Those Who Swapped to Rubicon Shocks/Springs

[ShadowsPapa]

I have to agree after a year as well on the fox shocks comment. I'm thinking of going with Rancho 9000's in the near future. Loved those things on my JKU.

Glad to hear it's not "just me" or my imagination or I wasn't remembering things when I first put them on. They were almost no mile shocks when I installed them, maybe 1,000 or less miles.
Not that I'm glad to hear they go weak that fast or easily! But good to hear from a more experienced Jeep person it's not just me or these shocks.
Can't afford a grand or more for the very best - I just don't off-road here, there's no place unless I piss of some farmers or get kicked out of a park but want something better for our roads and any future POSSIBLE "adventures".

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[Garemlin]

I have to agree after a year as well on the fox shocks comment. I'm thinking of going with Rancho 9000's in the near future. Loved those things on my JKU.

Ugh I don't even want to think about switching out the shocks. So many choices that make it seem like a bunch of trial and error. Rancho, Bilstein, Eibach, different Fox.

 

[Garemlin]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the Willys and 80A just "editions" built on the Overland platform? Shouldn't most things be the same? I'm NOT trying to minimize those editions at all, I think they are cool, and I love that Jeep did it in a tip of the hat to their own history and beginnings, but.......... I'd not expect night and day differences in too many places.
I invite any education on my possible misconceptions of those two editions - as that's what my gut was telling me since I've not seen a ton of factual information out there on them.

I'm pretty sure the Willys is built on the Sport platform. Can't say for sure on the 80A.

 

[Garemlin]

I think he's referring to the strange spring numbering on the 2021 and later. It used to be the numbers were pretty much sequential - low last 3 digits meant lower rate or stiffness, higher numbers like 339 and 340 were the lighter Rubicon springs while the heavy Rubicon got 340 and 343 or similar. Today there's a mix of numbers that we've not figured out.
THAT's what he's referring to.

Not impressed with the Fox shocks a year later. Great at first, but they act like worn shocks now.

Exactly. We have been discussing this and chasing this mystery in multiple threads. LOL

 

[Jeeperjamie]

Glad to hear it's not "just me" or my imagination or I wasn't remembering things when I first put them on. They were almost no mile shocks when I installed them, maybe 1,000 or less miles.
Not that I'm glad to hear they go weak that fast or easily! But good to hear from a more experienced Jeep person it's not just me or these shocks.
Can't afford a grand or more for the very best - I just don't off-road here, there's no place unless I piss of some farmers or get kicked out of a park but want something better for our roads and any future POSSIBLE "adventures".

Ugh I don't even want to think about switching out the shocks. So many choices that make it seem like a bunch of trial and error. Rancho, Bilstein, Eibach, different Fox.

I personally like the Rancho 9000's because their adjustable shocks. You can make them firmer or softer depending on if your towing or just wanting a nice soft ride for that longer trip. I had no issues with them on my JKU and a buddy runs them on his JLUR. You can normally find a set for $500 or less, even cheaper if they are running a special which they normally do twice a year.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I'm pretty sure the Willys is built on the Sport platform. Can't say for sure on the 80A.

OK, that's not only possible, but likely the more I think of it. I never really kept track of those two editions but it makes sense.
So - do either or both have the 4.10 gear ratios? And/or the wider axles?
Good opportunity to learn...........

I personally like the Rancho 9000's because their adjustable shocks. You can make them firmer or softer depending on if your towing or just wanting a nice soft ride for that longer trip. I had no issues with them on my JKU and a buddy runs them on his JLUR. You can normally find a set for $500 or less, even cheaper if they are running a special which they normally do twice a year.

Ok, thanks - good information. Might be nice to do before I actually tow my loaded car hauler but have to see about coming up with the funds...... gotta buy a pure sine wave UPS setup for my wife's big quilting machine and computer controls. That's gonna take a bunch of bucks.

 

[Garemlin]

OK, that's not only possible, but likely the more I think of it. I never really kept track of those two editions but it makes sense.
So - do either or both have the 4.10 gear ratios? And/or the wider axles?
Good opportunity to learn...........

Negative on both. Looking at the 80A I'd venture to say it's based on the Overland. Leather interior and 18" wheels. The Willys has the red Wrangler JL Rubicon shocks, bigger breaks and limited slip diff on the mechanical side.

 

[JoseQ_80]

If you think about it all Gladiators, except maybe the Mohave because of the reinforced frame, are "based" on a Sport chassis.

My 80A is a built up Sport S, just short of an Overland. I'm ok with that.

For the 80th standard seats are cloth, leather is not an option.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Negative on both. Looking at the 80A I'd venture to say it's based on the Overland. Leather interior and 18" wheels. The Willys has the red Wrangler JL Rubicon shocks, bigger breaks and limited slip diff on the mechanical side.

Limited slip was an option from the beginning on the Overland, Don't think that it was an option on the Sport until 2020 sometime, maybe the 2021 model year but then I may be thinking more of the max tow version of the sport so even that could be wrong.

 

[InvertedLogic]

I have an inquiry to Fox to find out the baseline set-up. I have enough shock knowledge to be dangerous. ?

Good luck with that. They were very tight lipped about any OEM info when I asked them about how their IFP tuning differs from the Mopar Rubi tuning.

 

[InvertedLogic]

I have to agree after a year as well on the fox shocks comment. I'm thinking of going with Rancho 9000's in the near future. Loved those things on my JKU.

Do it and report back I've had those Rancho's on the mind for some time now. I'm wondering how big the range of adjustment actually is.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

Do it and report back I've had those Rancho's on the mind for some time now. I'm wondering how big the range of adjustment actually is.

You could tell a difference on the JKU I had with them installed. The stiffer setting really made it feel like a jeep and the softer setting was more like you are floating. They are definitely on my short list

 

[MPMB]

Good luck with that. They were very tight lipped about any OEM info when I asked them about how their IFP tuning differs from the Mopar Rubi tuning.

I figure I'd give it a shot.

At bare minimum I'd like to know what type of piston is in it. If I really wanted to know, I could pull my shocks off and drop them off at the local circle track shop that has a shock dyno.

I didn't ask what shim stacks are in it, which is usually the "proprietary" info. 8 washers and you got a "secret." lol. The pistons used to be the big deal.

OEM stuff doesn't really need to be secret... it's OEM. For a Jeep. And if someone wants to build a custom package, they charge for that. Competitors/thieves that want to get the contract will just buy a set of shocks and tear them apart and see if they can improve/duplicate it at a lower cost.

How many Jeep owners really care about the guts in the shocks?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

How many Jeep owners really care about the guts in the shocks?

me........

 

[InvertedLogic]

I figure I'd give it a shot.

At bare minimum I'd like to know what type of piston is in it. If I really wanted to know, I could pull my shocks off and drop them off at the local circle track shop that has a shock dyno.

I didn't ask what shim stacks are in it, which is usually the "proprietary" info. 8 washers and you got a "secret." lol. The pistons used to be the big deal.

OEM stuff doesn't really need to be secret... it's OEM. For a Jeep. And if someone wants to build a custom package, they charge for that. Competitors/thieves that want to get the contract will just buy a set of shocks and tear them apart and see if they can improve/duplicate it at a lower cost.

How many Jeep owners really care about the guts in the shocks?

Yeah I reached out originally hoping that the IFPs would be valved to provide better ride control or something. Here's what they had to say about it:

"Our valving is much different!" didn't give me the warm and fuzzies about purchasing the IPFs. I reached out to Accutune next to see what they had to say about the valving, and they contradicted the FOX rep. I get that they have an incentive to sell the expensive shocks, but also they seem like a company that shoots straight.

Those two data points push me toward the Ranchos since I seem to be particular about my ride, while also not wanting to drop $4k in shocks.

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