What did you do to your TJ today?

Had to put the new flares on. Black Friday pop up tent worth every penny.

IMG_1818.jpeg
 
Sadly pushed her around to the side of the house for now with a tarp on her. Have to save up for a new drive shaft, bell housing, and rear end rebuild kit. Dakota is a little sad but Rome wasn't built in a day. Plus I REALLY need to finish my dad's truck up so we can start enjoying that as well.
 
Over the weekend...

Finally got around to installing the shocks and 2" lift...

  • Took the boxes off the shelf where they have been sitting in the garage all winter.
  • Jacked up the front
  • Removed the front wheels
  • Detached the sway bar links.
  • Dropped the front wheels down.
  • Removed the coils and went to the autoparts store to borrow a coil spring compressor
  • Spent hours trying to figure out how to unbolt the top of the shocks with lots of youtube video advice...
    • Tried the 1/4 inch wrench and it wouldn't grab
    • Tried "cut away the rubber spacer to get hold" (no luck)
    • Remove airbox to access from above (no luck)
    • Tried "just pull the bottom and break it off" (surprise, that worked)!
  • Spend more hours trying to figure out how to push the rubber bumper and metal connector through the whole at the bottom of the shock.
    • Tried greasing it up and pushing it through (no luck)
    • Tried a vice but my vice wasn't big enough
    • Finally had the idea to use the weight of my camper and camper jack as a makeshift vice (surprise, that worked)!
  • Removed bump stops and tried putting the cools back with a rubber spacer and bigger bump stocks.
    • (1) Realized that I would never be able to do that.
    • (2) Realized that the rubber spacer was probably not a great way to Lift it anyway
    • (3) Realized the coil spring compressor I borrowed from the auto-parts store was not worth the risk given the above.
  • Reinserted the old bump stops.
  • Reinstalled the old springs.
  • Reinstalled the tires.
  • Returned the coil spring compressor.
So, I spent many many many hours only to replace the front shocks. I was humbled... but I had "fun" and it's drivable again. Likely to seek professional help if I ever want to try a lift again.

In progress photo:
1751908193679.png


New shocks installed and it all put back together photo:
20250707_131444.jpg
 
Last edited:
Tg
Over the weekend...

Finally got around to installing the shocks and 2" lift...

  • Took the boxes off the shelf where they have been sitting in the garage all winter.
  • Jacked up the front
  • Removed the front wheels
  • Detached the sway bar links.
  • Dropped the front wheels down.
  • Removed the coils and went to the autoparts store to borrow a coil spring compressor
  • Spent hours trying to figure out how to unbolt the top of the shocks with lots of youtube video advice...
    • Tried the 1/4 inch wrench and it wouldn't grab
    • Tried "cut away the rubber spacer to get hold" (no luck)
    • Remove airbox to access from above (no luck)
    • Tried "just pull the bottom and break it off" (surprise, that worked)!
  • Spend more hours trying to figure out how to push the rubber bumper and metal connector through the whole at the bottom of the shock.
    • Tried greasing it up and pushing it through (no luck)
    • Tried a vice but my vice wasn't big enough
    • Finally had the idea to use the weight of my camper and camper jack as a makeshift vice (surprise, that worked)!
  • Removed bump stops and tried putting the cools back with a rubber spacer and bigger bump stocks.
    • (1) Realized that I would never be able to do that.
    • (2) Realized that the rubber spacer was probably not a great way to Lift it anyway
    • (3) Realized the coil spring compressor I borrowed from the auto-parts store was not worth the risk given the above.
  • Reinserted the old bump stops.
  • Reinstalled the old springs.
  • Reinstalled the tires.
  • Returned the coil spring compressor.
So, I spent many many many hours only to replace the front shocks. I was humbled... but I had "fun" and it's drivable again. Likely to seek professional help if I ever want to try a lift again.

View attachment 628879


That's been my life the last couple of months. What should take an hour takes four. And when something does go smoothly, it really doesn't, because it uncovers another issue.

It's fun though. Enjoy!!! 🤗
 
Over the weekend...

Finally got around to installing the shocks and 2" lift...

  • Took the boxes off the shelf where they have been sitting in the garage all winter.
  • Jacked up the front
  • Removed the front wheels
  • Detached the sway bar links.
  • Dropped the front wheels down.
  • Removed the coils and went to the autoparts store to borrow a coil spring compressor
  • Spent hours trying to figure out how to unbolt the top of the shocks with lots of youtube video advice...
    • Tried the 1/4 inch wrench and it wouldn't grab
    • Tried "cut away the rubber spacer to get hold" (no luck)
    • Remove airbox to access from above (no luck)
    • Tried "just pull the bottom and break it off" (surprise, that worked)!
  • Spend more hours trying to figure out how to push the rubber bumper and metal connector through the whole at the bottom of the shock.
    • Tried greasing it up and pushing it through (no luck)
    • Tried a vice but my vice wasn't big enough
    • Finally had the idea to use the weight of my camper and camper jack as a makeshift vice (surprise, that worked)!
  • Removed bump stops and tried putting the cools back with a rubber spacer and bigger bump stocks.
    • (1) Realized that I would never be able to do that.
    • (2) Realized that the rubber spacer was probably not a great way to Lift it anyway
    • (3) Realized the coil spring compressor I borrowed from the auto-parts store was not worth the risk given the above.
  • Reinserted the old bump stops.
  • Reinstalled the old springs.
  • Reinstalled the tires.
  • Returned the coil spring compressor.
So, I spent many many many hours only to replace the front shocks. I was humbled... but I had "fun" and it's drivable again. Likely to seek professional help if I ever want to try a lift again.

In progress photo:
View attachment 628879

New shocks installed and it all put back together photo:
View attachment 628881

wow! I did watch a video on replacing the shocks and considered doing it myself then i chickened out. i’m going to ask “The Man” to install them instead.