Shock and strut replacement might be risky if you don’t know what you’re doing. Before attempting to disassemble your car, please read these guidelines to ensure the project’s efficiency and safety.
In This Article...
Spring Compressor
Many automobiles have integrated springs inside the shocks and struts, which, if removed improperly, could cause you harm or damage your car. In these situations, you’ll need a spring compressor to safely disassemble everything.
Your neighborhood auto parts store may rent out spring compressors, but it’s crucial to know how to operate them. You must exercise caution because this step is crucial to changing shocks and struts. If you’re unsure about removing the springs, you might want to think about taking your car to a repair.
Raise the Vehicle
When all of your components and tools are prepared, you should use a car jack to raise your vehicle one side at a time. To maintain stability once it is upright, put a jackstand behind the front wheel. Otherwise, a lift is available.
Prior to trying to loosen anything or climbing beneath the vehicle, just make sure it is secured.
Remove Old Shocks and Struts
You must first remove the wheels. Next, using your spring compressor, search for the three bolts holding the shock or strut in place at the bottom. These bolts should be loosened, but not yet totally taken out.
Another bolt inside the engine compartment secures the top of the shock or strut. To loosen it, use an impact wrench with a socket extension. Your shock or strut should come free once you’ve managed to get this loose and finished removing the other bolts.
Installing New Shocks and Struts
You can just swap in the new shocks and struts after removing the old ones. Make certain that all of the bolts are tightly tightened. To perform this, you most likely need a torque wrench.
Has a Nissan Altima from 2006 got shocks or struts?
Suncore shock absorbers and struts for the 2006 Nissan Altima. Town Car gas shocks should be replaced roughly every 50,000 miles in order to keep the vehicle’s suspension in good shape. The shocks prevent the Nissan Altima 2.5L 2006, Front Shock Absorber and Suspension Kit by TRQ from bobbing around.
How many hours of labor are required to replace struts?
It takes one to two hours to replace a strut. Any replacement work for suspension parts may come with a guarantee and a general safety evaluation from the mechanic. By doing it yourself, you can completely avoid paying for labor to replace the struts. All you actually need to do is purchase the replacement struts and the equipment required to raise your car. The old strut is then taken off, replaced, and the process is repeated, at least for the other side, while lifting the automobile.
All of your wheels should have strong suspensions to reduce wear and tear over time and save you money. To that end, it’s crucial to research the kind of struts that will fit your car and pick high-quality ones.
How can I tell if my struts need replacement?
Shocks and struts’ Warning Symptoms
- erratic behavior at motorway speeds.
- As it turns, the vehicle “tips to one side.
- During forceful braking, the front end drops more than is normal.
- When accelerating, stoop from the rear.
- severe bouncing of the tires.
- uncommon tire wear
- leakage of fluid from shocks or struts’ outside surfaces.
Are struts and shocks interchangeable terms?
You’ll frequently hear individuals use the terms “shocks” and “struts” interchangeably. Shocks and struts, however, are two separate components with different purposes. Both of these components aim to improve the ride and handling of your car, but they do so in different ways. While struts are a significant structural element of the chassis and suspension system, shocks are discrete parts of the suspension system.
Do I require an alignment after strut replacement?
Here are the responses to the query in brief
After changing shocks and struts, do you require an alignment? Yes, if the automaker advises an alignment following a replacement. Yes, if you made any modifications to your suspension that did not adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions.
What else has to be done when struts are replaced?
It’s crucial for driving safety to replace your shocks and struts when they become worn out in order to avoid harming other parts of your car, such as the tires and suspension.
Various safety features are included in today’s cars to help with control, stability, and accident prevention. You are kept safe by a combination of systems including automated braking, anti-lock brakes, stability control, and traction control. In an emergency situation, your shocks and struts may not function effectively if they are in bad condition.
Getting Your Shocks & Struts Replaced
Whether you observe any of the aforementioned symptoms, get your alignment checked, or put on new tires, the best way to know when to repair your shocks and struts is to have a skilled technician check your suspension. Get your car’s suspension inspected at the very least once a year.
Replace front or rear axle shocks and struts in pairs at all times. It is even better to replace the shocks and struts on all four wheels at once. This keeps the vehicle’s handling and responsiveness on both sides uniform and dependable.
We always advise obtaining an alignment as well, following any suspension work. Wheel alignment of your car could also vary if your suspension is altered. Additionally, even little adjustments to wheel alignment can have expensive long-term effects (accelerated tire wear, more suspension problems, difficult handling).
How lengthy is strut replacement?
Is the stop of your vehicle taking longer than usual? Is it strangely bumpier? The symptoms definitely indicate that your struts have failed, thus I believe it is time to replace them. Fortunately, you can either do it yourself or hire a professional to replace them.
Most professional mechanics agree that changing struts typically takes one to two hours. As long as you have prior mechanical experience and perform the procedure correctly, the expected time is the same even if you choose to replace them on your own.
The ability to manage and control the vehicle may be compromised if struts are not replaced in a timely manner.
What is the price of replacing the shocks on a Nissan Altima?
Best in Automotive Repair Replacement shocks or struts for the Nissan Altima suspension typically cost between $782 and $843. While parts are priced at $550, labor expenses are predicted to range from $233 and $294. Taxes and other fees are not included in this range, nor are your particular model year or geographic area taken into account.
Has the Nissan Altima struts or shocks?
Modern Altima models use multi-link independent rear suspension and independent front suspension with independent struts. They also have front and rear stabilizer bars, as well as twin-tube front struts and monotube rear shock absorbers.
What is the price of replacing all 4 struts?
Most drivers, including you, probably haven’t given their shocks and struts any thought. However, if you need a replacement, you should start planning for it right once.
In 2022, shocks and struts will cost, on average, $500 to $1000 to replace. The price will differ according on the brand and model of your car as well as local labor rates.
Struts are either in the front or back.
Struts are normally fitted in connection with the front wheels, although they can also be put at the rear wheels, depending on the configuration and driveline of a vehicle. There are various strut types, just like there are various automobile types.
How much should new struts cost?
Depending on the brand and model, struts typically cost $150 to $450. Usually, it is necessary to replace both struts at once. A pair of struts will cost you between $300 and $900 to replace.
How loud does a damaged strut sound?
Bad strut noises are sometimes reported as hollow pounding or clunking noises. The noise is often made when a car crosses a rough patch of pavement. The top of the majority of front strut assemblies also houses a bearing.
What happens if your struts fail while you’re on the road?
Shocks and struts deteriorate over time, much like many other components on your car. Your service technician will probably advise replacing the worn item whenever it starts to negatively affect your car’s performance and ride quality. You endanger your ability to steer, brake, and maintain stability if you decide to put off checking worn shocks and struts. Driving with damaged shocks or struts can have a range of negative effects, from annoyance to serious safety concerns:
- loss of control and handling Your ability to drive your car is directly impacted while you are driving with damaged shock absorbers or struts. When making a turn, you can notice that your car bounces excessively, rolls or sways suddenly, or that you feel out of control when a crosswind hits. You may experience a lack of control over your car if shocks and struts have lost their capacity to govern weight transfer over time. This could be hazardous since it would be challenging to control your car in an emergency if your tires lost touch with the pavement.
- more abrasion of other suspension components
- Shocks and struts that are worn out might harm the suspension, steering, and braking systems that they are connected to. As the shocks or struts deteriorate, greater suspension movement is permitted, which increases the likelihood that other steering, braking, and suspension components will experience the same problems. These associated parts may wear out more quickly as a result of the added wear and tear. Additionally, this may result in higher repair costs.
- decreased braking effectiveness
- Your brakes’ performance can be negatively impacted by worn shocks and struts. It’s possible that your car’s stopping distance will grow, which is crucial in emergency braking situations. On slick roads, you run a higher danger of sliding. Don’t delay to have your worn shocks or struts inspected in order to prevent jeopardizing your safety as well as the safety of other drivers.
- bald tires
- You might assume that tire tread deterioration is typical, but old shocks and struts could be to blame. Examine your tires carefully; if they exhibit cupping or rapid wear, your shocks or struts may no longer be able to assist in preserving tire-to-road contact. Due to the increased potential of hydroplaning, this may become a safety concern, especially on rainy roads. Simply replacing a tire with excessive tread wear won’t solve the issue; you’ll only be treating the symptom. Ask your mechanic to check your shocks and struts, as well as your steering and suspension system, to determine the cause of the problem.
Can I still drive with faulty struts?
A strut functions by absorbing the bounce as your automobile travels over road ruts. Your car’s front-end struts are also essential for steering and alignment. It will be dangerous to drive with a damaged strut in an emergency and would be quite uncomfortable for you and your passengers. Additionally, it might harm other parts of your car.