Rear Shocks

[07JeepXK]

I just realized that you mentioned getting the 12 inch travel shocks and wasnt paying attention when I posted. My shocks are the 10 inch travel with 255/70 valving. The 12 inch travel 5150's would be a better application for someone running a 4 inch lift with an extra spacer like phunkeydude had. I took the measurement of the oem shocks provided by adamag25 and the 10 inch travel shocks are perfect extended and collapsed length for the added two inch lift. This might be something you want to consider. I think the 12 inch travel shocks would be over kill. Here is a picture of the XK flexing with the sway bars disconnected. The shocks are almost fully extended and the coil is still snug in place. If the extended length was any longer the coils would fall out.

[Doc in AZ]

#1 a shock should NEVER be used to limit your suspension travel. you can buy limit straps that work in tandem with a shock to limit travel but otherwise you will blow seals on your shocks and sometimes you can pull the shaft out of the can.

#2 there are a couple different ways to keep the spring from popping out, you can use a spring retainer that mounts to the axle and holds the spring captive in the cup, and, on even longer travel suspension, you can run a longer bump stop.

something to keep in mind.... if you were driving a truggy in the baja 1000 at 90+ mph you need UP travel in your suspension... but offroad, when negotiating obstacles at low speed, you need DOWN travel. this is more commonly refered to as DROOP. do a google search for LCG builds... that's low center of gravity. these are basically stock height vehicles running 40" tires that rely solely on droop and are very capable rigs.

[Doc in AZ]

and one more thing...

fwiw, you don't really need any kind of high tech or high dollar shocks for street driving and low speed offroading. i refer again to my previous statement of low speed & droop vs. high speed & up travel.

for trail driving you need only to dampen the the vehicle coming down on the axle. i have tried several different shocks on my rig which is my daily driver and a purpose built rock rig, and i have to say the pro-comp shocks @ $35 each are just about the best i've had.

they flex well offroad and have great road manners. i don't have a front or rear sway bar on my rig and drive it at least 300 miles a week.

this is with a 2" coil spacer and stock springs



this is with a 4" coil spring and the same shocks



when shopping for shocks also keep in mind that the road manners and ride quality often associated with shock quality will also be dictated by tire inflation. just because the tire has a max psi doesn't mean you should run that pressure. that is only for a heavily laden vehicle. my jeep is just under 4k lbs. i run about 24psi in tires with a max psi of 40psi for a comfortable ride and correct wear pattern

[GPintheMitten]

Thanks for all the comments and advise guys. I'll have to think this over some. I don't really do much off-roading. I do a little mudding and will probably go to Silver Lake Sand Dunes in western Michigan sometime. The rest of my driving is just road driving and a little forest trails. I don't plan on putting on disconnects either.