cometcyclonemk
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Seattle, WA
Disclaimer:
A question about shocks. Yup, one of those. But one I can't quite find an answer to via search.
My Jeep is much more mild than most in this part of
, but my use more closely resembles yours than elsewhere... So here I am!
Jeep:
1991, AX-15, 3ish " OME springs front and rear, Bilstein 5100s, Daystar poly bumpstops in the rear, 31" Duratracs on Ravines, WJ big bushing lower control arms.
Use:
I'm an autocross guy... The Jeep is mostly used as a means to get to places for adventure - backpacking, mountaineering etc. Turns out, spirited forest road driving is my jam. Jeep does some mild "crawling" but most driving is done at 20-50mph on rough-ish forest and logging roads.
Problem:
I've known I'm overworking the 5100s since tracing down a trailside clunk years ago and burning my hand on one... The question is - what to replace them with?
The rears for now at least seem up to the task - they don't get nearly as hot, and unlike the fronts which gave up on the last trip (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVSGVd5ZJY8) - they're still doing the job. The 4" daystar bumps help a lot!
Up front, I'm looking for a sub $200/ea rebuildable damper, with an external reservoir.
Seems like the Fox 2.0, Bilstein 7100, Doetsch 2.0 Monotube Rebuildable all mostly fit the bill, some a bit north, some a bit south of $200.
Any thoughts on which of these to go with?
Doetsch Tech:
I've read lots of bad about Doetsch Tech, but almost all seem to be about the "white" shocks that were packaged with various lift kits. My cousin had their 2.5s on a go fast ranger and raved about them.
Bilstein:
I've been mostly happy with my Bilsteins aside from being a bit soft, and now failing after about 30,000 miles.
Fox:
No experience with Fox except on mountain bikes, but they bring the $$ with the name.
Other go-fast suggestions?
Once that is settled, it seems prothane bumpstops in the coils are the way to go to slow things down before hitting the hard stop. Bar pin/post eliminators, or stock mounting sufficient?
One final question:
Am I going way overboard here? Does it make more sense to spend half as much on another set of 5100s? Perhaps not worth while so long as I'm still on OME springs? Or will a setup like this have me hooked and looking for more?
Thanks!
A question about shocks. Yup, one of those. But one I can't quite find an answer to via search.
My Jeep is much more mild than most in this part of

Jeep:
1991, AX-15, 3ish " OME springs front and rear, Bilstein 5100s, Daystar poly bumpstops in the rear, 31" Duratracs on Ravines, WJ big bushing lower control arms.
Use:
I'm an autocross guy... The Jeep is mostly used as a means to get to places for adventure - backpacking, mountaineering etc. Turns out, spirited forest road driving is my jam. Jeep does some mild "crawling" but most driving is done at 20-50mph on rough-ish forest and logging roads.
Problem:
I've known I'm overworking the 5100s since tracing down a trailside clunk years ago and burning my hand on one... The question is - what to replace them with?
The rears for now at least seem up to the task - they don't get nearly as hot, and unlike the fronts which gave up on the last trip (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVSGVd5ZJY8) - they're still doing the job. The 4" daystar bumps help a lot!
Up front, I'm looking for a sub $200/ea rebuildable damper, with an external reservoir.
Seems like the Fox 2.0, Bilstein 7100, Doetsch 2.0 Monotube Rebuildable all mostly fit the bill, some a bit north, some a bit south of $200.
Any thoughts on which of these to go with?
Doetsch Tech:
I've read lots of bad about Doetsch Tech, but almost all seem to be about the "white" shocks that were packaged with various lift kits. My cousin had their 2.5s on a go fast ranger and raved about them.
Bilstein:
I've been mostly happy with my Bilsteins aside from being a bit soft, and now failing after about 30,000 miles.
Fox:
No experience with Fox except on mountain bikes, but they bring the $$ with the name.
Other go-fast suggestions?
Once that is settled, it seems prothane bumpstops in the coils are the way to go to slow things down before hitting the hard stop. Bar pin/post eliminators, or stock mounting sufficient?
One final question:
Am I going way overboard here? Does it make more sense to spend half as much on another set of 5100s? Perhaps not worth while so long as I'm still on OME springs? Or will a setup like this have me hooked and looking for more?
Thanks!
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