OEM shocks limiting articulation?

Started replacing my rear springs today... got one side out & new spring in save for final torque of fasteners. I actually had to jack up axle to reconnect the shock. That doesn't seem right... does it? Any shocks out there that are slightly longer than stock? '99 4.0, HD springs, using Dorman leafs which I understand should be pretty much the same as what I'm replacing, just not saggy and wore out...

HD springs usually seem to add a little bit of lift (approx an inch) until settled. Are you sure your shocks are still good? And that they really are the correct shocks?
There should be at least some travel left in the shocks at ride height.

Yes, this is a 90K mile vehicle w/ mostly original parts. The springs unfortunately were badly worn out when I bought it though and my use of it primarily to haul stuff hasn't helped. The issue isn't that the shocks don't have travel at ride height, it's that they not the springs are limiting droop. I was trying to reconnect shocks w/ Jeep on a lift, lifted from 'frame' - I had to put a support under the axle and lift it an inch or so to get the shocks back on.

Surprisingly, it sits about level now, not rear high - my front springs seem not to have sagged one bit.

N8N_99xj said:

Yes, this is a 90K mile vehicle w/ mostly original parts. The springs unfortunately were badly worn out when I bought it though and my use of it primarily to haul stuff hasn't helped. The issue isn't that the shocks don't have travel at ride height, it's that they not the springs are limiting droop. I was trying to reconnect shocks w/ Jeep on a lift, lifted from 'frame' - I had to put a support under the axle and lift it an inch or so to get the shocks back on.

Surprisingly, it sits about level now, not rear high - my front springs seem not to have sagged one bit.

Click to expand...

That could be normal if the new springs actually allow more drop that those you replaced. However, you did not say whether or not the new springs have more lift or the brand name. You could get more precise help if others know what you are working with. If you were to remove the shock at the axle end with the weight on the wheels, how much drop would the shocks allow?

Many years ago, I did a small add-a-leaf lift. Like you I had to put the weight of the XJ on the wheels to get the shocks on. This resulted in wheel hop in slight curves. Longer shocks did the trick.

They're the Dorman 929-301 leaf springs, bought from Amazon because free shipping. Using Crown stock replacement shackles and bolts from the dealership - so basically this should be equivalent to what the vehicle came with when new (as it had the HD spring option listed on the build sheet), no effective lift. It certainly doesn't *look* lifted at all, it just looks right finally, not all gasser style nose in the air The springs, other than the arch (or lack thereof) look pretty much identical to the ones I took out in terms of leaf thickness, length, configuration, etc.

I had to raise the axle probably about 1" to reconnect the shocks after I got the springs all bolted in. Before anyone says anything, I did lower it so the axle was resting on jackstands and final torque everything on the ground so as not to stress the rubber bushings.


At the moment I can't measure axle tube to frame or hub to flare because it's still stuck at the shop, I didn't think to do that before I left yesterday.

I'm assuming that this means that if I do even a basic budget boost (longer shackles and ZJ v8 springs or coil spacers) that I will definitely need new shocks...

Measure your shocks extended and compressed lengths. Measure to determine if your springs now sit at stock or provide a slight lift.

Compare those numbers to some commonly used stock and lift kit shocks.


Shock Lengths



Brand/Model # Extended Collapsed Travel Position
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Napa 37083 (Stock) 21.2 13 8.2 Front
Monroe 32252 (* Stock) 21.25 13 8.1 Front
Monroe 37193 (* 1-3 “ Lift) 24.25 13.37 10.8 Front
Monroe 911524 (* UpCountry) 21.00 13.4 7.6 Front
Doetsch DT3350 ( 3-5” Lift) 26.5 15.5 11.0 Front
ES1000 ES124515 (* 3" Lift) 24.50 14.38 10.0 Front
ES1000 ES121515 (* 0-2" Lift) 21.52 12.72 8.8 Front
ES3000 ES324515 (* 3" Lift) 24.70 14.52 10.2 Front
ES3000 ES321515 (* 0-2" Lift) 20.24 12.45 7.8 Front
ES9000 ES921515 (* 0-2" Lift) 21.75 13.06 8.6 Front
ES9000 ES924515 (* 3" Lift) 24.70 14.52 10.2 Front
Skyjacker SJA-H7016 (* 1-3" Lift) 22.75 13.54 9.2 Front
Skyjacker SJA-H7025 (* 3-5" Lift) 24.75 14.54 10.2 Front
Skyjacker SJA-N8016 (* 1-3" Lift) 22.75 13.54 9.2 Front
Skyjacker SJA-N8025 (* 3-5" Lift) 24.75 14.54 10.2 Front
Skyjacker SJA-M9016 (* 1-3" Lift) 22.75 13.54 9.2 Front
Rancho RS5239 (* 3" Lift) 23.75 14.37 9.38 Front
Rancho RS5128 (* Stock) 20.87 13.00 7.8 Front
Rancho RS99239 (* 3" Lift) 23.75 14.37 9.38 Front
Rancho RS99128 (* Stock) 20.87 13.00 7.8 Front
Rancho RSX17317 (* 3" Lift) 23.75 14.50 9.25 Front
Rancho RSX13036 (* Stock) 20.50 12.87 7.6 Front
Bilstein F4-B46-1798 (Stock+Upcountry) 21.50 13.25 8.25 Front
Bilstein F4-BE5-6241-H8 (4” Lift)……………………………………….………….Front


Brand/Model # Extended Collapsed Travel Position
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NAPA 37027 (Stock) 20.0 12.8 7.2 Rear
Monroe 32269 (* Stock) 21.50 13.37 8.1 Rear
Monroe 37194 (* Upcountry) 21.12 13.87 7.2 Rear
Monroe 911525 (* Upcountry) 21.50 13.87 7.2 Rear
Monroe 37029 (1-3” Lift ) 23.00 14.375 8.6 Rear
Superlift SLF-85112 (* 2-4" Lift) 24.00 14.50 10 Rear
Superlift SLF-84140 (* 3-5" Lift) 26.07 15.57 10.5 Rear
Superlift SLF-85080 (* 0-2" Lift) 21.57 13.32 8.25 Rear
ES1000 ES124509 (* 3" Lift) 24.86 14.84 10 Rear
ES1000 ES121515 (* 0-2" Lift) 21.52 12.97 8.5 Rear
ES3000 ES324509 (* 3" Lift) 24.84 14.82 10 Rear
ES3000 ES322509 (* 0-2" Lift) 22.58 13.71 8.8 Rear
ES9000 ES922509 (* 0-2" Lift) 22.58 13.72 8.8 Rear
ES9000 ES924509 (* 3" Lift) 24.84 14.82 10 Rear
Skyjacker SJA-N8058 (* 3-5" Lift) 24.84 14.82 10 Rear
Skyjacker SKA-H7058 (* 3-5" Lift) 24.84 14.82 10 Rear
Doetsch DT-3000 (* 2" Lift) 22.50 13.50 9 Rear
Doetsch DT-3000 (* 4" Lift) 24.50 14.50 10 Rear
Doetsch DT-8000 (* 4" Lift) 24.50 14.50 10 Rear
Rancho RS5194 (* 2-3" Lift) 23.25 14.37 8.8 Rear
Rancho RS5259 (* Stock) 21.50 13.50 8 Rear
Rancho RSX13037 (* 0-2" Lift) 21.12 13.50 7.62 Rear
Bilstien F4-B46-1799 (Stock+UpCountry) 21.50 13.25 8.25 Rear
Bilstein F4-BE5-6686-H6 (4” Lift) …………………………………………….Rear



Note: * These lift heights were included where the shock lengths were found. These were the suggested shocks for that amount of lift. I have no way to ensure these numbers are accurate.

Front Shocks = Bottom Eyelet With Top Stud Mount
Rear Shocks = Bottom/Top Eyelet Mount

So I just got a pair of Monroe 37193 off eBay for my 2" lift front end. They are stock length. This chart is in error.

In the rear, spend $40 on Zone Offroad lower shock mounts (if you can weld, that is)
In front, home-brew some raised shock mounts. I used square tubing & rear sway bar brackets, drilled a couple holes, weldy weldy, pressed out the bar pins et voila, shock spacers.

yossarian19 said:

In the rear, spend $40 on Zone Offroad lower shock mounts (if you can weld, that is)
In front, home-brew some raised shock mounts. I used square tubing & rear sway bar brackets, drilled a couple holes, weldy weldy, pressed out the bar pins et voila, shock spacers.

Click to expand...

I thought about that too. My fab skills are limited to removing material, not adding (lack of welding).

The rears might be correct, haven't even gotten that far yet.

I'm not holding you responsible, just wanted to share my experience. What's funniest (my wife and wallet aren't laughing) is that I first ordered a pair in stock length by accident, using the stock length part number. So now I've got 2 pairs that're the same!

Sorry the info is wrong, none of my XJ's have stayed stock for very long. I have cross checked some of the part numbers, but I suppose I should make the note bigger/better and suggest cross referencing actual manufacturers data before ordering.