Hi everyone,

I'm looking to change the shocks in my 99 XJ(both front and rear) and just want to know what I should be prepared for. I'm expecting most of the bolts to break. Where can I find replacement bolts? I'm unsure of what the shock mounts look like as well, so I'm not sure if I'll need fixes there as well. I'd really appreciate some tips. What should I expect/what should I order in preparation?

 

My experience with the fronts gave me no issues, just give them a good spraying on the bolts before hand.

On your rears, expect the top bolts to snap. It's such a common issues that there are products like this to help you refit them: You just punch the old nuts out of place and slip the bracket into position. I didn't know it was common when I did mine and ended up drilling and thread tapping them all. I wish I knew.

I have read threads where the lower bolt also snapped but on the 2 axles I've removed shocks from, both undone fine.

 

Or you could just drill or punch out upper broken shock bolts, fish a bolt and washer through the cavity, and nut from the bottom.

 

I used the Rough Country piece linked above, no issues and found it much easier than fishing a bolt through.

I would expect most if not all of your bolts to break, but it is not a big deal. For months I hit the bolts with penetrating fluid hoping that it would help them not break. I broke 2 if not 3 of the 4 bolts. I drilled out the nuts on my Jeep (I wasn't able to knock them out as many have), and installed the Rough Country brackets with no further issues. Point being, just change them don't waste your time trying to "not break the bolts".

Fronts were no issue, out with the old in the with new.

 

Knocking those nuts out is faster and easier with air tools, if you have them. I used the rough Country kit and was worth every penny. The lower stud breaking doesnt happen much, but there are repair kits for it should it happen. The front nuts and bolts are not welded so if a bolt snaps, just knock it thru. The front upper nuts dont always break loose. You can use vicegrips on the top end of the shaft in the engine bay, or on the shaft from below (hold the vicegrips while turning the wrench) and hope it holds, but neither worked for me and had to grind the nut on the driver side off. If you do this, try not to knick the brake lines. I did, but was replacing them anyway.

To mount the rear shocks, i mounted them to the axle first as the bushings refused to slide over the stud otherwise. Too much bind in my case. No worries up front.

Rear upper - 17 lb-ft
Rear lower - 46 ft-lb
Front lower - 17 lb-ft
Front upper - 8 lb-ft