Rear JK Rubicon Shocks on an MJ Question

[HOrnbrod]

This question is directed to those who have installed these shocks on the MJ rear. I had an extra pair of the rear JK Rubicon shocks, so I decided to prepare them for my MJ. Using jerpderp's writeup in the DIY forum here:  http://comancheclub.com/topic/52091-installing-jk-wrangler-shocks/.

I pressed the top bushings and bar pins out, no problem, then ordered a pair of the replacement bushings he recommended.

On the bottom bushing/sleeve however, after I pressed out the steel sleeve the hole left in the rubber bushing was only about 3/8" in diameter. I can't see how that will stretch/compress enough to go onto the ~5/8" MJ stud, even though the sleeve I pressed out was 5/8" in dia. Will it go w/o tearing the rubber? I haven't tried it yet since I'm waiting for the top bushings to arrive.

[Jeep Driver]

Probably easy to swap the lower bushing from your existing shock. 

[HOrnbrod]

They are all OME's with molded-in bushings and they won't come out w/o tearing. Not an option unfortunately .........

[jerpderp]

Don, I used some lubricant and they slipped on fairly easily, no damage to the bushing. The bushing for the JK lowers is different than the shocks that came on my Comanche(also different than the upper JK bushing) I searched and searched for a polyurethane replacement bushing and couldn't find one.

 

 

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[HOrnbrod]

Great, and thanks for the reply. Those bottom sleeves were tons of fun to press out with my vice w/o damaging the rubber. Can see why you grabbed a ball joint press. Will slap them on when the new upper bushes come in and post back how these shocks perform.   :cheers: 

[MeanLemons]

I installed them on my mj when I first got it in October. I actually greased the inside of the bushing and on the shaft and used a c clamp with a socket to press the bushing into the shaft.

[jerpderp]

Awesome! It'll be nice to see if my opinion of them as comfy is confirmed.

 

 

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[cruiser54]

Awesome! It'll be nice to see if my opinion of them as comfy is confirmed.

 

 

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I have JK shocks on 2 XJs and 3 MJs in the family, and have installed them on 3 other XJs. Nice shocks!!!!!

[MeanLemons]

Yes it's nice rear shocks for my mj and for the XJ that I did couple years ago.

[HOrnbrod]

Well, I put these things on the rear of my MJ, went for a short ride around the block, then promptly removed them. Maybe I'm spoiled by the OME shocks I've been using for years, but they are way too firm for me. Not terribly so, but I much prefer my OMEs. I think Bilsteins 5125s are way firm too, so it's probably just me. I don't like them but it seems like everyone here loves them.   :dunno:  

 

So I'll be listing them for cheap later in the classifieds. These shocks are from a local jeep dealership and have about 20 total miles on them. They came from a new 2017 JKU Rubicon.  The lower bar pins and sleeves have been removed and new correct upper bushings have been installed and they are ready to bolt on to an MJ rear end.