Shock me!

​After drooling over the videos we've seen of these sexy looking shocks  for the last few months we were thrilled to learn Teraflex would be sending out a set of their Falcon Series 3.3 Fast Adjust Piggyback Shocks & Nexus EF 2.1 Stabilizer for our review & use on King Wanderer. Before we get started, check out this video from Teraflex so you can familiarize yourself with all things Falcon Series 3. There's a lot of great info regarding the specs, build quality & thought process behind the design of these unique beasts.

Boxology 101

​I'm not much into cardboard boxes but the people have spoken and documenting the unboxing process is now the mandatory first step in any review that hopes to be taken seriously. I feel up to the task. Not of being taken seriously, but of opening the box. I mean, I've opened a box or two in my day. Not going to lie. I've probably documented it before as well. With that in mind I considered dimming the lights, putting on my 90's slow jams playlist and taking my sweet little time undressing these new shocks as to give them the kind of treatment anything this sexy so richly deserves. Instead I just went ahead and opened the box. Whoa. Wait a minute. There were full color step by step install directions with illustrations fastened to the inside of the cover of the box as well as a card signed by those at Teraflex who built, tested & inspected the exact shocks that are in the box. Pretty cool I must admit. Along with some nice Falcon decals they also include a sticker for the inside of your door that diagrams the shock adjustment settings, their effects & intended use. The shocks themselves were individually wrapped and suspended within the box for protection during shipping. The whole presentation is first class. It really makes you feel like you're about to experience something special. I think i might be starting to understand why the kids dig this whole unboxing thing. Just when I started to get misty eyed & lost in wonderment while staring at the box in front of me and it's contents, a thought hit me straight out of the blue. I want to get these on the jeep!

Let's get it on!

In many cases we do our own installs but time was tight and we were anxious to get to the testing phase so we put the job in the capable hands of one of Central New York's most reputable Jeep gurus, Smitty's Repair & Restorations.  These shocks install like most other shocks with the exception being that a hole will have to be drilled out on the outside of each rear lower shock mount bracket.  This is necessary because the bottom of each rear shock mounts to the outside of the factory bracket. One other important note is that the piggyback reservoir on the front shocks will more than likely interfere with whatever inner fenders you run on your rig. This can be dealt with in one of two ways. You can cut your existing inner fenders or you can get  JCR Off Road's Falcon Shocks Inner Fender Kit  which, as their name implies, are built for use specifically with Falcon Piggyback Shocks.  They're well made (Made in the USA), easy to install & provide a clean look to showcase the unique design of the shocks.  I haven't heard any rubbing or vibrations and most importantly I love the easy access to the adjustment dial. Super happy with them!
And away we go!
Okay so the shocks were on and they looked tasty. It was time to get serious. The anticipation was starting to turn into anxiety as we drove to pick up the jeep. What if it was all hype? What if they were all show and no go? Admittedly, my expectations were pretty high. Was I setting myself up to be let down?  Teraflex asked only for honesty in my findings. That's my obligation to you and to them.
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​Well, let me just say, THANK GOD they are the best thing I've ever put on a jeep or this could have gotten AWKWARD real quick! I want to shout it from a mountain top but for now this review will have to do. Seriously, as soon as I pulled out of the parking lot at the shop i could feel a substantial difference in the overall drivability of the jeep. The truth is that i drove out of that parking lot and haven't stopped driving since until now. It's been 3 weeks! I was like Forrest Gump in a Jeep! I was Jeepiiiiing. On roads, off-road, Dusty Rhodes, it was crazy! Pretty sure there was a trip to the cobblestone streets of  Niagara Falls in there somewhere but it's a little hazy. I literally had to force myself to stop driving so I could write this review. It's just so much more damn enjoyable now!  The ride quality is improved exponentially and it's better than i even thought was possible in a jeep.  Here's a look at a few pics taken during testing phase 1.

Adjust this!

I think I've calmed down enough to get to a few of the specifics i wanted to address before wrapping this up. These shocks have 3 different main settings. Setting 1 gives you the softest ride (intended for street driving), Setting 2 has 8 different micro settings (2.1-2.8), and Setting 3 is the most firm (intended for strenuous off-road conditions). The differences in each of these settings are tangible. They can be felt. It's fun to try the different settings on different terrains and find out which you prefer. As good as these shocks look, their true beauty lies in the adjustability that allows you to fine tune your comfort and control depending on what type of terrain your traversing.  As you know Jeeps are not all setup the same and while I have found my "go to" setting to be 2.1 for everyday driving, someone else may be more comfortable at 2.6. It's quite subjective.  If i'm heading down the highway for a long stretch I'm going to set the shocks to 1 and enjoying the smooth, cushy feel. Around town in stop and go traffic, pot holes, etc. i find 2.1 provides the most control. Off-Road i tend to set it between 2.5-3. These shocks are built like a tank and the dials have a nice strong , firm but smooth feel to them. In closing i would say again that they have made a bigger improvement in the ride quality, comfort and control of my jeep than any other mod I've done and i'm excited to continue putting them through the paces during our upcoming adventures. If you have any questions about the shocks or are curious about specifics i may not have addressed here, please feel free to hit me up at instajeepthing@yahoo.com or catch up with us on instagram. We'll leave you with these videos taken while testing the shocks. Thanks for dropping by. Happy trails!