I just bought some rear shocks for my blazer and the rear have this rubber rope thing around them do i cut them off before putting them on or just leave them?

 

LEAVE THEM ON! You'll see if you look through some of the threads on here, that's the one thing that most people wish they did but it was too late. Rear shocks aren't as hard as front shocks to replace but that 'rubber rope' you're speaking of actually holds the shock in a compressed position. You'll want to leave them on and cut it once you have the shock in place. Otherwise, re-compressing them's going to be more trouble than you need to put yourself through. Let us know how you made out!

 

ok good to know thanks for quick input ill let ya know how it goes

 

It might be easier to leave the rope thing on, however compressing the shock into place is not that hard.

 

I dont think it makes mcuh of a difference in the back, if you have it jacked up by the frame and not the axle. If its held upby the frame its already at full drop, pretty close to max extension of teh shock.

Now if we are talking front shocks, completely different story. Leave the plastic retainer in place until the shock is in, then when you cut it, it will expand into the upper position, be ready to guide it, it moves quicker then you think and you only get one shot, after that you get to mess around with it and its a pain in the butt. [8D]