5 Best Jeep Wrangler Shocks & Buyer's Guide (2020)

The RANCHO RS9000XL is the best shocks for your Jeep Wrangler. These are shock absorbers are twin-tube gas structure. They have a reinforced, double-chrome-plated stock, which provides great stability in any conditions, it is specially designed boot that greatly reduces damage.

The Rancho 9000s work well as you can custom tailor the damping of the shock with only knob adjustment. There is no need for tools or nitrogen needed to tune the shock absorber.

The 9000s are a hydro shock that does not have a nitrogen charge - Fox, King, Bilstein, etc. Many people discover the lack of a nitrogen charge means a softer ride with especially on-road driving.

Dave Morrisfrom LA, who drives Jeep Wrangler JK says:

Im really satisfied with the product. Had done a profound research before purchased these shocks for my car and the reviews were pretty controversial, though I decided to give it a go in the end. Installation took half an hour or so and I didn’t need any professional assistance or something, which is really good! They work really smoothly and worth their price.

For a wheeler, an adjustable nitrogen charged shock like fox and king may be good. The drawback is the cost for shocks is very high compared to shocks like the Rancho 9000s.

Brian Leefrom CA, who is owner of Jeep Wrangler JK, says:

These shocks have a lot of advantages, I can’t but agree with that. They improved my car’s performance greatly and everything worked as promised by the manufacturer. But the thing is that after 8 months of using them, they started to leak and I had to replace them. However, the price is too high for such a short period of performance as for me. If 25,000 miles of shocks durability sounds good for you, go ahead and buy them. They will do a good job. But I’d prefer to have a longer life for my shocks. So not my choice.

Features:

• More fluid capacity for cooler operation - Large, 2.75-in. (70mm) tri-tube body
• 9-Position adjustment knob for performance
• Minimal air-to-oil mixture - Gas pressurization of shock
• A rebound bumper that helps control the rebound motion during harsh driving conditions

Specs:

• brand: Rancho
• lift: 0”-3”, 3”-4”
• type of tube: twin

Bilstein 5100 is an extended heavy-duty monotube shock absorber that increases ground clearance while maintaining optimal contact with the surface. It is mounted with special kits to increase the clearance of your TJ. It has a large reserve of power with a long service life. Reliability does not change even with a trailer in off-road conditions. It provides excellent grip and directional stability in normal operation and in extreme situations with a large load. Here all the advantages of gas monotube technology are realized.

The 5100`s are American made in the USA using German damping technology and it’s one of the best shocks for a Jeep Wrangler.

These shocks will give you the smooth travels on various road types. With the adjustable cup, you can build your own pressure.

The gas pressure in the monotube construction eliminates foaming of the oil; therefore, its stable viscosity and a large area of the working piston provide accurate damping of the irregularities and high reliability under extreme loads.

Bilstein shock absorbers are an excellent choice for fast and sharp driving, but you will have to endure the shaking and hard work of the suspension.

Mike Allenfrom MA, who drives Jeep Wrangler TJ says:

Highly recommend Bilstein 5100. I’ve had them for 2 years so far and they still work perfectly. I can say that they entirely improved the ride of my car and leveled it in a great way! They handle the bumps and other obstacles perfectly with full control. Though, as you install them you need to remember that they will plunge in a while and the lift will fall slightly over time So don’t be surprised. Another thing you need to keep in mind is installation. I’d recommend to have it done, if it’s you first time and you don’t have proper equipment. All in all, the price is really good for the quality and performance of these shocks!

Key features:

• adjustable cup
• vulcanized bushings
• superior heat dissipation
• compatible with Jeep JK as well

Specs:

• brand: Bilstein
• lift: w/3.5-4"
• type of tube: mono

When it comes to performance suspensions, Fox Racing team have a resume that is more than qualified. When your JK goes fast off-road - Fox makes a shot for it. These 2.0 Performance Series shocks are a good balance between cost and quality. They will provide exceptional performance for off-road activities. What’s more they offer a great on street ride.

The advantage of the 2.0 performance series is its inclusion of an external reservoir. This external reservoir allows for increased oil and nitrogen capacity inside the shock. It also aids in reducing cavitation and heat when the shock is under extreme use. And by doing so, this eliminates shock fade when you're really letting the skinny pedal have it off-road. Fox also many factors the shaft of 5/8 inch hard chrome-plated heat treated alloy steel. It is designed to take quite a bit of abuse to get this to bend a break.

Rob Rogersfrom CA, who is owner of Jeep Wrangler 2014, says:

They are really great aside from some minor drawbacks. I’ve had them for over a year now and have been pleased with the performance so far. Use them for both on and off-road ride and can tell you that they work perfectly wherever I drive. They price is really good and reasonable for the quality they provide The only thing that gets me down is that you have problems with adjustability. What I mean is that to remove the coilover from the vehicle and put it in a spring compressor every time you want to adjust them. If that doesn’t bother you much, it’s a perfect choice!

The mixture of all these items come in a single product that has a reasonable cost. Don’t expect these at the most budget-friendly shops. It`s like an iPhone in the world of smartphones – it is more than just a brand. The brand stands for the quality and features that set it apart. That`s the reason why we think it`s the premium product and we believe it’s the best riding shocks for jeep wrangler.

Features:

• 2.0" Metal impacted 6061-T6 aluminum will resist rust over time
• Application specific valving to maximize performance
• Quiet nitrile rubber allows for increased suspension articulation
• Direct replacement for stock and aftermarket lifts kits

Specs:

• brand: Fox
• lift: 1”-3.5”, 4”-6”
• type of tube: mono with reservoir

Skyjacker hydro 7000 shocks ease hydraulic action to control way terrain interacts with the springs. A smoother ride on various road surfaces is achieved with this innovation. Additional features of this product include a twin tube construction, bonded iron piston, chromed piston rod with micro pores, red polyurethane bushings, and red shock boot. The product is backed with a good warranty. Changes in terrain are handled with ease with multistage velocity-sensitive valving. This allows stable, controlled level resistance to respond instantly to changes in terrain. Simply speaking this means better ride, you see a marked improvement in the handling of your Jeep. These shocks feature DOM tubing and a bonded iron piston that reduces internal wear and increases durability of shocks.

They are great shocks for all types of drivers and best shocks for Jeep Wrangler JK. They are very well made for the price. They are inexpensive and last plenty long enough to make them well worth the money spent.

We have added them to the budget section but with some warning. This is because opinions on them can vary. Nonetheless, the pricing makes them hard to pass up.

  Some buyers complain that after 5-10 thousand miles they start to leak and their JK model Jeeps starts jumping on the bumps.

Key features:

• hydro shocks
• twin-tube
• lifetime warranty

Specs:

• brand:Skyjacker
• lift: 1”-3,5”
• type of tube: twin

Distinctive features of the Nitrocharger Sport series are a significant improvement in the controllability that drivers feel. Drivers notice this most especially when driving at high speeds on various types of road surfaces. In most cases, for a particular car, several options are offered for the Nitrocharger Sport series of shock absorbers. You need to check which one has the best settings for your particular car by paying particular attention to the type of load you will be carrying.

A key feature is the piston oil valve that has increased throughput. A 35 mm oil valve coated with Teflon is designed to ensure an even flow of oil through the flow discs. The end result is greatly reduced heat generation that prevents the risk of oil aeration which can cause the shock absorber to fail.

Another feature is the triple oil seal valve that has many improvements including the ability to maintain performance at a higher temperature and internal pressure. This virtually eliminates the possibility of dirt entering through the piston rod during compression, which greatly prolongs the service life of the shock absorber.

We think that these shocks are very good in their class, but the price may disappoint you. That is why they are not out BEST pick, however, we believe they are best shocks for Jeep Wrangler TJ.

Key features:

• engineered for both on-road drivability and off-road touring
• low-pressure Nitrogen gas for optimum performance
• tough urethane bushes for extended life

Specs:

• brand: Old Man Emu
• lift: 1,5” - 3,5”
• type of tube: twin