Rocksport Black shocks - good replacement for stock Mojave Shocks?

[Ximoto]

Is there an adjustable shock (not custom) out there that is equal to the stock Fox shocks on a Mojave? I’ve been looking at Rocksport Black, Falcon SP2 3.3, Bilstein 8100, Fox Elite 2.5, and King(EVOspec) 2.5. It seems like the Rocksport Blacks are newer, hence less feedback.

After many, many hours of running searches for opinions (good & bad) on replacement shocks for my stock Mojave ones, Ihaven't been able to find a consensus of opinions on what shocks have a ability to be adjusted to ride similar to the stock Foxes.
I would be the last person to build a frankenlift. I would run in circles trying to understand all of the nuances between manufacturers and capabilities of each component.

My 2021 Gladiator Mojave is a work in progress. I try to wait until a part has died (or put on life support) before I upgrade. I am currently on 35in Kenda Klevers and have purchased the Metalcloak Gamechanger 2.5in lift. My plan is to use my stock Fox shocks and MC’s shock mounts, but with 45k miles I am trying to determine if I should go ahead and go with new shocks when I install the lift instead of buying the shock extension mounts only to have to change those out within the next year or 2.
My Mojave is my DD, and with my goal of at least 30nights of camping this year, it will see a lot of Forest Service roads (GA) but also quite a bit of technical trails like the DBBB, or Windrock & Beasly. The desert rating is why I went with Mojave over Rubi, as I find the suspension is ideal for my enjoyment.

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[camss69]

If you like the stock shocks why not just send them in to Fox for a rebuild service and run the Metal Cloak factory mounts? Seems you already have something you really like, why not keep it?

 

[thedeatons]

I'm in a similar boat with my wife's Mojave... She LOVES bombing trails with her Fox 2.5 bypass shocks, but the 40k mile rebuild interval of the Fox shocks is a bit annoying...

My understanding after much research is the internal bypass function of the stock 2.5 Fox shocks is what keeps that sweet spot so sweet...

My plan is to eventually upgrade her (when needed) to the highest level of adjustable Bilsteins we can afford because of their typical 100k service interval. They will likely be a bit stiffer, but sacrifices must be made...

*I installed Bilstein 5160 shocks on my Wrangler (46mm piston size, remote reservoirs, steel body, non-rebuildable) and the ride is very nice, but firm, as in you "feel" the road. Not harsh, but a greater sense of feeling, whereas the Mojave Fox's are like clouds... I could not currently justify the next level 8000 series or the bypass series...

 

[ericw.]

Not a perfect comparison but I have Falcon adjustable shocks on my Wrangler and Rocksport Black on my JTRD.

The falcon are softer across all settings. I like the soft setting and it really absorbs all the bumps on the road. Almost as soft as Grandpa's old caddie when on the road. I don't think that Wrangler could ride any softer without surfacing a lot of negatives.

The Rocksport Black feel more like a factory driving experience. They have a break-in period and at low speeds, it's a bit stiffer but at higher speeds everything smooths out REALLY well. It's very stable on the highway and feels great.

I haven't taken the Rocksport Black offroad yet.

 

[bleda2002]

What kind of driving do you do? Stock Mojave shocks are bypass shocks that shine at big bumps at high speed. If you are doing a lot of that kind of driving then you'll need bypass shocks. If that's not what you're doing then the question becomes what kind of ride do you like and what kind of use are you looking for.

Digressive valve shocks like falcons, rock sport blacks, bilsteins ride firmer than progressive shocks like King and falcons. Larger shocks bodies will also be stiffer than smaller (so like a fox 2.5 will be stiffer than a fox 2.0). The fox 2.5s are a great approximation of Mojave shocks for all but the fastest off road driving with the ability to soften them for slower crawling and stiffen them up for more spirited driving.

That said, the best driving shocks are going to be the ones tuned for your vehicle and application vs something off the shelf.

 

[Zachanadandy]

If you like the stock shocks why not just send them in to Fox for a rebuild service and run the Metal Cloak factory mounts? Seems you already have something you really like, why not keep it?

As much as I like the mojave shocks for bombing through the desert, the stroke is short at only ~8" up front. With the lift I could easily fit a 10-12" stroke shock. Once they are wore out they will get replaced for that reason alone. Likely go rocksport blacks unless I can talk the wife into ADS triple tube bypass shocks but you're looking at nearly $5k for all 4.

 

[ericw.]

What kind of driving do you do? Stock Mojave shocks are bypass shocks that shine at big bumps at high speed. If you are doing a lot of that kind of driving then you'll need bypass shocks. If that's not what you're doing then the question becomes what kind of ride do you like and what kind of use are you looking for.

Digressive valve shocks like falcons, rock sport blacks, bilsteins ride firmer than progressive shocks like King and falcons. Larger shocks bodies will also be stiffer than smaller (so like a fox 2.5 will be stiffer than a fox 2.0). The fox 2.5s are a great approximation of Mojave shocks for all but the fastest off road driving with the ability to soften them for slower crawling and stiffen them up for more spirited driving.

That said, the best driving shocks are going to be the ones tuned for your vehicle and application vs something off the shelf.

Well right now I've only had the JTRD for about 5 months and it's still in the build phase. All the driving so far has been on the road.

MetalCloak basically told me that, the Rocksport Black has a larger piston than Falcon so it will be a little bit stiffer, requiring more force to get that piston moving at slow speeds like rolling around the neighborhood streets. Their description matched my experience perfectly.

It's softened up a little bit over time and I like it but I don't have any experience off road or on rocks/washboards yet to know how it's going to handle. I'm waiting for warmer months.

 

[Ximoto]

I won't know how my jeep will drive until I install the Metalcloak 2.5 Gamechanger lift with the stock shock mounts. I hope that the ride both on and off road are similar, in which case rebuilding the stock Fox shocks will be the best option.

 

[Ximoto]

Most of my off-road driving is on FS roads in North GA with many trips to different sections of the Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway, so the ride of the stock mojave shocks is ideal for me. My concern is when I add the MC Gamechanger 2.5, will the stock Fox shocks limit the flex from the lift?

 

[bleda2002]

Most of my off-road driving is on FS roads in North GA with many trips to different sections of the Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway, so the ride of the stock mojave shocks is ideal for me. My concern is when I add the MC Gamechanger 2.5, will the stock Fox shocks limit the flex from the lift?

Yes they will limit the flex from the lift because they are short stroke shocks

 

[Stan H]

Most of my off-road driving is on FS roads in North GA with many trips to different sections of the Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway, so the ride of the stock mojave shocks is ideal for me. My concern is when I add the MC Gamechanger 2.5, will the stock Fox shocks limit the flex from the lift?

Yes you will need shock extensions of longer shocks . Which there isn't anything special about the mojave shocks . They are just reservoir shocks and one of the lower grade kind. They wear out like any other shock.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Yes you will need shock extensions of longer shocks . Which there isn't anything special about the mojave shocks . They are just reservoir shocks and one of the lower grade kind. They wear out like any other shock.

They are internal bypass shocks with 3 separate ride zones (only possible with bypasses). Any standard reservoir shock is a downgrade in the damping department. To get a set of bypasses (internal or external) from anyone you're looking at $1k minimum... per shock. Now if you don't go fast in the dirt, the bottom and top damping zones don't matter as you don't use them. For crawling you'd be better off with a longer travel shock even if it's a standard reservoir shock. For going fast the bottom zone with super stiff damping is critical to avoiding hard bottoming out.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

They are internal bypass shocks with 3 separate ride zones (only possible with bypasses). Any standard reservoir shock is a downgrade in the damping department. To get a set of bypasses (internal or external) from anyone you're looking at $1k minimum... per shock. Now if you don't go fast in the dirt, the bottom and top damping zones don't matter as you don't use them. For crawling you'd be better off with a longer travel shock even if it's a standard reservoir shock. For going fast the bottom zone with super stiff damping is critical to avoiding hard bottoming out.

So for crawling a long travel shock with an adjustable reservoir and a 2.5-3” shock body? That’s pretty much what I’m looking for. With the adjustable you can still do “spirited” driving when you get the itch though right?

 

[Zachanadandy]

So for crawling a long travel shock with an adjustable reservoir and a 2.5-3” shock body? That’s pretty much what I’m looking for. With the adjustable you can still do “spirited” driving when you get the itch though right?

Definitely any quality 2.5"+ reservoir shock is capable at speed. In my experience a bypass shock is overkill for most. Aside from a computer controlled live valve shock, a bypass is the only way to have the soft setting at ride height so it rides well over smaller bumps and road imperfections AND the firm setting for the big bumps and jumps at the same time.

 

[Stan H]

Definitely any quality 2.5"+ reservoir shock is capable at speed. In my experience a bypass shock is overkill for most. Aside from a computer controlled live valve shock, a bypass is the only way to have the soft setting at ride height so it rides well over smaller bumps and road imperfections AND the firm setting for the big bumps and jumps at the same time.

Think you knew I was comparing apples to apples , still dont think the factory shocks are very good or else everyine would be buying longer versions of the same exact shock.
Was gonna say more but don't feel like getting into it with you. Good day.

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