|
|
Walker
Evans Racing Shocks
In
the 5 years that I've owned my Jeep TJ, I have run many different
shocks including Rancho 5000's, Rusty's, BDS, Doetsch DT3000's and
then DT8000's. Most of these I purchase because I needed something
to fit the suspension I was running at the time but all were selected
based on price first and then comfort quality second. Need I say,
some of these shocks were bone jarring stiff while some were sea sickeningly
spongy and then there were one or two that were comfortable enough
for what I paid.
When I decided to buy my Walker Evans Racing Shocks, I decided to
put comfort ahead of budget and let me just say, these are by far
the best damn shocks I have ever ridden on. Sure, they were a bit
pricey but I don't see myself going any taller with my Jeep TJ than
I am right now (I won't be able to fit into the garage if I do) and
because the Walker Evans shocks can be completely rebuilt, I really
see these as the last shocks I will ever have to buy.
What
You Will Need
•
Walker
Evans Racing Shocks
• 13,15,18,19mm,9/16" Sockets/Wrenches
• 13mm deep socket
• Ratchet
• 3" and 12" Ratchet Extensions
• Torque Wrench
• Vice Grips
• Pliers
• Zip Ties
• Floor Jack
Installation
1.
Park on level ground and spray your shock bolts with some
PB Blaster.
2. Starting
from the rear, climb under your Jeep and remove your existing shocks
using a 13mm socket for the upper frame mount and then a 15mm and
an 18mm socket and wrench for the bottom axle mount. A ratchet extension
will really help out to reach the upper mounting bolts.
3 . As I'm sure you've already noticed, the new Walker
Evans Shocks are gas charged and so the shafts will already be fully
extended. Only problem is that this can make things a bit more difficult
to install. You can just muscle the shocks on your Jeep but I decided
to make things easy by compressing them ahead of time using some zip
ties. To do this, pre-assemble some zip tie into a loop, place it
on one end of the shock, set the end vertically on the ground with
a towel or carpet to protect the shock end and then compress the shock
by pushing down on it. Once the shock is compressed enough, slip on
the other end and then progressively ratchet down the zip tie ends
using a pair of pliers. This can all be done by yourself but a extra
set of hands will make this job a lot easier to do.
4. Walker Evans sells
their shocks pre-assembled with bar pins and bushings already installed
and so all you need to do from here is install your new shocks on
the rear of your Jeep using the factory hardware.
5. On to the
fronts, you will need to jack up your Jeep and remove the wheels to
get better access to the shocks. Be sure your parking brake is engaged
and chock your rear wheels before proceeding.
6. Crack loose but do
not remove the lug nuts on your front driver side wheel. Then, jack
up your front axle from the differential enough to get it off the
ground.
7. Remove your wheel,
set it aside and then proceed to remove your front shock. Unlike the
rear of your Jeep, your front shocks are mounted with a stud mount
on top and it will need to be held with a wrench or vice grips while
unscrewing the nut with a 9/16" wrench. To remove your shock
from the bottom axle mount, you will need to use a 13mm wrench and
a 13mm deep socket or standard socket with a 3" extension.
8. Like the rear shocks, your new Walker Evans front
shocks come pre-assembled with bar pins already in place. Proceed
to install your new shock making sure that the polyurethane bushings
sandwich your upper shock mount as shown in the pic to the left. Secure
the top of the mounting stud with vice grips and then fasten the lock
nut in place using a 9/16" wrench.
9. Reinstall your wheel,
lower your Jack and then torque your lug nuts to 95 ft. lbs.
10. Repeat steps 6 -
9 on the passenger side but this time, jack up your your axle from
the housing right next to the lower control arm.
That should be it. Nice, fast and easy mod. Please let me know if
you have any questions.
Post
Installation Notes & Review
Okay, so how do
these things really ride? Let me just say, absolutely awesome!! I
just took my Jeep TJ out to desert to give them a run for their money
and these things just devoured rough terrain. Even the roughest, teeth
rattling washboard roads were just soaked up.
When I first decided to start the journey of modifying my Jeep, I
resign myself to believing that the ride quality of my Jeep TJ would
never be the same.... Today, not only is my ride quality good, I would
honestly have to say it is better than stock ever was.
If you are in the market for a great set of shocks and comfort is
paramount to price. I would highly recommend getting a set of Walker
Evans Racing Shocks. They just might be the last shocks you will ever
have to buy.
|
|
|
