DIY Front Strut Changes - AUSJEEPOFFROAD.COM Jeep News Australia and New Zealand

Go Back   AUSJEEPOFFROAD.COM Jeep News Australia and New Zealand > JEEP GARAGE > KJ Cherokee
Register Forums Trading Your Jeep New Garage Mark All Read

Post New Thread  Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
  #1  
Old 20-02-2019
glend's Avatar
glend  glend is offline
AJOR Silver
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,449
What Jeep do I drive?: KJ
Likes: 1
Liked 171 Times in 115 Posts
Default DIY Front Strut Changes

In dangerous territory here. I need to replace my old OME front struts, they are making bad noises and not suspressing rebound much. I have ordered a couple of the OZTEC ones from CRDSTU (apparently OME don't make the KJ CRD ones anymore), my KJ has outlived it's suppliers. So I will be pulling out the front strut/spring combo and installing the new struts (springs are still fine). I have done this before, as I installed my lift many years ago (when I was much younger and pre-heart attack). I used Peddars then to break down the strut and install the new ones, and they did not charge me much at all (mayb $50). I don't have a hydraulic spring compressor, and the nearest Peddars is probably 30kms away. This had me recalling that some brave soles had tried compressing these struts with DIY solutions ( like CMOHR, I believe).

So who has done it and how did you accomplish it without killing yourself? These springs are not your little petrol variety, but the heavy CRD ones.

I have tackled most CRD work to date but this job scares me.
Likes: (1)
  #2  
Old 20-02-2019
glend's Avatar
glend  glend is offline
AJOR Silver
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,449
What Jeep do I drive?: KJ
Likes: 1
Liked 171 Times in 115 Posts
Default

The struts arrived today. I did some quick measurements to determine if they are going to fit the clevis collar and it looks like they will (I would hate to get the old ones out to find out these new ones don't fit). I know nothing about Oztec but Stu seems to thing they are good. They are the lifted CRD strut. I did a quick compression on them and they seem abit soft but then I haven't got the old ones out to compare. I suppose when your sourcing parts for a 12 year old vehicle you need to take what you can find, and most KJs are older than mine.

Photo attached. It's been a long time since I did a writeup on this sort of job but hopefully I can keep this going.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	DSCF1981.jpg
Views:	48
Size:	74.8 KB
ID:	78127   Click image for larger version

Name:	DSCF1982.jpg
Views:	47
Size:	51.0 KB
ID:	78128  
  #3  
Old 21-02-2019
Lancer  Lancer is offline
CrawlerStar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: London,England
Posts: 302
What Jeep do I drive?: KJ
Likes: 4
Liked 7 Times in 7 Posts
Default

I know the problem. Its getting a bit trickier to find stuff for the KJ, and I don't want to change it - we still love it!
  #4  
Old 21-02-2019
Clarky's Avatar
Clarky  Clarky is offline
Irok Bandit
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wang NSW
Age: 56
Posts: 4,431
What Jeep do I drive?: JT
Likes: 479
Liked 1,189 Times in 788 Posts
Check out my Ride(s)
Thumbs up eBay strut compressor

I know the feeling and 100% agree, strut assembly could be a killer.
This is what I purchased to do the job
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Auto-Coi...d6da%7Ciid%3A1

It still is a freaky feeling and it creaked and popped a bit but it did do the job. Quality is so so and I urge caution and be aware of body placement but it did the job without issue.

$200 is a bit more then the $50 it cost you last time but its another tool in my shed and I like tools
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	s-l16.jpg
Views:	106
Size:	21.0 KB
ID:	78129  
__________________
SOLD 06 Limited G/C QuadraDrive II Lovells 2"Lift +30 rims 265/70/17 Imported Saguaro Bar Stedi
  #5  
Old 21-02-2019
layback40's Avatar
layback40  layback40 is offline
Grumpy Old XJ Dsl Owner
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Northern Victoria
Posts: 13,781
What Jeep do I drive?: XJ
Likes: 4,579
Liked 6,550 Times in 4,342 Posts
Default

OZTEC suspension parts get discussed on Pajero groups a bit.
I only know this as I am adapting a Pajero snorkel to one of my CRDs. $67 c.f $400 for a KJ one & I think its worth a try.
JungleJuice is now a Pajero owner & was always a wealth of knowledge on suspension, he may know about their gear.
Good luck with the spring installation! Always good to have the spring well contained so it cant bounce around the shed. I would have the spring strapped to the spring compressor. Last time I did a strut spring (not on a jeep) I had it contained in a piece of pipe so it could not bow & come out sideways.
__________________
98&01XJVMs,06&07KJCRD's,No longer question authority,I annoy it.More effect,less effort.10000Club
  #6  
Old 22-02-2019
BeagleCamper  BeagleCamper is offline
Established Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Port Melbourne
Posts: 189
What Jeep do I drive?: WK2
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times in 9 Posts
Default

OME are still available for lifted KJ. Replaced mine three months ago.
__________________
Happy Camper!
  #7  
Old 23-02-2019
indiedog's Avatar
indiedog  indiedog is offline
Full Flexer
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 703
What Jeep do I drive?: KJ
Likes: 55
Liked 51 Times in 44 Posts
Check out my Ride(s)
Default

Glen, I did mine a couple of years ago and tried to do it with some standard spring compressors. The compressor broke first go and I was shit scared trying to do it so ended up taking it all to Pedders who put it together for $60. Very happy to not attempt it in the end.
__________________
http://www.arcoeco.com.au
Post New Thread  Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On





All times are GMT +10. The time now is 07:06 PM.


Advertisements




AJOR does not vouch for or warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any message, and are not responsible for the contents of any message. The messages express the views of the author of the message, not necessarily the views of AJOR or any entity associated with AJOR, nor should any advice be substituted as technical advice replacing that of a mechanic. You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use AJOR to post any material which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, religious, political or otherwise violative of any law. You agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or by AJOR. The owner, administrators and moderators of AJOR reserve the right to delete any message or members for any or no reason whatsoever. You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages, and you agree to indemnify and hold harmless AJOR, the administrators, moderators, and their agents with respect to any claim based upon transmission of your message(s). The use of profile signatures to intentionally mislead or misdirect any member on this forum is not acceptable and may result in your account being suspended. Any trip that is organised through the AJOR forum is participated at your own risk. If you or your vehicle is damaged it is your responsibility, not that of the person that posted the thread, message or topic initiating the trip, nor the organisers of AJOR or moderators of any specific forum. This forum and associated website is the property of AJOR. No user data is harvested and no information supplied in your registration will be sold for profit.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

AJOR © 2002 - 2024 AUSJEEPOFFROAD.COM. All corporate trademarked names and logos are property of their respective owners. Ausjeepoffroad is in no way associated with DaimlerChrysler Corporation or Fiat Jeep.
www.ausjeep.com www.ausjeep.com.au www.midlifemate.com ausjeepforum.com www.r9kustoms.com
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=