I have an '88 full-size Bronco and I am getting ready to replace the shocks. The old ones are pretty much gone and I am trying to figure the best shocks to put on, that are still decently priced. I called a local Off-Road shop and they recommended Skyjacker Nitro's. I will be doing mainly city driving but I love to off-road to, and I'm not sure if Nitro's are a good call for my rig. It isn't lifted and I have quad shocks in the front, and I was quoted at about $260 for the shocks, and than I'm gonna put 'em on myself. When riding in my rig you feel every little vibration and when you hit 70mph everything vibrates and it's an extremely uncomfortable ride. What are you recommendations on shocks, and how to increase the comfort?

 

Im not sure what to recommend, but my 77 F150 4x4 has the Skyjacker Nitros and I really liked them. Nice ride, and did well offroad.

 

Had your tires balanced lately? What does the vibe feel like......wobbles or small, fast vibrations?

 

Well when I first bought the rig, a couple months back I had the tires balanced, and they told me because my shocks where so bad that it causes uneven wear in the two front tires so I had them rotated, but I was thinking of getting it done again. It doesnt feel like wobbling, more like hard vibrations, just like you're going down a really bumpy road, and that only happens at 70mph+

 

Can you look out of the windows and see any of the tires wobbling? If so, then you need to have the tire shop spin the tire on the rim. Sometimes there are high spots on the tire and rim....these spots need to be 180* apart from one another.
If your tires are wearing funny, then your shocks need to be replaced also.

BTW, I have heard nothing but good stuff about those SJ Nitros.

 

i like my skyjacker nitros...but 260 is gettin robbed...they should go for 40 a piece...


edit...i missed the dual front shocks...thats not a terrible price

 

I picked them up today, I wish I knew you had to put them together. I pay $260 and have to build my own shocks. Jesus christ, how the hell do you get the rubber and little metal bars both into the outlets for the plugs?? What the hell do i need to use, vasiline, and a rubber mallet? They dont move!

 

you gotta lube it up

 

i just spit on the bushings and them work'em in with my palms. THEN put the insert in if you need to! i didn't put mine in cause they were mighty tight and they are doing great

-cutts-

 

So the inserts are the metal bars, I just wasnt sure what to call them. I thought you had to have them to hold the bolts in? My buddy pushed so hard with the palm of his hand, that he got blood blisters in the shape of the inserts. I was wondering if you had to lubricate the rings or not, cause they just won't go in dry. We tried using a rubber mallet to get the inserts in but those just wouldnt go in at all, they dont move. Also the wire that is on the shocks that has them compressed, is that only while its still in the box or do you need to wait to cut those off until they are mounted on? I've just never built a shock before so I don't know.

 

UPDATE: My buddies and I put on my new shocks, and god damn does it ride smooth now. There is such a massive difference. My previous shocks where totally blown, and had almost no recoil to them when i pushed down and watched them come up. I found paperwork from the guy i bought my rig from, and the shocks hadn't been replaced since 1992, and he bought the cheapest shocks possible, as the total only came to $80 for parts, and than $300 for labor, lol. It took like 6 hours to do, because we kept incountering problems, and as it turns out the inserts I fought to get into the bushings had to be pulled back out, as they wouldn't clear my bolts. But thanks again for the advice guys!

 

For next time, the best thing to use when installing shock bushings is liquid dish soap.