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SuspensionHard

Front Strut & Shock Replacement

Worn shocks and struts cause excessive body roll, poor handling, and longer stopping distances. Replace them in pairs for balanced ride quality.

Time
3–5 hours
Interval
Every 50,000–100,000 miles
DIY Cost
$150–$400
Shop Cost
$500–$1,200

Tools & Supplies Needed

Video Guide Coming Soon

Step-by-step video walkthrough for this procedure

Step-by-Step Instructions

1

Gather specialized tools

You need a spring compressor (rent or borrow from an auto parts store), strut socket or impact wrench, torque wrench, floor jack, and jack stands. This is an intermediate-advanced job.

⚠️ Warning: A compressed spring stores enormous energy. Always use a quality spring compressor rated for the job. A failure can cause serious injury.
2

Remove the wheel and access the strut

Lift the vehicle and remove the wheel. The strut assembly is the large shock absorber/spring unit connecting the knuckle to the top mount in the strut tower.

3

Disconnect the strut from the knuckle

Remove the pinch bolt(s) at the bottom of the strut where it connects to the steering knuckle. You may need to tap the knuckle with a hammer to release the strut.

4

Remove the top mount nuts

From the engine bay (or under the hood), remove the three or four nuts securing the strut tower mount. Support the strut from below — it will drop when these are removed.

5

Compress the spring and disassemble

Use the spring compressor to compress the coil spring until it's safely unloaded. Remove the top nut (strut rod nut) with a socket and hold the rod with a hex key to prevent rotation. Disassemble the strut bearing and mount.

6

Reassemble with new components

Install the new strut into the spring. Reassemble the bearing plate and top mount. Torque the strut rod nut to spec. Carefully release the spring compressor once the nut is secured.

⚠️ Warning: Do not release spring compression until the strut rod nut is fully torqued.
7

Reinstall and get an alignment

Install the reassembled strut into the vehicle, torque all bolts to spec, reinstall the wheel. Always get a 4-wheel alignment after strut replacement — the steering geometry will have changed.

💡 Pro Tip: Replace struts in pairs (both fronts or both rears) for even handling.