Time to replace shocks

[Eddie Greenlee]

Morning y’all ,
It’s time to replace shocks.
Been running Rancho for 9 years now.
Choices are
1. Rancho RS5000X
2. Rough Country M1
3. Fox 2.0.
I drive this Jeep TJ on and off road.
So times it’s an every day driver to work but only 14 miles round trip.
4” suspension lift
35” tires & so much more
Also wondering best place to purchase fox shocks from ?
Thanks !!

 

[JMT]

Lots of kudos for the Skyjacker Blackmax shocks.

 

[Apparition]

Lots of kudos for the Skyjacker Blackmax shocks.

Those aren't a choice.

 

[John Cooper]

Those aren't a choice.

They are if he wants them to be.........

 

[RangerTJ]

Do the Fox shocks require a rebuild?

When I was looking for shocks for my truck I initially considered the Fox shocks but then found that they need a rebuild every 20k to 50k miles depending on use.

And the rebuild is around $80 per shock.

I decided No Thanks and went with Bilsteins for the lifetime warranty since my truck isn't going to see any extreme use that may warrant any extra performance provided by Fox.

They work great on my truck but Bilsteins for the TJ are reportedly very stiff, like being able to tell if a coin is heads or tails when you run over it, so not a good choice in this application.

Just pointing out the potential extra maintenance with the Fox shocks.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Also wondering best place to purchase fox shocks from ?

Get them straight from the source.

 

[John Cooper]

Get them straight from the source.

View attachment 657466

Is that the best you can do......

FOX not fox

 

[TheBoogieman]

Is that the best you can do......

FOX not fox

I had FOX shocks on my motocross bike when I raced. They never impressed me for the price.

 

[John Cooper]

I had FOX shocks on my motocross bike when I raced. They never impressed me for the price.

Ok, well then carry on.....

 

[Christian.mers]

Paint the Rancho’s if you get em

 

[TheBoogieman]

Ok, well then carry on.....

 

[John Cooper]

View attachment 657467

Well at least you got some tail.......

 

[BDub]

I am on a 4in lift/35s with dual rate coils and I have run both Rancho and Fox shocks. The ranchos were 5000x, they rode well on the street but felt too soft offroad. I replaced them with a set of Fox 2.0. They are more firm on both street and offroad and I enjoy the ride more now. There is defiantly a price difference between the two although I lucked out finding a full set NIB on marketplace for $270 shipped. Knowing what I know now I would still pay the retail price difference for the Fox shocks. The fox rears mount cans up so are less likely to have interference with the lower spring perch, the Ranchos mount just the opposite and both of my rears had some interference.

 

[macleanflood]

I sourced my Fox 2.0s from Accutune and am very happy with their service.

-Mac

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

Well I always wanted to tryout Fox so I bought 2 for the rear. I went out to swap them out and things didn’t go so well.
About 5 years ago I swapped out the Dana 35 for a Ford 8.8.
Come to find out this morning the guy that welded my brackets on didn’t weld the shock brackets on in the right place. When mounting the fox shocks to the upper barpin mounts it made the eyelet bottom of the shock miss the axle shock mount at least an inch. It would have torqued the heck out of the shock to mount it, and probably bent or warped the shock. Which is what probably happened to my old shocks. So now the only thing I can think of to do is to cut off the shock mounts and re-weld them in the right location by mounting it to the shop first and rotating it up to the bottom of the axle.
Can y’all think of anything better to do?
Thanks

 

[JMT]

I’d cut and weld them in the proper position.

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

I’d cut and weld them in the proper position.

Thanks ! Was hoping that was the right answer.

 

[DirtDawg]

If like me, not a welder, why not a set of relocation brackets? I know from prior experience that bolt-on track bar relocation brackets often result in fatigue failures but it seems unlikely same applies for lower shock mounts. My buddy's 03 Rubi has brackets likewise welded at the wrong angle. Shocks mount OK with shaft clearance but tear up the rubber boots. He bought these, along with other MC parts on sale, which we'll install in the coming week or so...

Metalcloak Bolt-On Shock Mount Kit, TJ/LJ Rear

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

All I have is a 4” grinder and some cutoff discs and flapper grinder discs .
I’m a there a better way to cut the welds??
Oh and I mig weld a little. Should I get someone to stick weld it ?

 

[macleanflood]

Can y’all think of anything better to do?
Thanks

Tons and 40s?

Yes weld it yourself. You'll give a damn and spend the time to do things right.

-Mac