How to replace shock absorbers

If your drive is not as smooth as before and the entire car rocks when it goes over. M_a_y_a Getty Images.

Then place a jack under the lower ball joint or control arm.

How to replace shock absorbers. Learn how to replace the shock absorbers on a car with expert automotive tips in this free online auto repair and car maintenance video clipExpert. Make sure you need new shocks. You might have noticed going over potholes and bumps isnt as smooth as it used to be.

Purchase new shock absorbers. If youre unsure what type of shock absorbers you need speak to someone at your local. Consider upgrading your shocks.

Part 3 of 3. Shock absorber replacement Step 1. Park your vehicle on a flat hard and level surface with the parking brake applied.

Place the wheel chocks around the wheels that will remain on the ground. You will be lifting the end of the. Working one side at a.

How To Replace A Shock Absorber When to replace your shock absorber. If your drive is not as smooth as before and the entire car rocks when it goes over. Purchase new shock absorbers.

While there are many variants there are two main types of shock absorber. Slip the new front shock absorber into the A frame and make sure that the top washers and rubber mounts are on the top bolt. Push the shock all the way to the top of the housing.

Tighten the bottom retaining bolts to a torque that is the same as what it was on the old shocks or as your owners manual suggests. A shock absorber doesnt absorb shock the spring does that by flexing to absorb the energy of an impact. The shock absorber actually stops the vehicle from bouncing up and down on the flexing.

Remove Your Vehicles Old Shock Absorber. Jack up your vehicle and put it on stands and remove the rear wheel where youll be working on. Then place a jack under the lower ball joint or control arm.

Raise the jack upward slightly to relieve the tension of the suspension. First of all you need to disassemble every part required to remove the shock absorber. You should have all the disassembling kit with you before beginning the process.

Use car jacks to lift the car. Then unmount every part that requires to disassemble the shock absorber. Shock absorbers have improved lasting much longer than traditional 50000 mile lifespans.

We discuss how to recognize when shocks are genuinely worn and in need of replacement and we make specific recommendations when its best to replace them. When to replace shock absorbers. Having worn shock absorbers on your vehicle can increase your stopping distance by up to 20.

As you increase your travelling speed this will also increase the distance it takes your vehicle to completely stop. This 20 extra distance can be enough to cause a fatal incident and should. It is a good practice to replace the shock absorbers every 35000 miles.

You can easily find out if you need new shocks by doing a bounce test. Go to the rear corner of your car and push down on the rear of the car. If your car bounces up and down a few times it is time to change the shock absorbers.

The piston rod of this shock features a special protective coating which was applied using an electro-chemical process. This finish effectively protects the part against salt dirt and moisture. On a side note we recommend you replace the strut mount along with the shock absorber to steer clear of any trouble.

Use the correct shock absorber torque specs. These can be obtained from the users manual. Use the same procedure to remove the other shock absorbers and install new ones.

The shock absorber replacement process described here applies to the shocks in both the from and rear. Check the strut mounting. This is where your shock is connected to your car and is usually visible once your bonnet is open.

Shove the car if there is movement or noise coming from the mounting thats a sign of trouble. Check the housing of the shock absorber. Inspect shock absorbers every 20000 miles and consider shock absorber replacement if your car doesnt feel right.

M_a_y_a Getty Images. Shock absorbers tend to last 50000 to 100000 miles but this depends much on how and where you drive. You should test every 20000 miles or so just to be sure.

Aside for looking out for visible fluid. Remove the shock mounting bolts with the correct size socket or wrench. You should now be able to remove the faulty shock absorber from your vehicle.

Replace the faulty shock with the new one and also the fastening bolts. If the shocker is difficult to fit you may need to make a small adjustment to the bracket.