Shocks?

Happy_Jack · Post by **Happy_Jack** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 4:55 am

What shocks are everyone running? There seems to be some good deals on the Pro Comp ES1000. Anyone run these?

plowboy · Post by **plowboy** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 5:24 am

I ran those on my last BII (1990). It was a DD. I don't know how they hold up off road, but on road the worked great.

Post by **Nobody** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:54 am

I have Rancho 9000's. They are a freaking joke. I highly doubt the pro comps are any better.

Of course it depends on what you want from your bronco. If you just want something cheap to keep you from bouncing around, then it really doesn't matter what you run. All those cheap shocks are about the same anyway. They will work well enough in most situations.

I'm going to run Bilstien 5125's next. I have a friend that gets an employee discount

Happy_Jack · Post by **Happy_Jack** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 7:15 am

Should have given a little more info. It will be a daily driver and see a bunch of trail driving. I'll drive it from KS to Colorado and Utah to wheel. I like my stuff and don't like to break. So I go slow and easy. The BII is an 88 that started out as a 2wd with an A4LD. It now has a C-5 built to c-4 V-8 specs, and T&M doubler, 1354, full width 31 spline 9" rear, 35 TTB front with 44 outers, Skyjacker 6" lift with the long radius arms and new rear spring packs. I cut the front buckets and installed the F-250 shock towers in the front for longer shocks. Should have 33-34 inch tall tires for out of state trips and may put on a set of 36's and see how they do. Axles have 4.11's and detroits front and back. Hope to get some use out of the 2.9 but a 4.0 would be nice if the 2.9 goes south. No sway bars.

Post by **Nobody** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:12 am

So you were previously running skyjacker shocks? hydro/nitro? What are you running right now? Or are you shopping for the longer shocks right now?

I can't really say that pro comp sucks since I haven't tried them. However, they are one of the cheapest aftermarket shocks out there, so that should tell you something. As mentioned above, they will work, and I don't seem them blowing out or anything.

I do think you'll get a better ride over a broader range of conditions with a quality shock like Bilsteins. http://www.bilstein.com/offroad.php#5125 . I've heard a lot of good reports about these shocks. I think it's one of those deals where you don't know how good it can be. I'm looking forward to trying them. My friend can get them for around $50ea. But even at full retail, I would still give them a shot.

Summit has them for $79.95ea. Buy a pair for the front and keep whatever you have in the rear.

EBSTEVE · Post by **EBSTEVE** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:14 am

well I have Rancho 9012's on the front of my Bronco and I had rancho 5012's on before and with the 5012's it bounced and with the 9012's turned up to 4 or 5 it's good. I am not saying that 9000's are the way to go but I would not waste the money on the 5000's.
Another option that people seem to be happy with is the BBCS http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/pro ... =64&page=1 but they are $99 ea and I have not used them

Happy_Jack · Post by **Happy_Jack** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:56 am

This is my project that has been two years in the works. As I said it came to me as a 2wd stock truck. It 's been setting in a garage waiting for parts to become available. Christmas was pretty good and I want to try to get it on the street by spring. I bought the Skyjacker lift a few parts at a time and have never had Shocks for it. Looks like the Pro Comp 12650's will work front and back.

I have run the the Rancho 5000's in the past and other trucks and they seemed a little harsh for the street. Ran Rancho 9000's on 2 mostly for the street. They did hold up off road and if there ever was a problem the waranty through a local 4x4 shop was good. But the cost is getting much higher on both of these than I remembered. 5000's are 4 for $184, and 9000's are 4 for $360.

The ES1000 deal is 4 for $100 or the ES3000 4 for $132. A friend always liked Heckethorn shocks but I couldn't find one the right lenth. I've measured the axles at full drop and get right at 26" front and back so the 26.8" Pro Comp max. lenth is just about perfect. Haven't welded the towers on the front yet or the brackets on the rear axle tube. So I have a little room for adjustment.

I haven't checked with Superlift or Skyjacker. I am running Superlift shocks on my full size and I do like them. But that truck is much heavier and the same shocks might be too much for the lighter little BII.

I'm having trouble finding specs on the Bilstein 5100 shocks. Guess I need to do some more checking to see if other have a Loop/Loop 26.75-27 inch extented shock.

Post by **Nobody** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:11 am

I'd run skyjacker nitros long before the pro comps. In fact I think pro comp would probably be my last choice. Nothing screams posuer louder than pro comp. Why do you think 4wheel parts pushes this brand so much? But 4 for $100 will get you down the road. Gotta do what you gotta do. Got pics?

Check this link for Bilstein 5125 shock lengths
http://www.bilstein.com/offroad_5125.php

Happy_Jack · Post by **Happy_Jack** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:27 am

Those might work. I could move the F-250 shock mounts up another inch in the front and weld the rear a inch or so lower and go with the 28" shocks. I was going to try to mount the rear shocks at the centerline of the rear axle but an inch or so shouldn't make much difference.

Man an extra 2-3 hundred dollars would go a long ways to get "Jr." on the road though.

My web site has some pic's but nothing up to date. I'm going to try to get more posted sometime. www.mappyjack.com

Post by **Nobody** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 7:45 pm

I think I'd recommend good shocks in the front at the very least, and whatever in the rear.

Also Why are you trying to stuff the same length shock in the rear? If you need that much shock, that's one thing, but I don't see it needing to be that long.

I tried to make my shocks so they were nearly even with the bottom of the axle tube. Also you want the mounting tabs to stick out a bit so the shock has some leverage to help with axle wrap.

Post by **Nobody** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:03 pm

Also, when figuring out what length shocks you want, don't go by ramp testing, hitting whoops or dropping off a ledge, etc will compress your shocks quite a bit more than just flexing it out.

Happy_Jack · Post by **Happy_Jack** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:39 pm

Happy_Jack wrote:I've measured the axles at full drop and get right at 26" front and back so the 26.8" Pro Comp max. lenth is just about perfect. Haven't welded the towers on the front yet or the brackets on the rear axle tube. So I have a little room for adjustment.

Thanks for the info on the tab location. So with the info I posted above am I wrong for selecting a shock lenth that is 1/2 to 1" longer than full drop?

NMB2 · Post by **NMB2** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 1:16 am

you want to fully compress your axle and then full extend...take measurements and get a shock with close to ur Articuation. also...it will be more forgiving with this because you have to fab front mounts anyways...depending what springs you use id suggest at 12.5 or a 14"..

i personally run 14 Nitro 8000's and my truck rides really nice....nicer than alot of new trucks at that. i only have about 2" of lift ...its a matter of how much ur springs will travel.

here it is....as you can see i need to lower my upper mount a little because i maxed it down but i still have about 3" up...sooooo yeah. just play around with ur mounts and get a shock to match ur coils is what i suggest.

and here is my old 4" TTB shock next to the nitro 8000

Post by **Nobody** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 7:37 am

Happy_Jack wrote: Thanks for the info on the tab location. So with the info I posted above am I wrong for selecting a shock lenth that is 1/2 to 1" longer than full drop?

Well, that depends on how far your springs will compress. It can get ugly if you start bottoming out your shocks. Often times you have to run a shorter shock(at cost of travel), or punch a hole up into the bed, or hang them down off the axle tube like the factory. The other option is to tilt them to the center of the truck, but that's stupid because shocks can't do their job effectively like that.

NMB2 · Post by **NMB2** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 7:04 pm

yep....my shocks were way to long in the back with the tabs how Nobodys are, i took out my gas tank, put in a fuel cell. and i made a shock hoop in my bed..they both come out backwards through the bed.