Replacing Shocks

[dluyk]

I'm going to replace the old shocks on the CJ - any suggestions on brands and tips and things not to do?


Thanks.

[Ryan_M]

Brush up on your foul words as you'll need them all when trying to compress the rubber shock bushing enough to fit the washers and cotter pins in place. There was a specialized tool for this but I and others have made their own using a C clamp and metal tube with a notch in it.

Or you could trade your 3A for an M38 as they wised up by then and used threaded shafts with locknuts instead of the 3A style cotter pin�

[oldtime]

I use two pair of "6R" Vise grips to compress the bushings.

For a stock Willys Flatfender these are the best...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1945-1962-Willys-CJ2A-Or-CJ3A-Jeep-Monroe-Shocks-Pair-/271837067090?fits=Model%3AWillys&hash=item3f4ac07752&vxp=mtr

[Ryan_M]

I wanted to follow up with a picture of my homemade shock compressor "tool". This is not my original idea but it works great. It's just a short length of metal tube with a couple notches cut it in along with a 6" C-clamp. Pretty slick. It took longer to get the old shocks off than it did to put the new ones on.





Excuse the crummy shock paint - it's a beater Jeep that I had to get the shocks installed on tonight.