The Jeep Wrangler is most probably the most versatile and extremely modifiable four-wheelers that one can ever get.
Any other vehicle can hardly compare with the functionality and versatility that Jeep Wrangler offers.
With the factory parts, you might get most of the works done with your Jeep, but to excel in the other workloads, you will have to look for aftermarket parts.
Just like all the other parts, you are going to require one of the best jeep wrangler shocks too.
Shock absorbers are one of the most crucial components of any vehicle. They dampen and convert the energy from axle movement into heat so that you can enjoy a smooth ride with superior handling over your four-wheeler.
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Best Jeep Wrangler Shocks Review
With the dozens of shock absorbers that are available in the market right now, you can easily get lost trying to find a decent shock absorber.
To make your life a little bit easier, we have scoured the entire market and sorted the ten best ones. These are:
1 Bilstein 5100 Monotube Gas Shock Set
If you are looking to replace your age-old factory shock absorber that came with your tj, this set might well be the very best shocks for jeep wrangler tj.
This shock absorber from Bilstein is monotube. The design increases not only the ground clearance but also maintains optimal contact with the road.
Other than that, it helps in enhancing the overall performance of your vehicle.
There are scenarios where you might have to venture through rough terrains in the wilderness, where the roads are very bumpy and rocky.
Handling your vehicle in such instances can be quite challenging. But with these suspensions, you can get a firm grip over your ride and can enjoy a smooth ride throughout all terrains.
You will not have to worry about the shocks working optimally after a year or so.
These shock absorbers will provide you the same service as day one for an extended amount of time.
You can go for the countryside adventure for the hundredth time with these shock absorbers installed.
As the shocks are equipped with special kits that improve the clearance of your vehicle substantially, its reliability will not decrease even with a trailer in off-road conditions.
Along with offering an exceptional grip on your vehicle, these shocks improve the stability of your four-wheeler as well.
You will get excellent stability even in extreme situations with a heavy load.
This model comes featured with divided pistons. They efficiently spread the oil as the temperature gradually increases.
This functionality eliminates the formation of foam inside the unit and maintains constant dampening ability.
The package comes with two front and two rear shock absorbers. Front ones can lift your vehicle with up to 2 inches, and the rear one can lift the back of your Jeep to up to 2 inches as well.
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2 Bilstein 5100 Front 2-2.5″, Rear 0-1″ Lift Shocks Kit
Finding the perfect set of shock absorber that can offer great control on off-roads and consistent handling on the highway can be a little tough.
But with these shocks from Bilstein, you will be able to enjoy the best of two worlds.
If you are replacing your factory stocks, it goes without saying that you are looking for an upgrade.
You would not want to get something that performs comparatively lower than what you already had, and these shocks will assure the improvement that you were looking for all this time.
The height that the shocks lift your vehicle in the front is 0-2.5 inches, and the rear elevation is from 0-1 inches.
Front shocks can extend to 11.3 inches and collapse to 15.76 inches, and the rear shock extends to 26.15 inches and collapse to 16.14 inches.
While installing these on your Jeep, you are substantially decreasing the possibility of body roll.
Along with that, they are incredibly resistant to fade. So, you will be able to get long service from them.
They offer substantial stability to your vehicle. Bumpy and rocky roads are a piece of cake for them.
You will finally be able to go on the countryside adventure that you were planning for all this time with them installed to you Jeep.
The shocks are well equipped to put a fight against rust and corrosions. With the zinc and nickel coating, you will be able to venture through roads in all weather conditions.
Furthermore, the pistons have internal dividings that let the oil spread as it gets warmer.
This feature allows the shocks to handle the extra stress on the seals, and it remains fade-free throughout the life cycle.
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Related Guide: Clutch for Jeep Wrangler Review
3 Bilstein 5100 Gas Shock Set for 2011-2018 Silverado 2500 HD 4WD
As a truck driver, you might prefer a variant of component that you think will suit your driving style the most.
Having multiple shock absorbers to choose from is very convenient, and Bilstein is offering a plethora of variants for the 5100 series.
This shock absorber from Bilstein is the gas variant of the ever so popular 5100 series.
They feature a monotube gas design that ensures a prolonged service, exceptional durability, and excellent performance.
With the implementation of speed-sensitive pistons that offers an exceptional response in any road situation, you will be able to enjoy a comfortable and safe ride in your everyday traveling.
These pistons are capable of stabilizing your four-wheeler even in the bumpiest road you come across.
Off-road driving will never be a hassle for you with these shocks installed to your Jeep.
They will offer a smooth and comfortable ride throughout any given terrain. You can finally go for camping in the trails that go across the woods with your Jeep.
These absorbers will give you the same performance as it gave in day one for a more extended amount of time.
You will be able to enjoy a smooth and controlled ride throughout several long trips with your Jeep.
The unit has zinc and nickel coating that protects the pistons from rust and corrosion. You will not have to worry about the absorber losing its functionality because of rust build-ups.
This package comes with a set of four shock absorbers, and all the necessary accessories come included with the box as well.
The shocks will fit four-wheelers for the front lifted height of 0-1.5 inches and rear elevation of 0-1 inches.
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4 Bilstein 5100 Set of Monotube Gas Shock Absorbers for 03-12 Dodge Ram 2500 4WD
We are not done with Bilstein yet. Most of the offerings from the 5100 series lineup are so good that they deserve another spot in our recommendation list. Just like every other shock absorbers from them, this one is a solid performer as well.
These shocks work flawlessly on both the highway and off-road terrains. They can quickly adapt to the road condition you are treading on and will offer you a comfortable ride throughout all tracks.
As they can swiftly adapt to any given road condition, you can expect superior handling over your vehicle with these shocks installed to your Jeep.
You will be able to venture through the bumpy forest roads with your four-wheeler at ease.
The shock absorbers come with a monotube design. As a result, the heat that builds up during dampening gets dispersed away efficiently.
It also aids in sealing the damage and subsequently increases the lifespan of the shocks.
Its piston comes featured with internal division. This feature allows the oil inside to spread through as the unit gradually gets warmer. Thus, it can easily handle the extra stress and efficiently resists fading.
Monotube construction of the pistons eliminates the foaming of oil in the internals.
As a result, the stable gas flow and large workable area provide a next level damping and offers high reliability even under extreme loads.
These pistons offer a consistent performance throughout its entire life cycle.
You will be able to enjoy the same smooth ride that you had after you installed them on the first day after a year or so.
Overall, these pistons are an excellent pick for your Jeep for both off-road and on-road drivings.
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5 Rancho RS5000 Shocks Set
The Jeep Wrangler is one of the go-to vehicles for most of the people out there. It is a very versatile four-wheeler that can handle any workload that you throw at it, but it needs to have capable parts installed on it.
With stock parts, you will be able to do most of the works just fine. But to get an extra edge over the workloads, you are going to need something extra.
These shocks from Rancho is the something extra that you need to make your Jeep excel in most of the day to day tasks.
By getting these shocks for you Jeep, you will be substantially enhancing the handling capability of your four-wheeler to another level.
Even in the harshest road conditions, you will get a firm grip over your vehicle.
With these installed, you will not have to cancel the bumpy shortcut that you always avoided while going to work.
The shock absorbers come featured with an eccentric disc inside the valve, which is known as the progressive engagement valving.
With this feature, the vehicle remains in control and highly stable throughout any given terrain.
You will not have to worry about losing a grip over your Jeep with these installed.
With the twin-tube design and pressurized shock absorption capability, these shock absorbers substantially decrease the possibility of the mixture of oil and air in the internals.
Thus, you can expect consistent performance throughout its lifecycle without any alter in shock-absorbing capabilities.
This model from Rancho is around for quite a while now, and the demand for them is increasing day by day, which means they are very reliable. So, you will not go wrong for picking them up for your next upgrade.
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6 Rancho RS5000X Gas Shocks
If you are out in the market looking for one of the best shocks for jeep wrangler jk, you might just have stumbled upon one of them.
These absorbers from Rancho come packed with many features that set itself above from most other shocks that are available in the market.
They come featured with a patented progressive rebound and compression discs.
These discs will engage the valving at lower frequencies when the vehicle is at a lower speed, which allows the fluid to flow early, and thus the absorbers stay ready for any harsh shock.
This feature ensures the overall stability of your vehicle in any given scenario.
With the custom-tuned compression control valve, the disc will not flutter when the absorbers absorb impacts.
This configuration will let you maintain the overall control over your vehicle at any given road condition.
The precisely tuned shim stacked valving ensures the shocks to work consistently in both on-road and off-road driving.
These shock absorbers also feature a larger 2-1/4 inch diameter body. This larger footprint means it can hold an extensive amount of fluid, which ensures a cooler operation and increases handling performance.
Each of the shock absorbers is gas pressurized to 150 PSI. The twin-tube design minimizes air exposure to oil, and thus resists the foaming in the internals. Also, the pressurized gas provides a boost in the dampening capability.
The pistons are sealed with a low-friction and self-lubricating seal. This seal retains gas and oil for an extended amount of time.
The seal also provides an extra layer of protection against dirt and road debris. You will get excellent performance out of these absorbers for a prolonged amount of time.
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7 Bilstein 5100 Monotube Gas Shocks Set – 07-15 for Jeep Wrangler JK with 1.5-3″ lift kits
One of the manufacturers that are offering back to back robust shock absorbers to the crowd in the market is Bilstein.
Their offerings are so good that they have made multiple appearances on our list. Because of them, getting one of the best shocks in the market has never been this easier.
These shock absorbers from Bilstein come with a monotube design. As a result, the heat that builds up during dampening gets dispersed away efficiently. It also aids in sealing the damage and subsequently increases the lifespan of the shocks.
The monotube construction of the pistons also eliminates the foaming of oil in the internals.
Thus, the stable gas flow and large workable area provide a next level damping and offer high reliability even under extreme loads.
You can expect superior handling over your vehicle at any given terrain as these absorbers can swiftly adapt to any road condition.
And you will be able to venture through the bumpy forest roads with your four-wheeler at ease.
The piston comes featured with internal division. This feature allows the oil inside to spread through as the unit gradually gets warmer. Thus, it can easily handle the extra stress and efficiently retain fading.
These shocks offer a consistent dampening performance throughout its entire life cycle.
You will be able to enjoy the same smooth ride that you had after you installed them on the first day after a year or so.
Overall, they are an excellent pick for your Jeep for both day to day highway driving and unexpected adventures on bumpy off-road terrains.
You will be undoubtedly satisfied with the consistent performance that this unit can offer for an extended amount of time.
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8 FOX PERF. SERIES IFP SHOCKS (FRONT/REAR)
If you always had the dreams of blasting through deserts and dunes, or if you have always wanted to tread through bumpy off-road terrains but could not do so because your Jeep was too unstable on them, then you are most definitely looking for this shock absorber that FOX is offering.
Whether you are up for serious rock crawling, trail riding, over landing, treading over the desert, or for just regular day to day commuting, these shocks from FOX will offer you an exceptional overall performance. You will be able to tread through any terrain with ease.
Being packed with internal floating piston design, these shock absorbers offer superior stability even in the bumpiest terrains.
You will not have to worry about getting a bump on your head riding through extremely rough roads.
As the body of the unit is made of Aluminum, it offers an exceptional cooling capability.
The shocks remain relatively chilled even while stabilizing your Jeep in the toughest terrains.
This low-temperature operation ensures consistent performance in any given road condition.
The monotube piston design separates oil from the gas chamber. As a result, it efficiently eliminates the aeration of the oil and ensures a smooth operation of the valving stack.
With the precise valving stack and high-flow piston, you will be able to get excellent handling from your vehicle even in the roughest road conditions. The dampening capability of these shock absorbers is quite something.
The body of the unit is also protected from dust build-ups and rusts. You will be able to tread through areas of high salt content without having to worry about degrading the performance of your shock absorbers.
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9 Fox 2.0 Performance Reservoir Shock Set compatible with 2007-2016 Jeep Wrangler
Getting a shock absorber that can offer great off-road driving and excellent performance on highways is a little challenging.
But, with manufacturers such as Fox and their back to the back offering of robust absorbers, it is a little easier now.
With the Fox 2.0 lineup of shock absorbers, you will not only be able to tread through bumpy off-roads comfortably but also will be able to enjoy a smooth ride on highways.
The main priority of manufacturers like them is your utmost convenience, and they are quite successful in fulfilling them.
As the shock absorbers from this series include an external reservoir, they can carry substantially more oil and nitrogen compared to others.
The more oil an absorber contains, the more evenly the oil gets dispersed throughout the entire body.
Boasting an external reservoir, the shock absorbers have a very lower possibility of cavitation.
Along with that, it also helps in reducing the operational heat substantially. This feature ensures that the shocks remain functional even in the long off-road trips.
The whole unit comes with a shaft of 5/8 inch hard chrome-plated heat-treated alloy steel.
This construction allows the shock absorbers to go through the extreme stress on off-roads. It can take quite a bit of abuse without showing any signs of bulge or bends.
Also, the aluminum construction of the shock absorbers means that they can dissipate heat evenly throughout the entire body.
This feature ensures long-lasting, consistent performance throughout any terrain.
As they feature an aluminum body, they are well protected from rust and debris.
So, you will be able to tread on tough terrains even in the harshest weather conditions without having to worry too much about your shock absorbers.
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10 Skyjacker H7000 Shocks Front+Rear 07-15 Wrangler JK 4WD 1-3.5 in Lift
Looking for a decent shock absorber in the market might be a little tough right now as the market is flowing with shock absorbers from many different manufacturers.
But with manufacturers such as Skyjacker, getting an absorber that will offer you excellent performance is much easier now.
These shock absorbers from Skyjacker might be the last one in our list, but they are not the least.
Even in the bumpiest roads, you will be able to enjoy an overall smoother ride.
Alongside excellent performance on off-roads, they provide an exceptional driving experience on the highway as well.
As the units come featured with a twin-tube design and pressurized shock absorption capability, these shock absorbers substantially decrease the possibility of the mixture of oil and air in the internals.
Thus, you can expect consistent performance throughout its lifecycle without any alter in shock-absorbing capabilities.
These shock absorbers feature DOM tubing and bonded iron pistons, which significantly reduce the wear and tear.
You can expect excellent durability out of these shocks. Even after putting them in a high demanding scenario over and over, you will get the same dampening capability as you got in day one.
The shock absorbers can adapt to any given terrain with ease as they come featured with multi-stage velocity-sensitive valves.
You will be able to enjoy stable and responsive handling throughout any given road condition.
As they are comprised of the bonded iron piston and the piston rods are chrome plated with micro-pores and red polyurethane bushings, they are well protected from debris and dirt. Foreign materials will not be able to breach into the internals
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Things to Look for Before Buying
Before you head out to the market trying to get the best riding shocks for jeep wrangler, there are some things that you should keep in mind. These are:
Types
Usually, there are three types of shock absorbers in the market. Each of the designs is catered towards a different crowd.
But to figure out what type you require, you have to know about them briefly.
So, for your convenience, we have described each of the usual designs below. These are:
Twin-Tube Shocks
Just like the name refers, these shock absorbers sport a twin-tube design. These two individual tubes or chambers consist of gas or fluid that gets deployed during operation to dampen the shocks.
Hydro Series
One of the prominent twin-tube shock absorbers is known as the hydro series. These shock absorbers utilize an internal hydro fluid that moves through from one working chamber to another through valves. They offer quite an upgrade from the factory stock shock absorbers.
Nitro
The other type of twin-tube design is termed as Nitro. These types of shocks utilize 150 pounds per square inch of nitrogen to ensure better handling throughout the ride.
They generally offer more instant response to the condition of the roads to provide a smoother and comfortable ride.
Overall, twin-tube design shocks are the most available shocks in the market right now.
You will find them everywhere. Even though they might be a little affordable than others, they come with limitations as well.
One of the limitations of this type of shocks is the heat-dissipating issue. In prolonged rides under a lot of stress, they tend to overheat.
This issue makes them not much suitable for hardcore off-road traveling. But, if you are looking for a shock absorber for day to day highway commuting, you will be highly satisfied with them.
Monotube Design
The monotube design is the most popular shock in the market these days. They are a step up from the twin-tube models.
They are generally easy to get in the market and offer a superior driving experience due to their higher pressure rating and cooler operational temperature.
These type of shock absorbers utilizes a single valve mechanism that aids to precisely regulate the internal nitrogen gas and exert the pressure evenly throughout the entire unit. Because of this even distribution of stress, you will be able to enjoy a more excellent vibration damped driving experience.
With these types of shock absorbers installed on your Jeep, you will be able to handle your vehicle more comfortably.
Furthermore, you will not only be able to enjoy a stable and smooth ride in the highways, but you will also get an adequate dampening in the tough terrains.
So, if you are looking for a shock absorber that can handle a little off-road driving and offers a smoother highway driving experience alongside, you can keep this type of shock absorbers into your consideration.
External Reservoir Design
If you like to crank the speed up very often in highways or do off-road driving now and then, or even if you just want the best of the best that the market has to offer for treading through rough terrains, these type of shocks might be the one for you.
This type of shock absorbers is probably the most premium type of shocks that are available to the crowd.
With these on, you will be able to venture through tough terrains for a more extended amount of time without having to worry about the shocks overheating or fading.
As they come featured with an external reservoir, they can hold an extensive amount of fluid in them.
This additional fluid capacity helps the shocks to operate at a cooler temperature even under a lot of stress for a significant amount of time.
With them installed on you Jeep, you will be able to go on prolonged adventures in the countryside roads, or even plan a trip in the mountainous area.
You will be able to do all that without having to sacrifice too much in handling and vehicle stability.
Your Driving Style
By now, you might have figured out that the types of shock absorbers are catered towards different kinds of driving styles.
One of them is suitable for typical day to day commuting, and the other is good for little off-road driving.
So, before you decide to buy a set of shock absorbers, factor in your driving style first and then look for the one that is suitable for you.
With the right shock absorbers, you will be able to make your Jeep excel in the specific workload that you require.
Heat Dissipation
Your shock absorbers are going to have to do a lot of dampening in case of a long drive.
In such scenarios, if the shocks cannot dissipate the heat efficiently, you are not going to get a consistent performance throughout your ride.
It is not just about getting consistent performance in one scenario. If the heat dissipation is not efficient, you will get a shorter lifespan out of your shock absorbers as well.
That is why you have to look for the shock absorbers that feature an efficient heat dissipation technology.
With them, you will not only get a consistent dampening through any given terrain, but you will also get a more extended service from them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are shock absorbers for?
Just like the name suggests, shock absorbers absorb shock. They are one of the essential parts of a vehicle. They stabilize your vehicle in bumpy and rough terrains by dampening the vibration.
How do I know that my shock absorbers need replacing?
You will know when your ride seems bumpy even in the smoothest road or is not offering enough dampening that you once used to get from that specific shock absorber.
Should I go for oil shocks or gas shocks?
In most cases, the ones that only have oil in them might seem economical, but going for a gas shock absorber will offer you an overall upgrade as they have an extra nitrogen gas layer as a cushion.
Does the oil inside the chamber leak?
Without proper sealing, the oil might leak. To stay clear from issues such as this, avoid cheap alternatives, they tend to leak over time.
Why should I go for aftermarket replacements when I can just go for OEMs?
OEM replacements might be considered the best when you can not find good enough aftermarket replacements for your vehicle.
Besides, OEM parts are easier to install and requires less fiddling around.
But, most of the time, aftermarket shock absorbers offer extra functionalities that you will not be able to find in OEMs.
Final Words
To wrap it all up, we hope that this article has at least helped you a little in your search for one of the best jeep wrangler shocks. We would like to conclude it here by wishing you good luck and hoping that you can enjoy a smooth driving experience throughout any given terrain.