Removing front shocks - HELP PLEASE

CD · **Posted:** Fri May 23, 2008 9:48 am

OK, it's 11.45pm and I'm having trouble removing my front shocks. I want to do this so I can install my front top strut plates. So far I've removed the air box and battery & all the 4 bolt's holding the shock in place (I've done both sides). I've got the KJ on stands and have the wheels off the ground on full drop. Then I removed the bolt holding the clevis to the lower control arm. That's where I'm up to, I thougt I'd be able to remove the coli/shocks in the one go but I can't get them to drop down any more than 10 to 15mm.

So where do I go from here :?:

(what's next?)

Dave08 · **Joined:** Fri Nov 02, 2007 4:17 pm **Posts:** 250

I'd think that'd work, try taking the clevis off the strut for more clearance too though, maybe also undo swaybar.

jpsandberg · **Joined:** Sun May 18, 2008 3:03 pm **Posts:** 25

Dave08 is correct. For me, I had to remove the clevis completely from both the strut and the lower A arm and also Disconnect the sway bar where it mounts to the lower A-arm. Then it came right out.

CD · **Posted:** Fri May 23, 2008 10:12 am

OK thank's guy's, I that was my next move if I didn't get any replys. I think I will remove the tyres to get better access and then tackle the clevis as suggested.

Thanks again.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri May 23, 2008 10:59 am

have you disconnected the Upper control arm as well? If not you need to do that or did I miss that part of your post?

Tom

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri May 23, 2008 12:49 pm

tommudd wrote:

have you disconnected the Upper control arm as well? If not you need to do that or did I miss that part of your post?

Tom

Yup, thats one very important step.

Here is what I usually do once the 4 bolts on top are loosened:

-unhook the sway bar
-pop the upper ball joint
-Take bolt holding the clevis to the lower A-arm out
-loosen the bolt clamping the fork onto the coil over
-take the fork out
-take the 4 bolts off holding the coil over in
-take the coil over out

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Fri May 23, 2008 3:49 pm

Yeah, you definitely need to separate the UCA from the knuckle to get the coil assembly out. A 21mm socket and a hammer or large mallet will do it.

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Fri May 23, 2008 9:26 pm

CD wrote:

OK thank's guy's, I that was my next move if I didn't get any replys. I think I will remove the tyres to get better access and then tackle the clevis as suggested.

Thanks again.

you didnt remove the wheels in the first place? wow thats gotta be tough to work in there lol. with the wheels off it makes it a billion times easier, and well, you pretty much cant do it with the wheels on lol

sometimes i could get everything apart without unhooking the swaybar, other times it needs unhooked lol, depends on what mood the jeep is in haha

CD · **Posted:** Sat May 24, 2008 5:49 am

RAYMAN975 wrote:

you didnt remove the wheels in the first place? wow thats gotta be tough to work in there lol. with the wheels off it makes it a billion times easier, and well, you pretty much cant do it with the wheels on lol

Yep, left them on :roll:

, took them off this morning and found it much easier

Quote:

tommudd

have you disconnected the Upper control arm as well? If not you need to do that or did I miss that part of your post?

Tom

No, didn't remover the upper contol arm (looked too hard to do :lol:

). I didn't want to completly take the shock & coil out I just needed to lower it enought to slip the top strut plate over the bolts and do it up again. To make it worse my wife was in my ear saying your stuffing up our Saturday :roll:

Bloody hell, reomving the clevis is hard and putting it back on isn't easy either. The hardest part was thinking of how to get the clevis bolt back onto the lower control arm. After the strut top plate was in we (Ed & I) did the 4 bolt's back up and found that the holes were way out (lower by a good 12 to 15mm). We got my massive crow bar (1.5m) and jimmied it up into place. After all that it was easy street putting every thing back into place.

We then went onto the rear of the KJ to install my new CRDSTU custom extra heavy duty coils, no go. We couldn't get the rear (one side) to drop enough in order to lift the coil out (like Cmohr did with his). So I think I will get it done at the auto shop on Monday.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat May 24, 2008 10:51 am

Just use the stock jack and wedge it between the lower control arm and the frame.

Works out great but dont forget and leave it in there then try to jack up the jeep by the axle. I crushed my poor scissor jack that way. :lol:

KJ04 · **Posted:** Sat May 24, 2008 11:31 am

Disconnect the rear swaybar and put a floor jack under one side.

CD · **Posted:** Sat May 24, 2008 6:16 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Just use the stock jack and wedge it between the lower control arm and the frame.

Works out great but dont forget and leave it in there then try to jack up the jeep by the axle. I crushed my poor scissor jack that way. :lol:

Quote:

KJ04

Disconnect the rear swaybar and put a floor jack under one side

OK, I'll let you know how I go. I'd rather do this than pay the auto man to do it.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Sat May 24, 2008 6:23 pm

CD wrote:

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Just use the stock jack and wedge it between the lower control arm and the frame.

Works out great but dont forget and leave it in there then try to jack up the jeep by the axle. I crushed my poor scissor jack that way. :lol:

Quote:

KJ04

Disconnect the rear swaybar and put a floor jack under one side

OK, I'll let you know how I go. I'd rather do this than pay the auto man to do it.

You can just leave the rear swaybar off to get max rear flex from your new shocks.

CD · **Posted:** Sun May 25, 2008 4:57 am

OK, all done. Shoudl get the new extra long shocks on Monday, so they can go in then.

Here's some pics so you can see how ended up doing it.

Measure ments 560mm (centre of hub to outside edge of flare) front and back (same each side

) Ground to bottom of side mirror 1260mm (or 52.5"). Remember no rear isolators (spacers) :wink:

Couldn't find a KJ to park next to (no time to look) so this little Grand will have to do

CD · **Posted:** Sun May 25, 2008 5:01 am

Thanks for all the reply posts and the phone calls guy's. Also thanks again for your help Ed.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon May 26, 2008 11:30 am

haha, thats a new method of changing out springs!

I find it funny you almost swapped out the suspension without taking the wheels off. :lol:

CD · **Posted:** Mon May 26, 2008 5:04 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

haha, thats a new method of changing out springs!

I find it funny you almost swapped out the suspension without taking the wheels off. :lol:

Yes mate, live and learn... live and learn :lol:

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 7:23 pm

hey CD what is the coil rating on the coils from stu?

CD · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 8:40 pm

jsc7002 wrote:

hey CD what is the coil rating on the coils from stu?

Hi mate, I don't know. Your best asking STU, you can pm him here on LOST. His name on here is OzLtd or email him on angstu@bigpond.net.au. If you email him be sure to pust LOST in the subject so he knows where the email is from. I always put CD - LOST so he know's it's not junk mail :wink:

Removing front shocks - HELP PLEASE

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