I replaced the cv axle on the passenger side of my '91 Civic wagon but as I put the suspension back together I find that when I lift the upright on my floor jack, the shock does not compress and the car just rises off the front jackstand. Normal?

 

I'm not sure what you're talking about. If you put everything back together(*) and set the car down on all 4 tires, is it the right height?

The main thing to look out for on CV axle replacement is getting the inner joint fully engaged in the transmission so it locks. If it isn't locked, you will drive a few blocks, maybe a few miles, but then have it come out and the car won't go.

(*) If you're having trouble getting the bolt in the wishbone shaped piece to line up, take the lower ball joint off again so the lower control arm is free to move. Put the bolt in most of the way then put the ball joint on then tighten everything.

 

I had no problem getting the bolt back through the lower wishbone, the upper balljoint nut nor the steering knuckle. But with those on, I tried to lift the suspension using a floorjack under the lower balljoint and when I jacked it up the suspension didn't give but the right front of the just lifted off the jackstand as if I had the jack under the body. I wondered if the shock absorber fluid had drained downward and keeping the shock extended.

 

What kind of shocks are they??
They arent gonna compress much otherwise the weight of the car would crush them down, if thats what youre getting at. Odd question...

 

During the night I woke up and realized I was telling the story wrong. With the shock bolted to lower control arm, I placed the floorjack under the lower balljoint and tried to raise the suspension so that I could get the upper balljoint joined again. But the outer part of the suspension did not compress the shock. It stayed in the lowered position and the whole car raised up and off the jackstand I had placed on the frame in front. I'm wondering if I cut the shock loose from control arm and reattach upper balljoint whether putting the floorjack under the shock and raising jack will just raise the whole car again.

 

Seriously, you're over thinking this. Put everything together, wheel back on and set the car normally on the ground and see what happens.

 

^ or give us pictures