So after 11 years and 85k miles I think the shocks on the Mrs.' Jeep are done. No lift, 30x9.50x15 BFG TA/KOs, and I get scary dive and twist under hard braking at freeway speeds. It also feels like something in the suspension is loose, like a tire is really low or something.

Does this sound like shocks that need replacing?

What should I replace them with? Stock? Specific brand? Type? I wouldn't mind spending a few extra $$ to get something better. We're not serious off-road, but we like to play in dirt and occasional mud. Lift (probably 2") is a year or two down the road.

Ideas?

Thanks!

sounds like dead shocks to me...

rancho makes so good shocks. they have some (relativle) inexpensive rancho5000 for about 40 a peice or you can get there adjustable shocks ranch9000 that you can really firm up for sand and mud play (the stiff shocks will be a crutch for low travel.... it will stop it from slaming the bump stops hard) for 80 a peice.... i run the 9000 they are nearly indestructable, and when you do destroy one the have a life time warantee(for both 5000 and 9000). bilsteins are also good and they have a liftime warantee too...

The adjustable R9000 you're talking about - is that the "9000X" or something like that? I saw a system for $83/shock + $155 for the control unit for a total of around $500.
Also listed were Rancho "RSX" for a lot of $$, but they didn't even offer them in stock YJ length?

Since I'm new to ORV (mostly muscle cars in the past) I don't really know what I'm looking for in a shock... it seems like I want stiff for the road but soft for off-road, no? What's the prevailing opinion on this? And how much does it vary by off-road surface (i.e. sand vs. mud vs. dirtroad vs. SMALL rock-crawl, like mild riverbeds)?

the shock stiffness is VERY dependant on spring quality and tension. basically. since jeeps arn't very high wheel travel off-roaders... you want a stiff shock for anything invovling high speed. the stiffness will cause the spring to move slower alowing the suspension to suck up a bit more of the bump before it bottoms out. the slow stuff you want a really loose shock so that the wheel will follow the trail to the best of its ability. if you had lots of travel...... the best would be a soft shock that is just enough to keep the suspension from topping or bottoming out in a given tarain. that is why i like my RS9000X's (you are right they are the RS9000X shocks) i can set them really firm when i go play in the sand, keeping me from bottoming hard and damageing things (but you know i just push it harder bottoming it anyways...) then when i hit the trails i put them all the way loose allowing the tire to move as quickly as it wants to follow the tarrain. a bad thing about stiff shocks is they tend to where out quicker since they absorb more force (rs9000x's have a lifetime warantee for that) some shocks have "velocity sensing valves" meaning that the faster you push them the stiffer they get. i know all the ranchos have that, and im pretty sure all the bilsteins have it....

in the end you will get what you pay for... you buy cheep monroes... you will damage the car playing in the sand and they will ware out very quickly. you buy 800$ triple bypass shocks you will probably never even scratch them in a stock truck and they will last forever....

Thanks for the tips! You confirmed what I suspected. I think I'm going to compare the Bilsteins and R5000's... maybe in a few years (and after the possible lift) we'll consider the 9000X setup, it sounds like it gets you the best of both worlds (slow crawl and fast play), just costs you a few $$ to get there (as the best toys usually do).