Hey JKers
I have a 2008 JK on 35's with a 3.5 inch lift. The shocks that I had put on are not the best and the finish is not loking all to good so IM looking to replace them. How difficult is it to replace them? Im pretty handy but have never done that before. It looks simple but looks can be decieving. What exactly do I need to do to get it done myself? Anyone have pics for do it your self shock replacement.

 

The rears are among the easiest jobs in the world. The fronts can be a PITA, but are certainly doable.

 

If you are pretty handy and have a decent jack/jackstands and tools, it is VERY easy. I am not all that handy and I think it is pretty straight forward.

 

I've got a 2010 2dr Sport and changed out the shocks yesterday in about 40mins. My Sport does not have a lift and I was able to work under it w/o using ramps or stands. The rear upper shock bolts take a 16mm socket and it's handy to have a long extension for your ratchet (I used a 15" 3/8" extension). The lower shock bolts (for both the rear and front shocks) take an 18mm wrench or socket. You can access the front upper shock nuts by working through the wheel wells. I used two 16mm wrenches, one with a ratcheting boxend which made this part much faster!

I was replacing the stock Sport shocks with Rubicon take-offs and it did take a bit of muscle to compress these gas shocks the two inches or so to install the lower bolts. It may make that part easier if you jacked up the frame of the Jeep. I was already under there when I got to that point and it became a contest (between me and the shocks) to see if I could just compress them. It was difficult but good exercise and I won......lol.

 

The shocks are very easy. Dont sweat it. It's just a little more involved than changing your oil. And if you do it right you won't have oil all over your axle.