changing shocks and springs

[01jeepgc]

Hello, I am brand new to this forum but know I will get lots of good info here. I recently purchased a 01 GC Laredo for my daughter. It has the I-6 and 105K on it.

There seems to be a lot of movement cornering and going over bumps that make me suspect the shocks and springs need to be replaced, as a start at least. So, my question is what kind of shocks and springs would be recommended and how difficult is that as a do it yourself job?

I also own a 99 Chrysler 300M and belong to that forum as well. I know that the info you can get from these is so increcibly helpful and has saved me lots of money!!

Mark

[tow_hook]

pull the shocks, and see if they still have a charge to them... they are gas.. and if depressed, the should be stiff to do so.. easy... and they need replaced... as for as coils.. never replace them with stock... but i'd try the shocks first... rancho 9000 gas shocks have worked well with her old man emu lift... and they are avl. at any advance auto..

as for the shock replacement.. hand tools , a jack to remove the tires.. and some time... the front would take longer then the rear.. and use antiseeze

[SteelHeadz]

Welcome to Jeepz. Also check the track bar and sway bar bushings.

	Swaybar A sway bar (also stabilizer bar, anti-sway bar, roll bar, or anti-roll bar, ARB) is an automobile suspension device. It connects opposite (left/right) wheels together through short lever arms linked by a torsion spring. A sway bar increases the suspension's roll stiffness—its resistance to roll in turns, independent of its spring rate in the vertical direction.

	Track bar A track bar is a component of a car suspension system that provides lateral location of the axle. While the purpose of the rear suspension of an automobile is to allow the wheels to move vertically with respect to the body, it is undesirable to allow them to move forward and backwards, or from side to side. It is this latter movement that the track bar is designed to prevent. It is a simple device, consisting of a rigid bar running sideways in the same plane as the rear axle, connecting one end of the axle to the car body or chassis on the opposite side of the vehicle. The bar is attached on either end with pivots that permit it to swivel upwards and downwards only, so that the axle is, in turn, allowed to move in the vertical plane only.

[01jeepgc]

Good info and thank you. I dont mind taking these things on my own although I do not do a lot of my own work but this does seem do-able for me.

For a first timer changing out shocks, how much time do you think it will take?

I was also thinking about replacing the ball joints? The jeep manual indicates that requires a special tool and I should take it to a mechanic for that.

[SteelHeadz]

With power tools, it shouldn't take more than 5 mins. for each shock absorber, with manual tools, a little bit longer. Most auto parts house like Napa or Carquest will let you rent a balljoint remover/ installer if you wish to tackle that yourself.

[WILE-E1]

You could try changing out the sissy factory sway bars and call quadratech for bigger ones for better cornering.

[gardengirl38]

Shocks are easy. Ten minutes per side, not hard at all! There are some good you tube videos on the whole process. Ball joint- even with the tool it is hard. That job I think is worth paying someone else to do. I also saw a cool trick on You Tube for removing the old ones- not sure I would be willing to try it alone. Involved a jack and jack stand- I will try to find the video and post a link to it.