how can i tell which front shock i need to replace?
 

alright, i have one of the front shocks bad in my WJ...heres what happened when it was ruined:

i went to a jeep club cruise in a couple months ago where there was an RTI ramp...i really wanted to see how my new WJ stock could do with the front sway bar removed...so i un bolted it, and drove the passenger side front tire up onto the ramp...i did well for stock, so i backed off and put the sway bar back on

as i was leaving my jeep started making a rattling sound up front like the sway bar wasnt tightened as much as it needed to be...so ive tightened it a couple times since then and i cant get it any tighter and it still rattles.

so a buddy got in with me, completely unaware of the noise and when he heard it goes "you have a front shock going bad eh?" then it hit me, of course, it must be the shock, the rattling sounds just like a bad shock, but i just never thought about it

my question is, which shock is bad...i figure since it went bad right after i got off the ramp, that must be what did it...now i know its the front, and it kinda sounds like its coming from the right side...now remember, thats the side that was on the ramp..

Could i have supressed the shock so much that it ruined it....or could i have stretched the left shock so much it ruined that one? how do i tell?

heres a pic so you can tell the severity of each shock
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a22.../cruisein2.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a22...e/cruisein.jpg

you probably just tore a bushing. inspect each end of the shocks at the rubber/neoprene bushing for any damage. you can also just grab each one and muscle it up and down to feel for any play. that might tell you also.

but to be sure, you'll have to remove each shock, and compress each one by hand.
if you have a bad one, you'll know right away.

im not even wanting to remove one shock out there right now with a foot of snow on the ground..lol

If you find the shocks are the problem, I'd replace them as a pair.

x2

having same issue
 

I am having that same issue. I didn't know what it was but I am going to replace both of my shocks this weekend. They don't cost that much to replace.:cheers:

push down on the side of the car above the shock should notice a diffrence

You want the shock to bounce about 2-3 times with a good push to the corner. Im going to say x3 on replacing them as a pair. I would hate to do one, drive a week and have the other side go out on me.