Front shock & spring replacement - DIY?

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libertybob

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Question...

If you only want so so suspension and ride quality then they will work. Not hard to do at all and since they are already together very easy to install. Take maybe 30-45 minutes per side in front with no prior experience, rear 30 minutes total

tommmudd, what do you mean by a "so-so suspension"? Is the OEM suspension considered "so-so"? OEM suspensions are a compromise between handling and comfortable ride. Race car type suspensions give a hard ride. Luxury car suspensions give a comfortable ride but don't corner like performance suspensions. So, does aftermarket shocks & springs like Moog and Monroe meet OEM design? What is a "better" suspension and why? If more stiff, what benefit does this give? I am reluctant to go away from OEM because I don't know what I am doing. So, please educate me.
 

ElCheapo

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The spot you want to hit with Bob's Fine Hammer hammer is the rounded portion of the spindle that the BJ stud is inserted into. Loosen the nut, hit horizontally on the knuckle that the stud is in, (it may take more than one try), and it will pop, then you can remove the nut and push the UCA out of the way.
Vid; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_JzIdlolfg
 

Glen_S

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Hmm.....Now you are mentioning the vehicle thumps bad when crossing RxR tracks. And that's the reason why you want to replace the shocks/springs.....to eliminate those thumping sounds.

Do yourself a HUGE favor and climb under the front passenger side of the Jeep and grab the cv joint nearest where it enters the axle tube......wriggle it around.....hit it with the palm of your hand while the wife sits in the drivers seat and ask her if that's the thump she's hearing.

The thumping sound could have nothing to do with the shocks at all. I've replaced many a shock in my days, and the main reasons were due to upgrades or due to bouncy/springy ride control. Almost never was it due to a thump sound. Thumps usually come from bad bushings or ball joints.

Maybe some longtime Jeep fanatics could give you more info than I possess when it comes to the cv axle and intermediate shaft.

The person I bought my daughters KJ from had all new shocks and bushings installed trying to eliminate a thump....turned out to be cv/intermediate shaft thump. Wasn't even related to the springs or shocks.

Thanks - I plan on jacking it up this weekend and checking the BJ's etc. so will have a look at the CVJ's as well. I've taken it for a drive and it does sound to me like bottoming out suspension, but I'll know more after I get a chance to take a closer look at it..
 

tommudd

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Here is sagged out/ bagged out/ worn out suspension
You must be registered for see images attach

Now onto stock suspension.
Springs and shocks are weak from the factory , when you go over railroad tracks etc you bounce and hit bumpstops even when brand new, when stopping it will nose dive badly. All of those things lead me to completely replace mine by the time it had 20,000 miles on it.
A good aftermarket upgraded suspension provides a better ride, better handling, better stopping etc
Of cousre I have always been a huge fan of upgrades to suspension systems since the 1970s. I want to have the best ride possible in whatever I drive , some don't really care or know how a good suspension does ride
 

tommudd

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tommmudd, what do you mean by a "so-so suspension"? Is the OEM suspension considered "so-so"? OEM suspensions are a compromise between handling and comfortable ride. Race car type suspensions give a hard ride. Luxury car suspensions give a comfortable ride but don't corner like performance suspensions. So, does aftermarket shocks & springs like Moog and Monroe meet OEM design? What is a "better" suspension and why? If more stiff, what benefit does this give? I am reluctant to go away from OEM because I don't know what I am doing. So, please educate me.

Ah but that is where you are wrong, you can have a firmer like ride while still maintaing a soft ride on the highways. Most think aftermarket springs as being stiff, that is 1970s thinking as back then they just made higher rated springs without thinking of ride and handling quality.
I can take you down the road in my setup and you'll never feel a bump at all hardly, come into a sharp turn and I'll bet I can take it 15-20 MPH faster than brand new stock suspension.
Suspensions systems have changed a lot over the years ( for the better) :icon_lol:
 

dude1116

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The spot you want to hit with Bob's Fine Hammer hammer is the rounded portion of the spindle that the BJ stud is inserted into. Loosen the nut, hit horizontally on the knuckle that the stud is in, (it may take more than one try), and it will pop, then you can remove the nut and push the UCA out of the way.
Vid; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_JzIdlolfg

This is awesome. Thank you for sharing!!!
 

libertybob

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Ah but that is where you are wrong, you can have a firmer like ride while still maintaing a soft ride on the highways. Most think aftermarket springs as being stiff, that is 1970s thinking as back then they just made higher rated springs without thinking of ride and handling quality.
I can take you down the road in my setup and you'll never feel a bump at all hardly, come into a sharp turn and I'll bet I can take it 15-20 MPH faster than brand new stock suspension.
Suspensions systems have changed a lot over the years ( for the better) :icon_lol:[/QUOTE

What do you recommend for the improved suspension? I need educating about how to select from all the suspension choices out there. Left to my own devices I might choose something even worse than OEM. So, what is your setup?
 

scbenoit

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Hi Glen - did you check out the CV joint ? Was that your clunking ?

I am tracking down an elusive clunk in my '04 as well ....

And are you goign ahead with teh Monroe schocks ?
 

OWOR90

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tommudd, I too would be interested in knowing what this "better" suspension is. You're comments so far have eluded to it but not made it clear. My front suspension is in need of replacement soon
 

tommudd

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tommudd, I too would be interested in knowing what this "better" suspension is. You're comments so far have eluded to it but not made it clear. My front suspension is in need of replacement soon

Many many posts by me and others on here and LOSTJEEPs as to how and what to use for a lift that not only provides a much better ride and handling but will last longer than stock suspension
Look at comments regarding OME and Ironman lifts plus Home page
 

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