Skyjacker Hydro vs. Nitro Shocks

By Mike Cote - November 25, 2018

Skyjacker shock absorbers feature a burly & versatile design that allows you to tackle any road with ease. Not to mention, you have the choice between two different styles: Skyjacker Hydro or Nitro shocks. But what’s the difference between them? In a nutshell, if you’re looking for a smooth ride and hit the trail every so often, choose hydro shocks. But if you’re looking for the best off-road shock for your rig, you’ll need the reliable dampening performance of nitro shocks. In this article we’ll compare Skyjacker hydro vs nitro shocks to see which one’s better for you overall.

Skyjacker Hydro 7000 Shocks

These shocks are great for daily drivers. They give your vehicle a smooth ride on the highway, but are also good for light off-road use. Like your OEM shocks, they’re filled with oil, dampen road vibrations for comfortable cruising, and cut down on body roll while cornering. Hydro shocks tend to be more affordable than nitro shocks and are a great alternative to generic “heavy duty” shock absorbers when used for tow vehicles.

Skyjacker Nitro 8000 Shocks

It takes a special shock to absorb the punishment of the trail and the Skyjacker Nitro shock is that shock. Nitro shocks are nearly identical to hydro shocks, but have a distinct feature that sets them apart. As the name suggests, nitro shocks are topped off with pressurized nitrogen gas, which greatly improves the performance of these shocks during extreme use, but makes them “stiffer” than hydro shocks, making ride quality a bit harsh.

When an oiled-filled shock absorber is put through its paces, gas bubbles in the oil can form and wreak havoc on the shock’s ability to dampen vibrations. It’s just like shaking a can of soda and quickly opening it! However, Skyjacker Nitro shocks are able to prevent disruptive gas bubbles from forming by keeping pressure within the shock high, letting you push your rig even harder off-road.

What Makes Skyjacker Shocks Special

Unlike your OEM shocks, Skyjacker shock absorbers feature heavy-duty steel twin-tube bodies and extra-thick piston rods with bonded iron pistons at the tips. This makes these shocks more resistant to abuse than stock units. Even better, Skyjacker shocks are less likely to flex during use, thanks to their rugged construction. This allows the piston within the shock to slide smoothly, further reducing wear. As you can see, choosing the best Skyjacker shock for your vehicle depends on how and where you drive it. That means there are no clear-cut winners here. And regardless of what you drive, you simply can’t go wrong with a Skyjacker shock absorber.

Why Buy Skyjacker Accessories from AT

• Our shocks are designed for your vehicle and bolt into the factory location
• We have a massive selection of Skyjacker shocks and lift kits ready to ship
• You can read about actual experiences with these shocks in our Skyjacker customer reviews
• Our prices on Skyjacker shocks and lift kits are the lowest online and we’ll back it up with our 1-year low price guarantee