Rear shocks on a 1998 Cherokee Sport

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Aug 11, 2009 | 09:20 PM
  #1  
Oh man. I know that all of you out there have changed out your rear shocks. Well I need a little help before I start. The top 2 bolts seem very hard to get access to. Obviously I can remove the bottom bolt with no problem but I wondered how I can get access to the top 2 bolts. Can I go through my carpet and see them or what do I do to get them off. Thanks for your help!!
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Aug 11, 2009 | 09:28 PM
  #2  
Quote: Oh man. I know that all of you out there have changed out your rear shocks. Well I need a little help before I start. The top 2 bolts seem very hard to get access to. Obviously I can remove the bottom bolt with no problem but I wondered how I can get access to the top 2 bolts. Can I go through my carpet and see them or what do I do to get them off. Thanks for your help!!
cant remember the size but all i had was a 3/8 drive ratchet and 2 long extentions. had no issues with them unless you have a different setup. mine is a 98 sport also
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Aug 11, 2009 | 09:44 PM
  #3  
Quote: cant remember the size but all i had was a 3/8 drive ratchet and 2 long extentions. had no issues with them unless you have a different setup. mine is a 98 sport also

X2. I would also squirt them with some PB Blaster and let them set for about 5-15 minutes. Also wear saftey glasses to keep dirt and junk out of your eyes.

Its probably around a 13mm bolt head size.
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Aug 11, 2009 | 10:56 PM
  #4  
well i see the bolt heads but it seems like the top nuts are between the frame and body and not easy to get to? what if i break the bolts off?
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Aug 11, 2009 | 11:02 PM
  #5  
Jeeps are unibody. What I believe you are seeing is the top shock bracket.

Put a wrench over the nut to keep it from turning. Hold the wrench in place. Then use a rachet with extensions and the proper size socket to undo the bolt from the nut.

Follow my earlier directions about PB Blaster and safety glasses.

If you don't think you need to be messing with this, take your shocks and Jeep to a local mechanic to install. Expect to pay about $20 each to have them installed.
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Aug 16, 2009 | 08:48 PM
  #6  
updates?
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Aug 16, 2009 | 08:56 PM
  #7  
he probally broke the upper shock bolts off.
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Aug 16, 2009 | 09:38 PM
  #8  
Yea thats what i was thinkin
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Aug 17, 2009 | 09:36 AM
  #9  
Sorry guys. Thanks for the help on these. I have not had a chance to wrench them off yet. I had a family emergency this weekend and I have not got a sec. to go out to the garage and tackle them yet. I will keep you updated though. Thanks
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Aug 17, 2009 | 09:43 AM
  #10  
Well good luck. I had to cut a hole in the back and knock the old welded nuts off. Then cut some sheet metal and made a patch for the floor and used silicone to seal it off. It really was very easy I just didn't like having to cut the back, but now you cant even tell
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Aug 17, 2009 | 10:55 AM
  #11  
Don't make hloes in your jeeps that hurts them....
Spray some wd40 a couple of times a day for a week and you will see how they will unscrew easily with a little back-n-forth wrenching...
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Aug 17, 2009 | 12:21 PM
  #12  
I couldn't avoid it. Bolts snapped and a back out tool snapped off in there. So i just went and replaced all the hardware so i will not have to do it again.
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Aug 18, 2009 | 06:12 AM
  #13  
Time to weld some BPE's on there. (Bar Pin Eliminators)
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Aug 18, 2009 | 08:10 PM
  #14  
Quote: I couldn't avoid it. Bolts snapped and a back out tool snapped off in there. So i just went and replaced all the hardware so i will not have to do it again.
Its been my experience that "back out tools" and "E-Z Outs" break off all the time and make a bad situation worse.
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Aug 18, 2009 | 08:20 PM
  #15  
I took the rear sway bar mounts off and used them I driled new holes near where the old ones was and put new bolts and they work great
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