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Any tricks for keeping new shocks compressed for install?

Gizmo

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Easiest way i found is a floor jack with a piece of 4x4 on it and jack up the frame. No strain that way
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SoK66

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I use a thin motorcycle ratchet strap
 

Rusty PW

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Jack up from the bumper until the shock goes in
When I installed 3" King shocks on my Power Wagon. I used a 100 ton crane to lift each end of the truck up to install the long travel shocks. Still needed help getting them installed.
 

NC_Overland

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I don’t understand why y'all fight them. Let the suspension droop. I did it on the ground once. Never again.
 

Rusty PW

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I don’t understand why y'all fight them. Let the suspension droop. I did it on the ground once. Never again.
That's what I did with a 100 ton crane and it still wasn't enough.
 

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I don’t understand why y'all fight them. Let the suspension droop. I did it on the ground once. Never again.
Most people don't change to a free rotating control arms or loosen the stock control arms so they end up binding and not letting it really droop I've found.
 

WestwallNF104A

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That wasn’t directed at you in particular. It was all of the responses talking about ratchet straps and all.
My way takes 5 minutes, that includes removal. So 20 minutes total. Faster if I have help.
 

NC_Overland

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My way takes 5 minutes, that includes removal. So 20 minutes total. Faster if I have help.
How long does it take you to jack up a vehicle? You can easily jack it up and put it on jack stands and have all four wheels off in 20 min. With the wheels off it’s a lot easily to access the shock bolts. Added bonus, I went ahead and rotated my tires too since it was due.
 
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How long does it take you to jack up a vehicle? You can easily jack it up and put it on jack stands and have all four wheels off in 20 min. With the wheels off it’s a lot easily to access the shock bolts. Added bonus, I went ahead and rotated my tires too since it was due.
For me? I would say that it was easier to measure the length the new shocks needed to be, compress each shock against the floor with one hand and zip up the zip ties with the other, and install. My current floor jack isn’t tall enough, and I don’t think the jack stands were either. If I had more suspension work planned I would have bought them, but they work for everything else I own.

Like I mentioned somewhere else, I was wrenching for pay as a kid in 1973, (but didn’t make a living doing it later on), so I just made a judgment call as to what was quickest and easiest for me.

It was fairly easy once I figured out how I wanted to do it, aside from the fact I was doing it with just hand tools and a torque wrench. 😃
 

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WestwallNF104A

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How long does it take you to jack up a vehicle? You can easily jack it up and put it on jack stands and have all four wheels off in 20 min. With the wheels off it’s a lot easily to access the shock bolts. Added bonus, I went ahead and rotated my tires too since it was due.
30 seconds to jack it up. 30 seconds to compress and strap the shock, one minute to remove the wheel. One minute for removal, one minute for install, and one minute for wheel replacement and dropping it back to the ground.

I use a DeWalt 20 volt impact wrench. If a friend helps me we can cut almost a minute off. I think our best time was 4:18.

Now, I grant you that time does not include torquing the nuts.

Smart to rotate when you had it up in the air!
 

NC_Overland

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For me? I would say that it was easier to measure the length the new shocks needed to be, compress each shock against the floor with one hand and zip up the zip ties with the other, and install. My current floor jack isn’t tall enough, and I don’t think the jack stands were either. If I had more suspension work planned I would have bought them, but they work for everything else I own.

Like I mentioned somewhere else, I was wrenching for pay as a kid in 1973, (but didn’t make a living doing it later on), so I just made a judgment call as to what was quickest and easiest for me.

It was fairly easy once I figured out how I wanted to do it, aside from the fact I was doing it with just hand tools and a torque wrench. 😃
That’s a good point about the jacks and jack stands. Mine are barely long enough. Only one of my jacks is tall enough and I had to buy bigger jack stands when I got my Jeep. Risking my life with hobo freight. lol
 

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When I installed 3" King shocks on my Power Wagon. I used a 100 ton crane to lift each end of the truck up to install the long travel shocks. Still needed help getting them installed.
here is how I did it using a 1.5 ton aluminum floor jack from harbor freight jacked up 10 inches bottom of shock at16 inches top at 46inches tires on the ground still had 3 inches to go on the jack clearance from bottom side of fender to top of tire is 14 inches I’m running 37 inch tires

Jeep Gladiator Any tricks for keeping new shocks compressed for install? IMG_5108
 

Rusty PW

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H
here is how I did it using a 1.5 ton aluminum floor jack from harbor freight jacked up 10 inches bottom of shock at16 inches top at 46inches tires on the ground still had 3 inches to go on the jack clearance from bottom side of fender to top of tire is 14 inches I’m running 37 inch tires

IMG_5108.webp
Jeep Gladiator Any tricks for keeping new shocks compressed for install? 1772935843262-y7
 
 







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