by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor
Look around at any Jeep sitting in a parking lot, or one waiting at the traffic light with you, and you’ll no doubt see it carries some kind of modification that has enhanced the thing.
It could be something as protective as seat covers, or new bumper and side bars. Or perhaps larger tires and a lift kit.
But no matter what is added to the vehicle, nothing will enhance ride quality like well-designed shocks.
Jeep enthusiasts know that shocks are one of the most important components in ensuring a smooth and capable ride, whether crawling over rocky trails or cruising on the highway. But with so many options and technical terms out there, it can be tricky to understand what your Jeep truly needs.
So we’ve put together some handy information to help make Jeep shocks, their function and model type, a lot easier to understand.
What Are Shocks, and Why Do They Matter for Jeeps?
Shocks, or shock absorbers, are key components of your Jeep’s suspension system. Their primary role is to control the movement of your Jeep’s springs, ensuring a smooth ride by damping vibrations, jolts, and bumps.
For Jeep owners, shocks are particularly crucial because off-roading demands a suspension system that can handle uneven terrain, absorb impacts and keep the tires firmly planted on the ground. High-quality shocks enhance both comfort and vehicle performance, allowing navigation of rough trails with ease while maintaining stability and control.
How Do You Know If Your Jeep’s Shocks Need Replacing?
While your Jeep’s shocks absorb the best blows a road or trail can muster, they are wear-and-tear items, meaning they degrade over time and eventually need replacing.
So, how can you tell when those shocks are nearing the end?
Well, the first thing to watch for is excessive bouncing after overcoming a bump or obstacle. If your Jeep jolts like an unbroken colt after hitting that obstruction, your shocks may have lost their damping ability.
Next is uneven tire wear. As your Jeep’s shocks grow longer in the tooth, they can cause uneven tire wear, as they fail to keep the tires in consistent contact with the road.
Another tell is leaking fluid. Visible oil or fluid oozing from your shocks is a clear sign they need to be replaced.
Finally, poor off-road performance. If your vehicle seems to have reduced stability or control on trails, your shocks may not be absorbing impacts as effectively as they should.
Routine inspections and staying alert to these signs will help you maintain a safe and enjoyable ride.
What Are the Different Types of Jeep Shocks?
Not all shocks are created equal. And the best solution for your friends may not be the best for you. So, choosing the right shocks really depends on how you drive your Jeep. Here’s a breakdown of the most common shock types:
Twin-Tube Shocks. These utilize a two-tube design with an inner tube that houses the piston and hydraulic fluid to absorb shock, and an outer tube that acts as a reservoir for any hydraulic fluid displaced during shock compression.
These shocks are usually the most affordable, offering good ride comfort for everyday driving and light off-roading. However, their limited heat dissipation makes them unreliable for heavier off-road use.
Monotube Shocks. This shock type features superior heat dissipation, ensuring constant performance during extended or aggressive driving sessions. It uses a single tube with two chambers, one filled with hydraulic fluid that absorbs and dampens shock, and a second filled with high-pressure nitrogen gas to ensure consistent damping performance. Both chambers are separated by a floating piston.
Monotube shocks are usually designed with robust components and are more responsive than twin-tube versions. However, they can be overkill for those who simply use the vehicle for daily driving.
Reservoir Shocks. Perfect for those who do more extreme off-roading and need something to help mitigate severe, bumpy obstacles over longer periods of time. These shocks are similar to monotube versions, but feature an external reservoir that stores excess hydraulic fluid and high-pressure nitrogen gas — improving cooling and performance.
During compression, hydraulic fluid moves into that external reservoir, which creates more space in the shock body and helps prevent shock fade and heat buildup. This separation also allows for greater suspension travel and the additional surface area helps cooling during extended off-road use.
Like monotube shocks, though, their cost can be higher and may not be worth the investment for daily driving or light off-roading.
Adjustable Shocks. These tend to be an excellent choice for those who encounter all kinds of driving conditions, as the shocks can be fine-tuned for on-road comfort, as well as off-road performance.
Adjustable shocks utilize a mechanism that controls the flow of hydraulic fluid through internal valves, helping change the dampening force and controlling how quickly the shock compresses and rebounds.
Some offer a manual adjustment knob on the actual shock, while others have an electronic adjustment switch that can be placed inside the vehicle.
While the cost of these shocks is on the higher side, their adjustability is ideal for drivers who have a mix of on-road and off-road activities.
How Do You Choose the Right Shocks for Your Lifted Jeep?
If you’ve added a lift kit to your Jeep that adds around two inches or more of additional clearance, selecting the correct shocks becomes even more critical. Now, some suspension kits include shocks specifically tuned for a lift size. However, many do not, and your stock shocks often will not play nice with a larger lift kit.
A lifted Jeep requires shocks with longer travel to accommodate the increased suspension movement. So, when investigating your preferred brand, ensure those shocks are engineered to fit your specific lift size.
Additionally, consider shocks with performance features perfect for your driving needs. As we said earlier, there are certain benefits of monotube or reservoir designs, or even reservoir and adjustable versions, depending on how the Jeep is normally used.
What Are the Top Shock Brands for Jeep Owners?
There are quite a few brands that create high-quality, durable shocks for various driving styles. Besides using Google to research the features and benefits of each manufacturer, look around to local Jeep clubs and see what members use, or catch up with fellow Jeep owners in a supermarket or mall parking lot and chat. Opinions can vary greatly from person to person, so try and narrow it down to someone’s advice who has your same kind of driving philosophy.
Additionally, most major brands offer shocks all across the driving spectrum, so just because someone may recommend a shock style that may not fit your needs (or budget), that manufacturer probably offers something else that could be of interest.
Some of our top sellers over the years include:
Bilstein: This brand has been around for more than 60 years, and its shocks are well known for their heavy-duty construction and high-quality materials. Bilstein shocks perform well on- and off-road thanks to advanced damping technology and a larger surface area, ensuring efficient cooling.
Their digressive valving technology adapts to changing conditions, providing firm damping when needed and soft cushioning during lighter impacts.
Bilstein's 5100 series shock is a top performer and an excellent choice for the daily driver or light off-roader, but the brand also offers a 5160 Series remote reservoir shock that is a better solution for off-road enthusiasts looking for added control on uneven surfaces.
Fox: Across the entire motorsports industry, not just Jeep, Fox is a highly sought-after shock for its superior damping ability and heat resistance. With many versions utilizing a monotube design, they deliver premium functionality for performance-minded owners, as well as serious off-roaders.
Many Fox Performance shocks are engineered for extreme off-road conditions, offering the stability and damping control needed to conquer challenging terrains. Designed with advanced technology, these shocks absorb impacts effortlessly, providing a smooth and controlled ride over uneven surfaces. Their ability to maintain consistent performance in harsh conditions has made them a favorite for off-road enthusiasts who demand precision and reliability.
Perhaps Fox’s most popular design in the Performance Series shock, which provides excellent on-road functionality. However, Reservoir and Compression Adjustable shocks have also surged in demand over the past few years and offer exceptional control and damping for off-road users.
Quadratec: With a twin tube design and offerings for daily drivers up to extreme off-roaders, Quadratec’s Maximum Duty shocks can fit the needs of just about any Jeep enthusiast.
Its Hydro version features a softer, reliable damping that is perfect for any daily driver or someone who does light off-roading and still wants a factory-type ride. Conversely, the Nitro shock has a firmer profile and a pressurized nitrogen element that is tuned for anyone who requires increased stability and control in more demanding road or trail conditions.
Rancho: Long known for high-quality, affordable shocks, Rancho delivers multiple options for just about all Jeep enthusiasts—from simple, monotube designs to adjustable versions with multiple damping levels.
Designed with Jeep enthusiasts in mind, Rancho shocks provide a versatile, long-lasting solution for improving both on-road ride quality and off-road performance. The brand uses corrosive-resistant coatings and progressive engagement valving to ensure that durability.
Among its lineup, the RS5000X is perhaps the most popular design and it is ideal for daily drivers by providing a smooth ride and improved off-road vehicle control. For those heavier into off-road activities, the RS9000XL offers adjustability and a larger shock body for faster heat dissipation.
Skyjacker: Like Rancho, Skyjacker is also highly regarded for its balance between performance and affordability. The company offers a wide variety of shocks featuring a twin-tube or monotube design, with many offering advanced seals to prevent leakage and enhance durability.
Most shocks in the Skyjacker stable have different length options for those with lifted Jeeps, and popular versions are the Hydro 7000 for daily drivers, or Nitro 8000 which is the better choice for off-road use.
Rough Country: This brand is another highly recognized name and a top performer because of its affordable shocks and the ability for drivers to customize to their performance needs.
Rough Country shocks are available for stock and lifted vehicles, making them a top option for drivers who have upgraded their suspension systems. These shocks are also designed to accommodate various lift heights and suspension setups, ensuring compatibility and seamless performance. They all feature corrosion-resistant finishes and robust seals engineered to withstand the toughest environments.
Popular versions include the N3 series twin-tube design for smooth on-road reliability, and V2 Monotube shocks ideal for demanding off-road conditions.
Teraflex: One of the most popular shock brands around these days, thanks to its Falcon series shocks that have swept over the off-road community the past few years.
Teraflex shocks excel in off-road environments because of their superior damping control and stability. They are built to absorb hard impacts from obstacles, allowing drivers to maintain control under stressful situations.
However, because most of these shocks are adjustable, they are also an upgrade over factory versions and a solid choice for the daily driver looking for a smooth ride. Some offer a monotube design for outstanding heat dissipation and excellent damping during everyday use.
Daily drivers who do some light off-roading will prefer the Falcon 2.1 series, while those heavier into off-road use will find the 3.3 Adjustable Piggyback shocks or SP2 series to be excellent options.
How Do You Install New Shocks on Your Jeep?
Replacing your Jeep’s shocks is a relatively straightforward process, especially for those comfortable with basic tools. However, a professional mechanic can handle the installation if you’re not confident in your skills.
The first step is to lift the Jeep and secure it with jack stands to access the shocks while the wheels are off the ground. Then, remove the old shocks by unscrewing the bolts securing the shocks to the suspension and axle. For those with older vehicles, a good soaking with penetrating oil can help loosen any rusted bolts.
Next, install the new shocks. Make sure to align them with the mounting points, then tighten each bolt to the manufacturer’s specifications (usually found in the owner’s manual), and double-check each bolt for secure installation.
Finally, drop the Jeep back down and then give the new shocks a road test to ensure they perform as expected.
Shocks are essential to your Jeep’s performance and comfort, especially for off-road enthusiasts. By understanding the basics, recognizing when replacements are needed, and selecting the right type for your driving needs, you can ensure your Jeep is ready for whatever the trail—or road—throws your way. Whether you’re upgrading for performance or replacing worn-out parts, investing in quality shocks is one of the best ways to enhance your Jeep’s capabilities and ride quality.
