How common is it for shocks to leak?

97' 4 Popper

Opened a Can of Worms
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Oct 11, 2020
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Hi guys, one of my jeeps is a 2006 LJ with original shocks from 2006. I know because it still had the mopar sticker. While I'm working on the TJ the LJ has stayed parked in the same spot for long periods of times, and I noticed quite a build up of fluid on the ground underneath. It took a few seconds for me to understand, but all the fluid is coming from the top of the shocks and dripping down. It is a yellowish amber color.

How common is this, and do I need to replace immediately? I drive the lj 6 miles a week and was planning on changing the shocks anyways- just not trying to do it anytime soon. I'm in the process of trying to drop the tranny pan, gas tank, and control arm on the TJ and that's enough work as it is.

Thanks

-97 4 popper
 
IF the LJ is not driven much then you can hold off on the shock replacement, but once the TJ repairs are completed; I would plan on giving the LJ some attention too...

I shouldn't worry too much about it? I drive the LJ only enough to keep it running. It wasn't a slight leak, it was like I walked past my jeep to get my cat inside and saw a huge puddle. Honestly the LJ is MY jeep I've been trying to get back to for a while now, the Tj is a temporary thing I'm looking to gain experience with and sell.

I have new shocks sitting around but they are 2-3 inch ranchos, wanted to keep LJ stockish and didn't realize ranchos run so long. So still pretty undecided with that.
 
There was a period of time when shocks didn't even exist. That was about 100 yrs ago but it was that way.

I'm not saying shocks today are useless, just that they create the smooth riding we get today and driving it "only enough to keep it running" shouldn't be a problem.

FWIW, Some time in the mid 90s I had a lower shock mount break off the rear axle of my mid 80s 4x4 S10. It was so cold out that all I did was remove the whole shock. A couple years later I sold that truck and totally forgot about the missing shock until a week or so later when the new owner called to ask about it.
 
Being that you are in Central NY spray the upper rear shock bolts with kroil or some good other penetrate (not wd 40) the week before several times. Those bolts love to snap and it is not fun when it does....ask me how I know🤔
 
There was a period of time when shocks didn't even exist. That was about 100 yrs ago but it was that way.

I'm not saying shocks today are useless, just that they create the smooth riding we get today and driving it "only enough to keep it running" shouldn't be a problem.

FWIW, Some time in the mid 90s I had a lower shock mount break off the rear axle of my mid 80s 4x4 S10. It was so cold out that all I did was remove the whole shock. A couple years later I sold that truck and totally forgot about the missing shock until a week or so later when the new owner called to ask about it.

Thanks for the reassurance, of course being a stock jeep no mods with 148k miles the suspension parts are going to need an update soon. I drifted back and forth between wanting a 2-3 inch lift with adjustable sway bars and track bars, or just doing a rancho 0-2 with h and r springs. Just trying to make the work manageable for me so it's not all at once.


Being that you are in Central NY spray the upper rear shock bolts with kroil or some good other penetrate (not wd 40) the week before several times. Those bolts love to snap and it is not fun when it does....ask me how I know🤔

So what did you do in that tight spacing situation? Did you get a new head welded on? I've actually been spraying a lot of kroil on basically everything on the jeep, even small bolts. I was able to remove the pinion nut on the rear differential of the TJ by spraying every 4 hours for a week. After that I was hooked on the stuff.