Shocks or struts?

Fishin' Dave · **Joined:** Sat Aug 12, 2006 3:19 pm **Posts:** 18

A guy told me my '05 Liberty has struts? Does it have struts in the front only or all 4 corners, or is the guy full of it?

What ever it has, is there after market shoclks/struts that will firm up the stock ride?

kolesy · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:03 am

Shocks for the rear, Struts for the front.

As for a firmer ride you would need some new coils at all four corners

Fishin' Dave · **Joined:** Sat Aug 12, 2006 3:19 pm **Posts:** 18

Is there at least some nice after market replacement shocks and struts out there? If so, what brand do you recomend?

kolesy · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:55 am

I have the rustys 2.5" lift kit on mine. They are his own springs and rear shocks, the front struts are OME. The front struts are nice but his rear shocks are a bit soft fo rme. Everyone here really likes the Rancho RSX shocks and struts and I may get a set of the shocks for the rear when I get back. ANy body else here have some input for Dave that has aother setup than what i am running.

gone_jeepin · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:31 am

alot of people like the OME HD.... just another option

spoonplugger1 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 10:57 am

All J is having OME make them some custom rear shocks. I've been waiting for them to buy my Frankenlift.

EOD-KJ · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 10:58 am

kolesy wrote:

I have the rustys 2.5" lift kit on mine. They are his own springs and rear shocks, the front struts are OME. The front struts are nice but his rear shocks are a bit soft fo rme. Everyone here really likes the Rancho RSX shocks and struts and I may get a set of the shocks for the rear when I get back. ANy body else here have some input for Dave that has aother setup than what i am running.

only problem with rancho rsx are they are designed for full size trucks in mind, so a little bit different dynamics and rates than for our libbys.... OME and Doetsch Tech are specifically designed for SUVs, and even specifically for the jeep liberty

i would go with OME HD struts in the front and Doetsch Tech DT8000 shocks in the rear

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 2:00 pm

The two major brands around here that I know of are OME and Rancho. I have OME and love the ride. Its alittle stiff, but gives on big bumps. Perfect I think. :wink:

Also, the fronts are shocks. Big difference between a shock that we have and a strut. A strut actually turns when you turn the wheel. We could call it a coil over if we like?

DoverKJ · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 2:05 pm

They are struts in the front and shocks in the rear like most cars out on the street these days.

streetKJ · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 2:58 pm

With these hardcore rock climber guys I'll probably get flamed for saying this, but....

I'm saving up for Koni Yellow 3-way adjustable shocks and Eibach lowering :shock:

springs

EOD-KJ · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 3:01 pm

to each their own....i just dont see this jeep as much of a racer.....thats what i have my rx-7 for :p

unixxx · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 3:37 pm

If you wanted to talk semantics I don't think we really have struts in the front but rather, as Jeepjeepster said, coilovers. According to Wikipedia struts are used in MacPherson strut assemblies where the strut gives lateral stability and replaces the upper control arm.

From Wikipedia:

Quote:

An automotive suspension strut combines the primary function of a shock absorber (as a damper), with the ability to support sideways loads not along its axis of compression, somewhat similar to a sliding pillar suspension, thus eliminating the need for an upper suspension arm. This means that a strut must have a more rugged design, with mounting points near its middle for attachment of such loads.

EOD-KJ · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 3:42 pm

you are right on all points but "we odnt have struts"

our cars use an IFS setup like everyone knows, full name being :

Independent MacPherson Front Strut Suspension

we have front macpherson strut assembelies and we have struts in the front

a coilover is all that it sounds like, a coil (spring) over (a strut), it just has a separate name because there are other types of setups like the rear of our jeep, that has the coil separated from the shocks

but to clarify once again, STRUTS FRONT, SHOCKS REAR...if you debate look at your jeep specification sheet

unixxx · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 4:31 pm

I don't think we have MacPherson strut assemblies, as we have upper control arms. We have a short long arm (double wishbone) setup. (At least according to everything I've read; I've been wrong before

) Unless we have a hybrid of strut/wishbone....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macpherson_strut

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wishbone_suspension

EOD-KJ · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 4:49 pm

youre right, i was getting wishbone and macpherson mixed up

either way, we have front struts

kolesy · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 5:33 pm

EOD-KJ wrote:

kolesy wrote:

I have the rustys 2.5" lift kit on mine. They are his own springs and rear shocks, the front struts are OME. The front struts are nice but his rear shocks are a bit soft fo rme. Everyone here really likes the Rancho RSX shocks and struts and I may get a set of the shocks for the rear when I get back. ANy body else here have some input for Dave that has aother setup than what i am running.

only problem with rancho rsx are they are designed for full size trucks in mind, so a little bit different dynamics and rates than for our libbys.... OME and Doetsch Tech are specifically designed for SUVs, and even specifically for the jeep liberty

i would go with OME HD struts in the front and Doetsch Tech DT8000 shocks in the rear

Which the ranchos in turn will give the stiffer ride he is asking for. :wink:

EOD-KJ · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 5:37 pm

all the aftermarket shocks will stiffen it up

i just think the rancho dont ride well for the liberty, too stiff, not meant for the lightweight body

oh well

streetKJ · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 6:18 pm

EOD-KJ wrote:

to each their own....i just dont see this jeep as much of a racer.....thats what i have my rx-7 for :p

I wish I had an RX-7...

FC or FD? turbo?

kickit_in4wheel · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 6:19 pm

I have OME springs in the back with Rancho shocks. I almost which the ranchos were stiffer. I glide right over speed bumps, and I keep my tire PSI pretty high on the street. The ranchos we use for lifted liberties are designed for the older Dodge durangos, which are not much heavier. I can't say much about the front though, because I went with heavy duty springs and a spacer, so my front is very stiff. But rancho shocks ride very smooth in the rear.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 6:54 pm

I have ome up front and out back. Omes' shocks are much softer than the stock shocks. I like it the way it is now.

Shocks or struts?

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