we found ourselves traveling at higher speeds without feeling like we were going to damage the vehicle" BTW: They ran it at a setting of 5, then compared other settings to confirm that they felt 5 was the right choice.
Value choice was the OME Nitro Charger Sport. Also rans, which all did reasonably well, included Bilstein 5100, Fox 2.0 Performance Series IFP, and ICON 2.0 V.S. Aluminum Series. King and Fabtech were invited to participate, but declined.
The short answer is: Ranch RS900XL. "In nearly every category, from yaw response and damping, to body roll, traceability, and feedback, it received maximum points ... Cornering was flat like a sports car, not a normal characteristic for a lifted JK ... In G-outs and hard cornering, the vehicle simply hunkered down and moved on. There was almost none of the normal steering wheel feedback you get from a live axle (chatter) and limited body roll. ... In short I can say that Joe, Ned and I were impressed, and shall I say, surprised. ... On our desert loop, the vehicle's predictability instilled confidence and we found ourselves traveling at higher speeds without feeling like we were going to damage the vehicle" BTW: They ran it at a setting of 5, then compared other settings to confirm that they felt 5 was the right choice.
Value choice was the OME Nitro Charger Sport. Also rans, which all did reasonably well, included Bilstein 5100, Fox 2.0 Performance Series IFP, and ICON 2.0 V.S. Aluminum Series. King and Fabtech were invited to participate, but declined.
Last edited by Mark Doiron; 02-13-2014 at 02:26 PM.
02-13-2014 | 03:09 PM
#5
Thread Starter
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,796
Likes: 366
From: Midwest City, OK
02-13-2014 | 04:09 PM
#6
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Great to know since those are the shocks I am running. Since I had nothing but stock to compare to, I was wondering if there was any reason to go with the more expensive options. Now I am completely content!
