Reddit mentions: The best automotive shock cushions & mounts

This is what I am going to end up doing. I actually found the part on Amazon, available through Amazon Prime!!! Here is a link to the part on Amazon

I actually installed this and the one with the body mount to the front of this a couple weeks ago. I still have to do the other side with the body mount so I'll try and take some pics during the process.

Recommendations:

• New Body Mounts
  
• New suspension hardware including shackle bolts and leaf spring U-Bolts - make sure to get Grade 8 hardness hardware
  
• Some kind of rust converter to put on every goddamn thing you see - some people shoot this stuff through the entire length of the frame inside. I bought this stuff which seems good but crystalized when left in a shed to freeze.
  
• If you own a YJ, then you are probably handy with a welder. Get some steel stock and use it for the sections between the Safe-T-Cap parts
  
• Might as well get some rear shock mounts because if yours aren't gone yet then you have a barn find. Use the flat stock steel to make brackets.
  
• Your bushings are junk. Get these for the bushings on the leaf spring.
  
• Might as well get some new shocks

they're replaceable: https://jksmfg.com/i-9052792-cherokee-xj-1984-2001-rear-upper-adjustable-shock-mount.html?ref=category:381190

​

amazon review with pics: https://www.amazon.com/JKS-OGS999-Adjustable-Cross-Over-Shock/dp/B005TU024A#customerReviews

Passenger bucket

Drivers bucket

Look up the upper mounting part on rock auto. Then search google with part number for cheapest price.

Shocks for a decent set usually aren’t more then $80. Also search amazon and google. Also you don’t really know the shock is bad. Just the mount broke

A couple hours of your time and jobs done for almost under $100.

shock mount

The rear shock mount broke. It should be replaced as soon as you can, but it is not unsafe to drive the car to a shop if you go slowly.

However, I would VERY strongly suggest you to take off the broken shock first. It's not hard. You just have to take off a bolt on the bottom then the two nuts on top (part 22 and 23 in the diagram). You just need to take off the tire and you'll be able to see them.

If you don't take off the broken shock/shock mount and drive the car, there's a chance you'll break or bend the bolt that's holding the shock mount. If you break that bolt, it's a HUGE pain in the ass to fix. The bolt is welded to the frame that's only accessible from inside the car after you remove off a bunch of interior pieces. Don't break the bolt!

The shock is not a load bearing piece. Its job is to dampen bounces in the suspension. So without it, the rear of the car will bounce A LOT when you go over bumps. This bouncing makes the handling of the car really squirrelly and strange. I would not hesitate driving on it to the shop slowly (say less than 30mph) on a smooth road, but i would not take corners harshly or go on the highway.

You'll have to replace both sides and I would go ahead and replace the shocks as well unless you know they have been replaced recently. Aftermarket part prices aren't that bad (Monroe shocks and Dorman Shock mounts). OEM parts should be about $100 for each side.

It should cost about about $200 in parts and $100 (~1 hour ish) in labor to change out shocks on both sides. If you break the bolt, that's another 3 hours of labor. So don't break the bolt!

If you want to tackle this job yourself, check out these couple of videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsbEIOBGiTE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRoUMFY5VdQ