If you don't have a lift, you can't buy shocks made for that, they will be too long.
Bilstein tend to be on the firm side if that's what your going for.
Rancho 5000x will be softer

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If you don't have a lift, you can't buy shocks made for that, they will be too long.
Bilstein tend to be on the firm side if that's what your going for.
Rancho 5000x will be softer

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I went to a Jeep shop and they recommender the Bilstein shocks. But I am looking for softer ride being a two door jeep. I look at the Rancho 5000x, Thanks for the information.

 

X2…on the Rancho RS5000X shocks.

 

if you live where they use road you can watch the rancho stocks rust

 

Also agree on the Rancho... I replaced the OEM with their RS5000 series - as noted above, they tend to rust with road salt, so I shot them with a blast of rattle-can self etching primer and Rust Oleum before installation. No complaints.

 

i have rancho shocks on 06 rubicon and billstein 5100s on my 05 rocky mountain and 04 LJ i personally like the billstein shocks better

 

Ive had two shops recommend the Bilsteins to me as well. Maybe they earn a decent margin on them? Though, one of the two shops told me that the quality is very good @ the price point. So maybe it's a simple as that.

I have Rancho 5000's in my TJ and really like them. So ultimately, I decided to go with Ranchos in my JKU when the time comes.

 

I have original shocks on my 2013 2 door Jeep Sport Wrangler. any suggestion shock replacement. I'm looking at
Bilstein B8 5100 Series Front Shock for 1.50 to 3-Inch Lift (07-18 Jeep Wrangler JK). will this work. I don't know if my Jeep has a lift or not.
View attachment 4577695

The Bilstein for a non lifted Jeep is the 4600 series. They are not bad shocks, but known to ride a little stiffer than some of the competition. I also recommend the Rancho RS5000X (must be the 5000X model, the older 5000 is not the same). As mentioned above, you will want to spray the shocks with a can of Rustoleum clear coat or even repaint them to the color of your choice.

RS55326 and RS55328 are the part numbers you want.

Another option if you are against the Rancho's is the Skyjacker Black Max series. They are also an excellent shock for a stock Jeep. Choose the B8501 and the B8507 and you are good to go.

 

Before I sold my '14 JK, I replaced my worn out OEM shocks with a set of Rancho RS9000XL adjustables. Set the stiffness to 2 and I was very pleased with the ride quality.

 

I have had ranchos on the last 3 jeeps. first was the 5000's then the last 2 I went with the 9000's for adjustability. can dial in your ride stiffness. I did clear coat them first though and still look good 3 years later. however the high temp muffler paint did not stay looking good!!

 

Of all the Rancho shocks I’ve tried, I like the RS7MT shocks the best.

 

@GP Noir Was considering those for my 4 door. I have Read some literature on the RS7MT and watched a YouTube video review. Would like to know your take on them and if your Jeep has aftermarket bumpers, 35's and or a spare? Thanks in advance.

 

I have 35s, an aftermarket rear bumper from Outta Hand Fabrication and a homemade front. Both bumpers are pretty light compared to most. No winch yet.

I like the shocks. According to Shock Surplus, the RS7MT is made in Germany at the Bilstein factory.

The RS7MT is a big step up from factory shocks especially off-road. That said, if you like to drive fast over ruts and whoops, you’ll soon find their limits. However, to get a shock with better performance, you’ll need to spend more money.

 

https://www.tenneco.com/news/news-detail/2021/06/16/new-rancho-monotube-shocks-offer-upgraded-performance-for-trucks-and-suvs#:~:text=Designed%20by%20a%20global%20team,available%20for%20select%20Jeep%20applications

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Just some more info above on the ranchos.

 

If you know people who buy their Jeeps and immediately upgrade, find some low mile Rubicon OEM shocks. I bought some from a fellow club member (for $25!) and just put them on my 40k mile 14 JKU over the winter, replacing my OEM sport shocks and let me tell you.....night and day difference. So much more stable. Yes, I'm cheap. I have 2.5" lift and synergy rear lower shock mount relocators, with about 1.5" cut off the OEM mounts to reduce stump catching and I simply used hardware store extenders and a bolt with the head cut off to extend the tops of the front shocks.

 

@Jack FFR1846 I would take your advise because I too like to save some dough. However, I have a 3.5" lift on my JKU.

@GP Noir thank you for chiming back! Nice looking JK too ☑☑👍 Really nice stance. Are your wheels 18" or more?

Judging by what you wrote, "The RS7MT is a big step up from factory shocks especially off-road. That said, if you like to drive fast over ruts and whoops, you’ll soon find their limit" I'll probably go with Rancho RS5000X's then. I prefer a cushier on-road feel as I almost always daily my Jeep. I already dealt with back jarring ride when I had 18" wheels and E rated Japanese tires. And who knows, every Jeep is slightly different in performance from one to the next even with the same shocks. It probably all comes down to the sum of its parts.

 

@GP Noir thank you for chiming back! Nice looking JK too...

Thank you. She's been a labor of love

Judging by what you wrote, "The RS7MT is a big step up from factory shocks especially off-road. That said, if you like to drive fast over ruts and whoops, you’ll soon find their limit" I'll probably go with Rancho RS5000X's then. I prefer a cushier on-road feel as I almost always daily my Jeep. I already dealt with back jarring ride when I had 18" wheels and E rated Japanese tires. And who knows, every Jeep is slightly different in performance from one to the next even with the same shocks. It probably all comes down to the sum of its parts.

I have 17 inch rims. What I said about whoops and ruts applies to the RS5000X shocks as well. Get going fast enough and your suspension will be overworked. Ride quality is as much about springs as it is shocks.

I don't find the RS7MT shocks to be harsh at all. However, the BFG KM3 MTs are harsh off-road if they're not aired down.

 

I have a set of OEM rubicon shocks and springs that came off my 15 Hardrock at about 32k if you’re near pcola. I don’t think they’d be worthwhile to ship.


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The Fox 2.0 shocks are better than the Ranchos. Fox shocks can be rebuilt and re-valved.

What tires do you have and what pressure are you running in them? It might be a simple matter of dropping tire pressure a bit to get a softer ride.

 

Where are they 3x better than rs5000x? Because that is the typical price difference.
And rebuildable with what basic tools?
I have found in researching that they can be difficult to rebuild, so some just replace them, and need this rebuild around 50-60k miles, depending on what you submit them to, if a lot of dirt (and you're lazy) you will be rebuilding much sooner. A lot of that research shows them to be similar in every day performance to the Ranchos.
I will say, I use the 5000x on my JK and they perfirm flawlessly on road. They handle corners quite well. Off road, they don't fade, and react predictably. They aren't harsh for my 2 door. I got 80k miles on my last set, almost at 60k on my current set amd still going strong. Admittedly, @Rancho acted surprised I get this many quality miles out of them lol.
But yes, if you live in a salt use region, they are going to rust. And the paint isn't exactly what I would call well prepped. Scrapes off rather easily. But worth every penny because the operation is not affected by that.

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The Fox 2.0 shock can be serviced. The cost is between $125 and $165 each. Most shops won't service the 2.0 non reservoir shock, because it costs more than buying a new shock.

 

@GP Noir Yah, Im almost at 70k on the current Fox shocks and they are ok- except that the bushings on the frame end l, rear shocks are gone and the shock body twists and knocks. Rebuilding, to me, is not an option and totally not worth it being on the other end of the west coast.

Maybe I'll just take a chance and get the 9000 adjustables for the rear. Because the front one's are fine. At least for now.

 

How much lift? The Rocksport shocks should be looked at if you have RE springs and enough lift...

 

Service on Fox 2.0 is $75 from Fox. Find a local shock tuner shop or private party and it might be even cheaper.

Fox are better shocks than Rancho by far: better pistons, better shims, better oil, better seals, better finish, alum body, better shock shaft, overall better hardware and oil etc etc,. That's why they're more expensive. Fox 2.0 performance series is without a single doubt a better shock equipped with racing components, components that will need to be replaced sooner or later because well,, racing parts do wear as well and they can wear faster the harder you run them. Those parts in turn give you much better control in the rough compared to regular shocks, let alone if you add reservoirs, let alone if you with 2.5 shock bodies.
With that said not everybody needs race shocks and they're not for everybody either. Pick your poison according to your vehicle intended use. Ranchos in the Jeep world have a market and seems to be well established, don't ask me how some can't withstand a speckle of rust in a bumper but seem to recommend shocks that need to be painted right out of their boxes to avoid having them rusting once you get them out of that box , In all seriousness take a peek outside the Jeep workd for Rancho shocks and see what people have to say about them. I have Ranchos in my garage but don't run them full time. If i need to send my Kings or Fox to be serviced those Ranchos are my backup set.

Running on the street with a close to stock Jeep seems the Rancho 5000's will make quite a few people happy. Fox will be better on a Jeep that has more weight and aftermarket heavier springs as they valved a little faster on rebound and what i think is slower compression compared to a stock Jeep JK shock so they might feel harsh on stock springs/stock weight Jeep. Fox 2.0's are better but not invincible , if you want a shock that can take serious abuse then you look at the 2.5 and above race shocks. Still, Fox 2.0 (performance series and up) are in a different shock league compare to Rancho's or any other standard shock monotube or twin tube. Make no mistakes. the difference in the Jeep word seems who goes slower. Change the need and put more of your foot in the gas and those Ranchos will puke oil in less than 15 min in any washboard.

 

I cooked my 9000's on a two door driving interstate for three hours each way, "200 miles each way" the ride home was unbearable due to fade. The road seams were too much for them. I think a good reservoir shock is worth it, especially on a two door. I must have studied 80- 100 hours before I pulled the trigger and got tuned adjustable 2.5" kings. Had them for six+ years and don't regret it at all. Not for the faint of wallet though.

 

I've got a '13 as well and just recently (about 6 months ago) replaced the stockers with Rancho's. Stabilizer too. I've been loving them, huge upgrade over stock. I definitely should have changed them out a while back, the stockers were absolutely shot. I changed them at at 100k.