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How to Install SkyJacker Black MAX Front Shock Absorber for Stock Height (07-18 Jeep Wrangler JK) on your Jeep Wrangler
Installation Time
60 minutes
Tools Required
- Safety Glasses
- Breaker Bar with 3” Extension and 3/4 Socket
- Socket Wrench with 18mm Socket
- Wrenches: 14mm, 16mm (Ratcheting Wrenches Recommended) and 18mm
- Torque Wrench
- Hammer
- Vise Grips
- Wheel Chocks
- Floor Jack and Jack Stands (A 2-1/2 Ton Floor Jack with 3 Ton Jack Stands were used for this install.)
- Grease, Vaseline or other lubricant (Used for new shock bushing assembly.)
- PB Blaster or other rust penetrating spray (Optional)
Shop Parts in this Guide
Installation Notes: Completely read through the installation instructions before starting your install. You may need to spray a lubricant on the factory bolts holding the current shocks as they maybe rusted. The bolts my need to be sprayed multiple times based on how rusted they are. Recommended to spray the bolts a few days before starting your install.
There is a total of 1 SkyJacker Black MAX Shock with hardware included in the box. You will need two total SkyJacker Black MAX Font Shock Absorbers for both sides.
Important Note: Inspect all bolts and replace any that are damaged or heavily rusted.
Before Install
1. Place wheel chucks behind the back tires to prevent the Jeep® from moving. Break the lug nuts free using a Breaker bar or a socket wrench with a 3” extension and 3/4 socket while the Jeep® is still on the ground.
2. Place the floor jack on the bottom of the front differential and lift the Jeep®. Place jack stands under the frame or under the axle to secure the Jeep® in place and remove the tire.
3. Break free the bottom shock bolt using a socket wrench with a 18mm socket and a 18mm wrench. If the bolt does not slide out you will need to use a hammer to hit the side with the nut. Move the nut to the edge of the bolt making it flush with the bolt end and then hit the bolt until it breaks free.
4. Place a 16mm wrench or ratcheting wrench at the top factory shock bolt, and a vise grips on the bottom bolt as shown below. The factory inner fender can get in the way of the wrench.
5. Layout all the hardware parts for your new SkyJacker Black MAX Shock Absorber.
6. Place grease, Vaseline or other lubricant within the mount hole of the shock, and on the black rubber bushing. NOTE: You do not need to use a lot of lubricant.
7. Slide the rubber bushing through the mount hole on the shock. Lightly lubricate the inner hole of the rubber bushing.
8. Side the metal collar through the rubber bushing.
9. Pull the piston out of the shock absorber as shown in the image below.
10. Place the piston through the supplied black rubber shock boot cover and secure with the supplied zip tie. Cut the excess of the zip tie.
Note that an aftermarket green shock boot was used to complete this install.
11. Place a silver washer on the top shock mount followed the rubber bushing with the protruding rubber facing up as shown in the image below.
12. Insert the shock into the top mount of the Jeep®. Now place the top rubber bushing then the silver washer followed by the supplied 14mm nut. Torque nut to 20-foot pounds.
13. Place the other end of the shock into the bottom Jeep® shock mount and slide the factory 18mm bolt and secure with factory nut. Torque bottom nut/bolt to 56-foot pounds.
Important Note: If you removed the tires from the Jeep®. You will need to torque the lug nuts down to factory spec of 95-foot pounds per the factory manual.
After Install
Installation Instructions Written by ExtremeTerrain Customer Brian Voelzke 09/01/2018
