What is the deal with mounting shocks upside down? Any pros or cons to doing this? I have seen it a few times and was just deciding if I should do it or not.

 

Any GOOD shock will work the way its supposed to, no matter what direction it is mounted.

I, personally, see no reason other that perhaps looks or protection of cylinder.

Like I said, personally.

There may be TRUE reasons other than what I mentioned.
I am fairly new to the XJ scene.

Howler_GT

 

There is no point in mounting it upside down. It will offer the same pressure either way. Dont waste your time with the mod unless you are just trying to be different.

 

Some shocks depending on how they are charged can not be ran upside down...Reason is they can leak...Always asked the manufacturer before doing so..Example RE shocks state not to run them upside down for example...

 

Some shocks have a cover over them and if they get wet it will allow for drainage. If they are inverted that cover now becomes a bowl that holds water thus promoting rust in that captured area along the piston's shaft.

 

inverted style shocks work great on a TJ once you rotate the pinion up some the shock wants to hit the coil bucket. On an XJ I am unsure if there are any benefits

 

If a shock says to put it a specific direction then thats the way it belongs, otherwise it can go either way.

 

I guess I am just gonna put it on the right way. Dont want to mess anything up for no reason. Thanks

 

Try it your way and let us know if it messes up anything! I can't see any advantage on an XJ but I have been wrong before!!!

 

Running Bilsteins with the oil tank on the side is an issue with my XJ. The mounting of the shock says to put the tube side on the bottom. With the side tank, it can rotate and end up with the tank under the frame rail. On a good flex, you can hit the tank with the frame.

I need to flip my shocks in the front to keep the tank UP in the fender protected and prevent rotation.

Normally the lock nut holds the tank in place, however these shocks were used when I got them and it appears the nut is stripped...thus it allows the tank to rotate. (So my case only)

As for rear...When you rotate the axle for pinion angle, the thinner side of the shock works best near the axle tube. As the angle of the mounting stud on the axle with a rotated axle allows for the shock to run the tube...or in come cases you can't even get the shock mounted.

Those are the reasons I see for mounting a shock anyway you need too in order to get it to fit. Which is a good reason to get a shock that can be mounted in either direction.

 

I am a simple man and tend to go for the simple solutions. Re-weld the shock mount to give you clearance Clarence!

 

Try telling my father that.

03 rubicon with 12k miles. STILL HAS WARRANTY. yeah...Thats like pulling teeth to get him to cut and weld on his nearly stock TJ.

 

My buddy has a '06 TJ and we had to weld his back on after we put a lift on so he would not have to buy new shocks. His is just a mall crawler and beach runner though. I found that both mounts were just a little more than tacked on from the factory.

 

From my personal experience, Skyjacker hydros and Doetech shocks can't be run upside down. They don't damp correctly, or i could say they don't work at all.

 

I have no experience with those brands or the ones which have an accessory tank to just hold the extra fluid/gas whatever it is! So you may be able to use those in odd positions IDK.