- Location
- Roanoke VA
I have done a bunch of these and the longer they have been on there the harder they fight to stay on. I have used heat and a hammer, pickle forks, removed the whole drag link assembly and pressed them out, you name it-I've tried it!
My sons XJ needed a new one since the original had 200k+ on it and was puking oil out of it.
I tried a new method today that netted in a simple 10 minuet job.
Tools needed:
Side cutters to remove cotter pin
3/4" box end wrench to remove castle nut
4" angle grinder and cut off wheel
Ball joint press, you can rent the one I own from AutoZone or Advance Auto.
First, remove the cotter pin and castle nut.
Cut off the shaft at the drag link end (as close as you can) with the cut off wheel.
Place the ball joint press over the the drag link end of the damper and tighten the press. I used the 2" receiving cup to slip over the head of the damper. I tightened the press as tight as I could get it by hand with a 1/2" ratchet and when I went to get a breaker bar it popped loose while I was at the tool box!
Remove the axle end of the damper and install the new one. I use the Monroe brand and replace them every year or so. The replacements are much easier since the stud does not need to be removed from the drag link.
The "new" installed damper.
My sons XJ needed a new one since the original had 200k+ on it and was puking oil out of it.
I tried a new method today that netted in a simple 10 minuet job.
Tools needed:
Side cutters to remove cotter pin
3/4" box end wrench to remove castle nut
4" angle grinder and cut off wheel
Ball joint press, you can rent the one I own from AutoZone or Advance Auto.
First, remove the cotter pin and castle nut.
Cut off the shaft at the drag link end (as close as you can) with the cut off wheel.
Place the ball joint press over the the drag link end of the damper and tighten the press. I used the 2" receiving cup to slip over the head of the damper. I tightened the press as tight as I could get it by hand with a 1/2" ratchet and when I went to get a breaker bar it popped loose while I was at the tool box!
Remove the axle end of the damper and install the new one. I use the Monroe brand and replace them every year or so. The replacements are much easier since the stud does not need to be removed from the drag link.
The "new" installed damper.