Deciding on Shocks

4x4illustrator said:

I'm looking for the most comfortable ones out there. I have a completely stock Liberty and I'm looking for the smoothest ride and dampening around corners. Highway driving mostly.....(tired of sliding passengers around on leather seats)
I've heard Bilsteins are the best but might be too firm a ride. Ranchero are good too and then I've heard Skyjacker Hydro are really smooth.....Any one care to share their wisdom with me?

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4x4illustrator said:

thanks M38 Bob, that information helps me a lot. I plan on doing this myself, although I'm surely not a mechanic I think I'm able to do this. If you have any helpful tips I'd appreciate it. Thanks again

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oldtomjeep said:

Please allow me to jump into this thread. I have the same need: a smoother ride in my Liberty. We never go off-roading; we like the Jeep because it is towable behind our motorhome.

Our springs do not seem to be sagging or leaning to the side, so I'm not sure what would indicate bad springs. It's an 05 with 145k miles, so maybe they were replaced in the past.

I have no history of the car before we got it last year, so I'm still a little in the dark.

Any further info would be greatly appreciated.

Tom

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tommudd said:

145,000 miles its due for a full spring/shock replacement
The springs are very weak brand new, railroad tracks/ pot holes etc on a stock suspensioned KJ are a nighmare. An upgraded suspension is better on and off road both, doesn't matter if you only drive down the interstate. I find it funny that people think that since they never go off road they don't need to worry about the suspension.
Ask anyone who has a aftermarket suspension and they will tell you how much better it rides and handles afterwards. We've done a bunch of KJ lifts and everyone said they wished they would not of waited.
So now I just bought another KJ with 80,000 miles one owner, its sagged over an inch. The 05 I picked up last fall, one owner again 78,000 miles, sagged an inch.
Measure from the middle of the wheel/hub in front to bottom of the flare . If it was made after April 12, 2002 it would of been 19 inches when brand new
My 04 suspension was replaced at 20,000 miles, 19,999 to late IMO
The 03 will get it next

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Emoto said:

I know I am bringing back an old thread, but what are people currently recomending, i.e., brand and model of shock/strut, for a stock Liberty?

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tommudd said:

Sadly there are not many options if stock , they are all same spring rate which does not give a good ride even new .
If you want near stock height I would do a full OME replacement using OME 925 front spring which are rated 40 lb more than stock and 947 rear springs , This would provide a much better ride and handling with only a slight increase in height.
If I were to do a stock height thats what I would do and just recently also suggested to a future customer

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Emoto said:

Thanks for the response! Sounds like you have some experience with these things. Trying to make sure I understand you - When you say better ride and handling, does that mean more compliant over road bumps, e.g., less high speed compression damping, and yet also less body roll when cornering?

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tjkj2002 said:

If you want less body roll your going to have to get coils that are no less then 400lbs rated(fronts),which means at least 2.5" of lift,and sadly the best shocks were discontinued years ago so I can't say what's good for a IFS KJ anymore.The ultimate reduction of body roll would be using the OME CRD front coils but you may want to get on the kidney donor list since you'll need them shortly with that ride.

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tjkj2002 said:

The ultimate reduction of body roll would be using the OME CRD front coils but you may want to get on the kidney donor list since you'll need them shortly with that ride.

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