Did your ride 80 thousand or more miles by putting the same shocks and struts? If your answer is yes then time has came to replace your old shocks and struts. You can change your old shocks either in garage or by yourselves. But as you are reading this article by typing in Google How to replace shocks and struts that means you want to do the task by yourselves.
Is it tough or easy to replace worn out shocks?
In earlier days it was really tougher task to replace the worn out shocks but in modern days it is an easy task. You have to buy a complete strut assembly from the market which can eliminate strut, spring or mount assembly process. These assemblies will allow you to replace both the front struts by yourselves within a span of 2 hours.
To know how to replace shocks and struts scroll down and read our below given steps with full of attention. If you follow the steps then I am sure that you will get more confidence to do the task by yourselves.
How should you understand that your car needs a new shocks and struts?
Table of Contents
If you notice any of the below 5 given issues in your car shocks then you should immediately replace your worn out shocks. Another important point you must remember while replacing the worn out shocks is you must replace both pair shocks at a time to get best results.
- If you notice that your car shock is leaking oil from it then you should immediately replace your car shocks and struts.
- If you feel trouble to keep the car on its own lane while crossing the bumpy road or gravel road then you must replace your car shock absorber.
- If you notice that your car tire is not rolling smoothly down the road instead its bouncing slightly then you should understand that time has came to replace the shock absorber.
- If you notice extra bounce & sway or front-end dive during braking then you must replace your car shocks and struts immediately.
- If the strut body is damaged or the strut body is dented then you should replace the old struts immediately.
Is it risky to drive on a worn out shocks and struts?
Yes its an risky task to drive on a worn out shocks and struts because worn out shocks increases the stopping distance by up to 10 feet at a speed of 60 MPH and it further causes steering instability specially when you takes turn at a higher speed.
What are the other car parts will damage if you do not replace the worn out shocks and struts on time?
If you do not replace the worn out shocks at time then its bounce can damage your car tire and other expensive suspension parts like ball joint, control arm bushings, stabilizer bar end links etc.
How to Replace Shocks and struts 2022
Now we are going to describe you the whole process of How to replace shocks and struts in a 10 simple and easy steps. So scroll down and follow every single step to replace worn out shocks and struts by yourselves.
First Step
- At first you should check whether your car needs a new shocks and struts or not? You should Check whether its leaking oil or not, Loosing steering control or not while taking turn and Car tires is bouncing or not while crossing the bumpy & gravel road.
Second Step
- Secondly have a strut assembly to replace the worn out shocks. You may tell me that the price of a strut assembly is more than shock absorber and my answer will be yes but I am telling you to have strut assembly to do the task because it will allow you to do the task of replacing worn out shocks and strut by yourselves.
Third Step
- Thirdly you have to disconnect few components from the strut. Start the task of replacing from one side and before replacing the strut you must note the location and positions of all nuts and bolts. Use another side as your reference. Now raise the whole vehicle and support the vehicle with the help of jack stand. Lubricate the nuts and bolts of the strut if you notice rust has formed. Then pop the hood and spray the strut-tower mounting nuts. Spin two lug nuts onto the studs and tighten to secure the rotor to the hub. You must mount the angle gauge to the top of the rotor and keep note of the exact angle.
Fourth Step
- Fourthly you should disconnect the stabilizer bar end link and any brake lines that remains secured to the strut. Hold the ended link of the stabilizer bar with the help of a wrench. Next loose the nut with the help of a socket and ratchet. Push the end link out from the strut hole and move it towards the side. Now disconnect the wheel speed sensor wiring harness and keep it aside.
Fifth Step
- Fifthly use your muscles in loosing the nuts of the strut. After removing the nuts loosen the bolts. Now push the steering knuckle in and out to shake the bolts out of the holes.
Sixth Step
- Sixthly Jam a pry bar between the strut and the knuckle after that pry the knuckle towards you until and unless it pops out of the strut flange.
Seventh Step
- Seventhly you should loosen the strut mount nuts with the help of a socket ratchet. Remove all the nuts except one after loosening them.
Eight Step
- After removing the last nut you must reach there so that you can support the struts in a well manner. After that hold the bottom portion and spring of the strut and tilt the bottom out towards you. Next you should lower the strut until it clears the strut tower and lift it out. Now remove the worn out strut. After replacing the old strut install the new strut that you have brought from the market. The task of installing the new strut is little bit tricky but if you have remembered the nuts position and kept the note of exact angle then you can do the task easily.
Ninth Step
- For installing the strut you must take the help of your closest friend and tell him to hold the strut when you are fixing the nuts. After keeping it in place you should torque the strut mount nuts to spec. Then push the steering knuckle into the strut flange and use a pin punch to align one hole so you can insert a bolt. Next you should remove the punch and insert other bolt. Remember one thing that is you should tighten the nuts fully. Reattach your angle gauge and push the knuckle so that it comes closer to the original camber angle. Again check the chamber angle and torque the nuts to spec.
Tenth Step
Lastly you should reinstall the components that you have removed earlier for removing the worn out struts.
Have a Test drive after completing the Job
After replacing the worn out strut you must have a test drive. To check whether everything is fine or not. While having test drive you must drive your car at a slow speed and check everything is running smoothly or not. If you think that everything is running smoothly then you should feel proud that you have done the job perfectly on your first attempt.
How much does it cost to replace shocks and struts?
The cost of replacing shocks and struts varies. The cost varies because different people has different taste. If you want to install higher priced shocks and struts in your car then the cost of replacing shocks will be on the higher side but if you want to install lower priced shocks or budget friendly shocks in your car then the cost of replacing shocks will be on the lower side.
But in general the average cost of new shocks and strut is between $100-$200. As the task of replacing shocks and struts needs little bit of muscle power that’s why you need to engage your friend and you have to pay few dollar to him for the sake of friendship that’s why the cost of replacing shocks and struts will be $150-$300.
Conclusion
In this article we have described how to change shocks and struts in a 10 simple step which I think will help you in boosting your confidence level and allow you to do the whole task by yourselves. But if you still have any confusion then you can watch the Youtube Tutorial video that has given above to clear your doubts.
