I was going to put some shocks on my XJ this morning, but when I pumped my floor jack a couple times, it must have blown a seal because it went right back down and now no pressure. I don't want to spend time fixing floor jack now and stock jack is missing in action. I've put shocks on other vehicles but I always jack it up, if nothing more than for clearance to get under it. XJ has plenty of room to get under it, but do I need to jack it up and let shocks expand. I think if I just unbolt shock from top bracket I could compress it enough to get it out.

 

Front or rear? I did front without jacking, IIRC.

 

Thanks you just saved me $35 for a hydraulic repair kit for my jack. I'm actually doing both ends but I was more concerned with front.

 

You should be fine, IIRC the FSM does not mention jacking either.

 

The only time that I have ever jacked a vehicle up to change shocks was so that I could get room so that I could get under it to get to them.

 

rears no problem w/o jacking. The fronts are much easier to do with the wheels off .