OK, once again: Opinions on budget shocks?

[Timpanogos Slim]

I'm sure this has been done before. I've searched a bunch for a lot of lower-dollar shocks.

The perennial favorite seems to be OEM at <$50/corner. But people don't say what they prefer about them other than that they are stock and cheap.

I am not spending $100/corner. I just am not. That puts Bilstein and OME out of the running.

I plan to use the truck mostly for casual mountain drives on old logging roads, say for camping a bit off the beaten path. I don't do any rock crawling and don't intend to lift my truck. I have a set of 'stock height' OME springs waiting to go on.

I see my rig as a weekend / hauler / camping / extreme weather vehicle. I don't feel the need for adjustable shocks and try like hell not to drive it like my GTI so i don't need a sport type hard riding shock.

KYB: Everyone seems to hate them. Gas-a-just too soft, Monomax too bouncy.

Rancho: I get the distinct impression that their low-dollar product is pretty much rebadged Monroe and cheezy.

Doetsch pre-runner aka 8000 series seem to get mixed reviews. I would like to hear more specifics about them. I understand the 3000 series are too soft, and the others are perhaps too harsh?

Sachs Super-Touring are about $60/corner from RockAuto. Never heard of them, but Sachs is a respectable manufacturer.

KYB Europe twin-tube Excel-G are about $70/corner from RockAuto and i never heard of them either. This is pushing the limits of what i am willing to pay.

Anybody i forgot?

 

[Trapper50cal]

Bilstein 4600 - Basically their version of an OEM replacement.

http://www.4wheelparts.com/Lift-Kit...c=1&t_s=90&t_pt=3306&Manufacturer_PQ=Bilstein

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

Bilstein 4600 - Basically their version of an OEM replacement.

http://www.4wheelparts.com/Lift-Kit...c=1&t_s=90&t_pt=3306&Manufacturer_PQ=Bilstein

$70/corner (Plus tax since 4wheelparts is a mile from my office, but less shipping i guess?)

What do you like about them as opposed to other shocks?

 

[Trapper50cal]

$70/corner (Plus tax since 4wheelparts is a mile from my office, but less shipping i guess?)

What do you like about them as opposed to other shocks?

Couldn't tell you...never had them. Just knew there was a lesser offering from Bilstein.

I just bought lightly used OME Nitrochargers from a friend for $50 a corner.

 

[greentruck]

Not sure there's much to say about the stock Tokicos, because they just work. Best matched OEM shock I've ever experienced. I had to swap to OME Nitro Sports upfront, but only because too much weight so the couldn't dampen properly. They were great up to the point when the new winch arrived.;p

The rears are still doing their duty.

Before I had the 80, I was a Rancho user for years (FJ55, TrooperII and Rodeo), but became steadily less happy about the product. Just didn't hold up as well as they used to.

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

Couldn't tell you...never had them. Just knew there was a lesser offering from Bilstein.

I just bought lightly used OME Nitrochargers from a friend for $50 a corner.

Those seem to come and go so quickly.

And some people feel that the nitrochargers are a bit on the sporty side.

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

Skyjacker. That's the other brand i wanted to lump in with Rancho. Them and ProComp.

 

[Jeppers]

I have ES9000's on my LX. I think they ride great and would compare them with the factory ride, which IMHO was great for the driving I do. On the odd occasion I take it on trails it really does a great job of not pounding the crap out of you on big bumps like my OMEs did on my last LC. Just my .02, but I would recommend them to anyone who likes a soft but controlled on road ride.

 

[Roc Doc]

Skyjacker. That's the other brand i wanted to lump in with Rancho. Them and ProComp.

Those are UWCS, Universal White Can Shocks, and you can throw Doetsch Tech, and a bunch of others in there. I feel the going in point for shocks is the Bilstein 5100's which you can get for about $75 each. I ran them on my mini-truck rock crawler, and have well over 100,000 miles on the set that is on my 7200lb F250. They ride great, they don't bounce and they're proven.

I've had Ranchos, DT's, ProComps, and they all suck in comparison.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

I did some research recently and found the KYB Monomax (made in Japan) are a good alternative to Old Man Emu. The ones for my Montero are essentially "beefier" than the specs on the OME. I'll be putting these on my FJ62 also.

Find the part number for your truck on KYB's website and the order from Amazon. They're about $50 per corner.

 

[86tuning]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that the dampers are one of the most important parts of the suspension. Any money you spend on dampers is well worth it. You definitely get what you pay for, and spending $1k or more is the norm for the cars that we set up, our trucks should be no different.

I'd rather save money on a winch or skip the fridge(!!) than scrimp on dampers.

For me, key priorities are tires, dampers, recovery gear, armour, etc, in that order.

All that said, what are you running for shocks right now, and what makes you unhappy about them, enough that you want new ones, but not want to spend very much?

 

[Roc Doc]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that the dampers are one of the most important parts of the suspension. Any money you spend on dampers is well worth it. You definitely get what you pay for, and spending $1k or more is the norm for the cars that we set up, our trucks should be no different.

I'd rather save money on a winch or skip the fridge(!!) than scrimp on dampers.

For me, key priorities are tires, dampers, recovery gear, armour, etc, in that order.

All that said, what are you running for shocks right now, and what makes you unhappy about them, enough that you want new ones, but not want to spend very much?

Agree. Shocks are important and you'll cuss yourself everytime you drive it if you get some you don't like. Really the difference between a UWCS and a 5100 is only a little over $100 the set. Skip Starbucks for a month and you can get whatever you want.

 

[racer122]

Personally I love the $20 per stock replacement shocks from Schucks. Been running them for more than a year, over WAY heavier 4WD trails than you describe, and they're working great. When I put them on they looked just like the cheap Ranchos (5000s?) I used to run. Whatever they are, with the heavier FJ the generics ride really nice imho.

But I push my rig really, really hard on the trails so that may just be me.

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

I'm running LX shocks all around and they seem to be working well

 

[HMalice]

I spent around $60 a piece w/ tax & shipping on the basic Bilsteins during one of Autozone's bigger sales last year, Advance Auto has also has some good coupon codes out pretty frequently.

 

[nukegoat]

Those are UWCS, Universal White Can Shocks, and you can throw Doetsch Tech, and a bunch of others in there. I feel the going in point for shocks is the Bilstein 5100's which you can get for about $75 each. I ran them on my mini-truck rock crawler, and have well over 100,000 miles on the set that is on my 7200lb F250. They ride great, they don't bounce and they're proven.

I've had Ranchos, DT's, ProComps, and they all suck in comparison.

I like the UWCS term. I'm stealing that.

5100s are inadequate for the 80, I think. I would imagine 7100s are where you might have enough shock for the fatty fat fat of our rigs

 

[jtwopark]

i believe the factory shocks are not that expensive...try hitting up cdan

 

[mattafact]

One more vote for the stock replacement Bilsteins. They are valved much heavier than the 5100s. I've had them with my the OME stock heights and the 850/860 setup and they were fantastic. The ride is firm without being harsh.

I too got them from autozone for about $60/corner last year. Best deal I could find.

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

i believe the factory shocks are not that expensive...try hitting up cdan

yeah they are cheap but aside from being cheap and having a sombrero on them and being adequate, nobody seems to have any relative comparison to make with them.

4700 series billies sound like a good deal but nobody says they have used them?

I was initially enamored with the idea of kyb monomax but i searched and people who have run them on 80's seem to say they are bouncy and harsh.

I realize that people often drop a grand on shocks, but i can't. Or won't. I love the $750/set Konis on my GTI but i paid $400 for them with about 3000 miles on them. And i put 400mi/wk on that car.

 

[mattafact]

yeah they are cheap but aside from being cheap and having a sombrero on them and being adequate, nobody seems to have any relative comparison to make with them.

4700 series billies sound like a good deal but nobody says they have used them?

I was initially enamored with the idea of kyb monomax but i searched and people who have run them on 80's seem to say they are bouncy and harsh.

I realize that people often drop a grand on shocks, but i can't. Or won't. I love the $750/set Konis on my GTI but i paid $400 for them with about 3000 miles on them. And i put 400mi/wk on that car.

The stock replacement Bils are the 4600s, I believe.