Hi every one, was looking for a thread how to replaced rear shocks but can't find it. Link in the FAQ is dead. So I decide to make pictures, probably its help to someone.

First jack the car up (use stands, make sure its safe). Remove rear wheels, brake caliper, brake rotor and wheel speed sensor (abs sensor).

Unbolt shock on the bottom (good idea from BlackX300VDP lightly compress spring, before removing lower bolt)

bottom view



when bolt has been removed push the shock absorber up with suitable spacer





push up enough to put screw driver or extension in the shock hole and first coil of a spring



Now loose the upper nuts



Squeeze the coil spring with suitable tool



Now completely remove upper nuts and studs, squeeze spring until its will be enough to remove the bottom end from the seat





if you will remove tool from a spring, mark it, make sure you put it back on the same spots



Now unbolt shock from mount plate, change bushings if necessary and put it back

when you will install shock and spring back on the car push shock all way down and put straps on the upper mount plate and spring (make sure you have extension or screw driver on the bottom and upper mount plate seat back on the spring, then put the straps) I used mechanical wire. And when shock and spring back in the right place, install studs and nuts (just couple turns), remove extension or screw driver from the bottom and put bottom bolt in. Now release the spring and remove tools. Tight upper nuts

The only thing I would change, and only for safety's sake, is to put the spring compressors on before removing the lower bolt. The only thing keeping that spring from flying out is the big a-frame under the diff against the big lower control arm. Nice write up otherwise. Those rear shocks are tricky. I like the idea of pushing the shock into the spring and holding it with the extension. Nice pics.

yes you right, better compress the spring first, then remove the bottom bolt. Bolt will come out easier, but both ways is safe.

securing the shock eye with a rod is a nice touch

Thanks, I will add this FAQ

Is there a way of checking the bushings for wear before having to take the whole thing apart?

Push the car down hardest you can, and if you can hear clicking sound on the back, it could be bad bushings or spring seat

I have a 300 lbs of brother-in law and both he and myself have pushed down on the rear end of the car and can hear nothing no clicking no nothing. I have checked the spare, the battery and the fuel tank nothing seems to be loose but once I get onto a rough road each bump gives me a thud sound like the spare was moving about up and down. Don't seem to be able to figure this one out. My wife and I just came back from a trip with the car of over 1000 miles and it ran great smooth on the main roads clunky on the rough..

Also it could be plastic boot on the shock absorber, if bushing worn between shock rod and the dust boot, its can make this noise

Did you also replace the lower and upper spring seats? Insulator?

no I not replace the seats bushing its was in decent condition, I had only bushing worn out on the upper mount plate and its make loud clunking sound

I have a question on these lines.Left rear side,i have a noise that sounds like something is loose,rough road or slightly rough road,the sound is the same,does not get louder, even if I hit a large hole in the road.I have had the car up on a ramp,had a mechanic check it out and he says the shock is ok,the bushings are ok and he does not know what it is. It seems to come from the top of the body.It sounds like metal on metal and is a (hard to describe) sort of light knocking sound,not like the sound of a bushing that is no good.Sort of tuk tuk tuk sound(yes I know!)No laughs please,but it is so annoying. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Just my experience but that noise seems like you are on the right track with rear shocks. It is very hard to check the lower bushing for movement. I have replaced shocks and i have replaced lower bushings for that noise. The older cars (XJ40) would wear out the plastic bushing at the top and make that noise but I don't think the X300 cars have that piece. My car makes that noise when it wants. Some days its there, other days can't hear it. Dunno on that one!

These are great pictures and a great help to me as I was just getting ready to do this job. I have a '95 XJ6. Am I correct in assuming that these pictures and description would apply to my shock removal job? I remember seeing a set of instructions and great pictures that were posted on the internet on the removal of shocks on X300 cars but it was a more involved process. Can't remember much about except that the username "black onyx" comes to mind.

Carl

Carl, these are the pics for you and the 95.

its what i had, upper mount bushing, you cant see until you take it off

Hi Everyone,

I'm trying to do this job right now. So far, I haven't been able to remove the lower bolt that runs through the bottom of the shock. Shouldn't I be able to just tap it out with a hammer after I remove the nut or do I have to somehow try to press it out? It's hard to see if that is what pan84 did in the photos at the beginning of this post. I can't believe it's on there that tight. I would think that it should just tap right out with a hammer. I've pounded on it with a hammer (without damaging the threads) and so far it hasn't budged. I've sprayed some Aerokroil loosener on it to dissolve any rust but it doesn't seem to have helped that much. Does anybody have any ideas on the best way to remove it? I'm sure it's been in there since the car was built.

Thanks,

Carl

Pan84, you were dead on.As I do not know the history of the car, I decided to change all four shocks.The front were weak as were the rear,so after pulling out the rear(minus skinfrom my knuckles,what an sob,why would jag do that instead of putting the top mount inside like the front)anyhoo,the round rubber "doughnuts" were paper thin.After new shocks and doughnuts on both sides ......absolute silence,rough road or whatever.Thanks for the input.

What are the specs on the compression tool you are using? Could someone point me in the direction of a suitable tool for this job?

Thank you!

nice write up Pan and thanks for sharing..........Its been added to the "How " I believe