RRD Racing Shocks

129 1012 Rrd Racing Shocks Rrd Emulsion Shocks

How Did They Work?
In a word, awesome. We ordered our shocks with slightly stiffer valving than stock because our test rig had lots of heavy steel aftermarket accessories installed on it. We figured that the stiffer valving would help eliminate body roll and increase high-speed stability. We evaluated our new RRD shocks in virtually every environment imaginable. In slow rockcrawling scenarios the shocks performed flawlessly, returning smooth damping on the compression side. While our donor Jeep was no Trophy Truck, we did manage to traverse some high-speed whoops sections during our desert testing. We found compression to be predictable and acceptable during high-velocity impacts, but we found that rebound needed a slightly lighter valve setting to increase downstroke velocity or droop-out speed. The cool thing about these shocks is the fact that the end user can actually take them apart using standard hand tools. This allows the customer the ability to fine-tune each valve profile to his or her liking.

During our testing, we racked up nearly 2,800 miles, combining a good mix of on- and off-pavement excursions. On the road, we noticed a lot less body roll as the vehicle entered into a corner at speed. We took our evaluation units off and returned them to Rock Krawler for a slight change in length to accommodate another inch of uptravel. The guys at Rock Krawler took each unit apart and inspected all of the sealing surfaces for wear. They didn't find anything unusual about our test units, so they shortened the bodies as we requested, lightened the rebound valving a bit, and reassembled and packaged them for shipping. Within a few weeks, we had the shocks installed on our donor rig in time for the next trail ride.

129 1012 Rrd Racing Shocks Bar Pin Eliminators

Ditch the Bar Pins
For this story, we used JKS Bar Pin Eliminators on the rear upper shock mounts to prevent distortion of the shock absorber bushings. These little add-ons make a big difference in terms of bushing longevity-especially where flexible suspensions and added vehicle weight combine to stress bushing materials. In addition, they help the bushings maintain their intended shape when lateral forces try to twist the bushing from the shock eye. They have also been known to prevent annoying noises that sometimes occur with standard OEM bar pins. Bar Pin Eliminators utilize a system of blocks and pins machined from premium-grade, zinc-plated steel. When installed, the blocks actually squeeze the bushing to create the recommended amount of preload specified by bushing manufacturers, thus providing the ideal environment for proper bushing operation. Info: JKS Manufacturing, 308/762-6949, www.jksmfg.com

The RRD 2.0 shock shafts are made from 3/4-inch Nitrotec steel. The seal heads feature a combination of Buna N (standard nitrile) and Viton (fluoroelastimer) O-rings for long-lasting durability. A Buna N double-lip wiper is also utilized to wipe away would-be contaminants from the shock shaft. A polyurethane bumpstop pad is integrated into the bottom of the shock cap (arrow). The design adds cushion for harsh bottoming-out events while also acting as a pre-wiper on the shock shaft-further preserving the sealing surfaces. A high quality DU (dry) bearing is incorporated into the design of the seal head. This robust bearing helps prevent shaft deflection and, ultimately, seal failure.
The RRD 2.0 shock shafts are made from 3/4-inch Nitrotec steel. The seal heads feature a
The ends of the RRD shocks are made from billet 6061 aluminum material and come with a gloss black anodized finish. The units we ordered for our TJ featured polyurethane isolation bushings.
The ends of the RRD shocks are made from billet 6061 aluminum material and come with a glo
The RRD 2.0 shocks are offered in stem-top/loop or loop/loop mounting configurations. This photo shows the stem-top mounts designed to work with the factory front TJ coil buckets. Notice the location of the valve stem for pressurizing the shocks with nitrogen. Rock Krawler recommends 150 psi for these shocks.
The RRD 2.0 shocks are offered in stem-top/loop or loop/loop mounting configurations. Thi

This photo shows the internals of the 2 5/8-inch version of the RRD shock setup as a coilover. Notice how the upper portion of the shock body has threads cut into the exterior fluting; this allows for installation of a threaded spring seat or adjuster as well as a stop ring for dual spring-rate arrangements. The 25/8-inch RRD shocks come standard with 1-inch shock shafts made from Nitrotec steel material. What is neat about these larger shock shafts is the fact that they are hollow, allowing for additional oil volume inside the shafts. This effectively increases the shock's cooling surface area to that of a standard 3-inch-diameter shock body. Additionally, this setup allows the shock to hold the same volume as a remote-reservoir shock without the packaging limitations of a remote reservoir-a good thing for late-model pickups that typically have less space for such products. All RRD racing shocks feature genuine Amsoil Shock Therapy hydraulic fluid.
This photo shows the internals of the 2 5/8-inch version of the RRD shock setup as a coilo
This photo shows the extruded aluminum bodies of the 2.0- and 25/8-inch RRD shocks. These parts have not been threaded for coilover applications.
This photo shows the extruded aluminum bodies of the 2.0- and 25/8-inch RRD shocks. These
In this photo, you can see a pair of 2 5/8-inch RRD racking shocks Rock Krawler used for durability testing on the East Coast. The body in the foreground has been wiped clean with a damp rag. The unit in the background was not cleaned to show how well the aluminum bodies hold up to a season of salt, sand and other road debris.
In this photo, you can see a pair of 2 5/8-inch RRD racking shocks Rock Krawler used for d

This photo shows how the technicians at Rock Krawler cut threads into the extruded aluminum shock bodies.
This photo shows how the technicians at Rock Krawler cut threads into the extruded aluminu
Here, Rock Krawler's founder Jeremy Purick shows how his new shock line was developed using the latest in 3D modeling software. Jeremy told us, "In today's modern manufacturing arena, computer-aided design is the only way to develop a new product effectively. Every part of the RRD shock line was designed in Pro Engineer."
Here, Rock Krawler's founder Jeremy Purick shows how his new shock line was developed usin
This photo shows the inside of the RRD 25/8-inch shock. Notice the hollow shock shaft. We can't wait to get our hands on a set of these lightweight coilovers for additional testing.
This photo shows the inside of the RRD 25/8-inch shock. Notice the hollow shock shaft. We