Replace Front End Shocks
Front end shock absorbers on cars make for a more comfortable ride or can affect gas mileage and safety if they are getting old and worn. Replacing the front end shocks should take about 60 minutes. Follow the steps below to find out how to replace front end shocks.
Steps
- Place chocks behind the back tires for safety.
- Use your car jack to raise your car enough to remove the tires and be able to maneuver under the car.
- Remove the front wheels on both sides of the car.
- Loosen all of the lug nuts from the front wheels with star wrench. Put the lug nuts where you can find them later. Pull off the wheels and set them aside.
- Detach the front shock from the bottom attachment.
- The bottom of the shock is secured to the lower shock mount with just a nut and bolt with a washer. These can be removed with a wrench.
- Remove shock from top mount.
- The top mount that holds the front shock to the car is a bit different than the mount on the bottom. This part of the shock is held on by a nut that tightens over the top of the shock and a washer. Using a socket wrench to turn the nut will only turn the shock rod and not loosen the nut. You will need to secure the shock rod with a vice grip and then loosen the nut with the socket wrench.
- Pull the shock off and discard it.
- Attach the new front shock to the car.
- The normal arrangement from top to bottom is: nut, upper washer, grommet; the car's shock stud hole; grommet, lower washer, top of shock.
- Place the lower washer and lower grommet onto the top end of new shock.
- Guide the shock rod through the upper shock mount.
- Place the 2nd grommet and 2nd washer onto the exposed top of shock rod.
- Put the nut on the end of shock rod and fasten it with your fingers.
- Position the bottom end of the new shock into the lower shock mount.
- Secure with remaining nut, bolt and washer.
- Tighten all nuts and bolts with a wrench, making sure to secure the shock rod with a vice grip.
Tips
- Invest in car stands for the added safety and stability of the car while you are replacing shocks. Car stands support the car while you are working on it and are more stable than just a car jack.
Warnings
- Make sure to securely tighten all of the nuts so the shocks will remain attached to the car while you are driving it.
Things You'll Need
- Car jack
- Tire chocks
- Star wrench
- Open end/ring wrench set
- Socket wrench set
- Vice grip
- New shock absorbers
