I am changing rear shocks on my 88 cherokee and am a newbie, where is the best place to put the jack stands?

 

frame rail infront of the front leaf spring mount.

 

If it's the shocks only theres no reason to jack it up. Be careful however because the top bolts are known to snap/ twist off. I would start spraying now with pb blaster or anything stronger than wd 40 and start looking at possible fixes for when they break. If they are non oem shocks on there now then you have more hope but if they are the stock ones be prepared.

 

X2 on the PB Blaster and if you break one then search on the forum and you should find a fix...Tj

 

good luck, if your a newbie to this stuff, then you prob dont know that the upper shock bolts are going to brake off on you. best way to fix it is to pull up the carpet in the back and drill down through the floor and put new hardware in. make sure u spray all your bolts first for like a week before trying to loosen them

 

These links should help if you do break one...Tj
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/bro...ck-mount-7170/
http://jeephorizons.com/tech/xjshock.html

 

the rear shock bolts that mount to the body are going to break hope and pray caz it sucks when they break. I have zero patience so after mine broke i cut two holes in the floor pan on mine (DO NOT DO THAT) there is a much easier way to replace the broken bolts when they break do a search and you will find a few write ups on it

 

jackstands for shock change? LOL you ain't lifted enough

 

Word of advice, use WD-40! Spray the bolts good, let em soak for about a day. Then start on taking them out, when/if any of the bolts start to get hard to turn, spray a little more WD-40 on it and start turning it counter clock wise(tightening), then once its about back down to tight, go back to looseing it. Everytime a bolt does this, spray it, work it back and forth(tightening & loosening), that will get any dirt or rust off of the threads and alot less apt to break them off.

Also, if you insist on using jack stands, put them under the rearend on the axle tubes, as far out toward the tires as possible. Just make sure to scotch your front end where it cant roll.

 

yep x1000 on the pb blaster, and DONT cut into your floor there is a lot easier ways to do it, i punched the welded nut out through the hole and you can easily fish a one of those nuts that have the teeth on the bottom of it up there with a pair of vise grips, its a quick fix and makes it easier for next time, that way if it happens again, which it shouldnt, then you dont have to do it all over again, just buy a new nut and bolt and boom done