Looking to upgrade my shocks and am looking for the best ON ROAD performance. I am considering Rubicon Express monotubes vs Old Man Emu. I won't be dropping my front end off of any rocks, but it does see some off road driving. I have a 2" BB.

Opinions please.

 

Any input from the left coast now that you are up?

 

OME only makes 1 shock for the JK. I have them, and they are quite soft, yet controlled. I feel the ride is better than stock.

 

I have 08' Wrangler X with a 3.5" RE lift, 35" BFG AT, using Bilstines- exceptional on road ride, better than my womans Suburban

 

flippersjeep, where did you get the Bilstines from? Do you know which model shock?

nukeman - Northridge offers two choices of stiffness?

 

That would be a website error. I spoke with David at Northridge about this issue when I ordered and yes, there are 2 valvings for the TJ's, but only 1 for the JK's. Makes the choice easier!

And I firmly believe that there is a difference between a $40 "white shock" and a $90+ quality shock.

 

I have the "Rubicon Express" shocks. Got them directly after they were released last year. They are Bilstein made and factory tuned for the RE superflex. The monotube design will last longer than a standard cartridge shock, stands up to the heat better.

 

The key to articulation for the JK is length of the shock when compressed and extended, it really needs t go from about 15" to about 27" to take advantage of the other OEM parts and get full travel....and the only other think needed is to make slack for the e-brake, brake lines and brake wires, and of course disco the front, and get longer rear links.

You could theoretically run the above alone, with no lift at all, and ramp over 1,000 RTI.

Bilsteins' 5100's ride great, have state of the art digressive valving and a lifetime warrenty....but I'm not sure if they come in the range of travel needed or not. The 7100's do, can't tell on the 5100's though.

If not really looking for good articulation, but want good road performance, the 5100's with 15" compressed/24" extended would work great.

For valving, you are looking for something in the 150-180 compression/65/80 rebound range depending upon firm vs soft ride preferences, if there's new coils with higher/lower spring rates, etc.

Hope that helps.

 

Thanks TEEJ!

Exactly the kind of info I was looking for. The 5100s sound like a good choice for what I am looking for.

I think it is comming down to those or OMEs.

 

Jim,
They came with the RE kit, but I told the shop to ensure they were the SS Bilstines, not the RE version. I had read on this forum that for a period, RE actually used re-packaged Bilsteins and some other version- wanted the best ride, told them Bilstines or nothing. Hope that helps, cant look up the part number until I get my JK back, it is at a friends getting the cool tech exhaust mod

R/ Flip