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2012 front shock removal..

33K views 26 replies 11 participants last post by  Rude Dog 
#1 ·
REF: 2012 JKU-Sport

How the hell did you get to the front shock, top nut (red item)! There is a black piece of hard-plastic (see arrow) in front of the damn thing!:banghead:

I know I am going to get roasted for this question :hide:
 

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#3 ·
Hell no,,,,,

:whistling:

Hold the top (below cushion) with a opened end and use a ratcheting wrench on the top nut.
Vice grips work also

Oh wait... Didn't see that plastic. Can you get a wrench on the top nut? Hold that and turn the shock itself.
That black hard-plastic part blocks access, unless I grind out some of the plastic :banghead:
 
#9 ·
willee51 said:
-----------

A 2-yo could have done a better design than this :nonono:

And in case U have not seen this thread : http://www.wranglerforum.com/f33/the-importance-of-changing-out-stock-bolts-128154.html

I have ordered the bolt-set referenced in this link, as the "clunk" noise in the rear of my Jeep (after the install of an adj trackbar, following a lift) is attributed to the "stock bolt size" of the trackbar!

Damn, what POOR engineering :banghead:
Good move Wilee.

Very easy install :)
 
#10 ·
ChasmCrawler said:
Agreed on all points!

If you think the top shock nut is tough to get to...I found one that's worse than that...it's the nut on center band clamp on the exhaust. The clamp is tack welded to the pipe and the nut is on top against the floorboard/frame. The must have tightened the clamp on the assembly line without the body on. I gave up on that one!!!

http://www.blueislandsdiving.com
I needed a cut-off wheel and a sawzall to remove one of my front shocks :whistling:
That night sucked :D
 
#15 ·
Whoa, you got the shocks????

Results???? Was I semi right????


And Willie, the front shocks are biotches. The plastic actually folds toward the wheel, we pulled it and slid hand under it to reach the nut. Edit: Hand was basically in engine bay.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Willee:

Photo of open-ended wrench on the shock nut. No problems fitting, you just gotta angle it a little. Once you get it on the nut, try turning the shock itself to loosen everything up. Your Jeep is new enough that you shouldn't have a problem with sticking...

Like kjeep suffered through. :D

You'll find a bunch of these little aggravations when you do your own wrenching. Just remember, as long as the final product works, you're good. All sorts of crap has to be trashed for an install, inside and outside of your Jeep.

Adaptability is key.

You'll cuss, though.

View attachment 97535
 
#14 ·
Not looking to hijack thread but I have a question related to front shock removal on a 2012 JKUR. Im going to order the 2inch AEV spacer kit. I know you have to remove back shocks to mount extensions but fronts only get extension brackets on the bottoms of the shocks. Do you have to remove the shocks or can you just disconnect bottom bolts and compress the shock out of the way to mount the extensions. Id like to avoid taking the shocks out because of that difficult top nut.

Dave
 
#18 ·
New2012JEEP said:
Whoa, you got the shocks????

Results???? Was I semi right????

And Willie, the front shocks are biotches. The plastic actually folds toward the wheel, we pulled it and slid hand under it to reach the nut. Edit: Hand was basically in engine bay.
Not yet :banghead:

That was the night of the lift install, using the worthless extensions :)
 
#26 ·
I know this is an old thread, but I just used the box wrench end to pry and break off enough of that plastic to get a good grip... :)
 

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