How to change shock absorbers?

Shock absorbers are located at the front and rear of your vehicle and their role is to minimize the movement of the suspension springs. Indeed, when this spring is too flexible, it contributes to the rebound effect. This is why shock absorbers are essential for the system as they prevent the vehicle from swaying and absorb shock. Thus, they allow, in particular, to stabilize your vehicle in certain situations, such as tight bends or potholed roads. They also improve braking performance and steering precision. If your shock absorbers start to fail, you should replace them as soon as possible so as not to jeopardize your safety. Follow our step-by-step instructions to complete this maneuver yourself!

Required material:

Protective gloves

Protective glasses

Jack

Detangler

Candles

Spring compressor

Toolbox

New shock absorber

Step 1. Raise the car

Start by jacking your vehicle up and then adding jack stands for safe maneuvers. This step is required to access the shock absorbers and perform the rest of the operation.

Step 2: Remove the wheel from the axle

Start by loosening the wheel nuts with a torque wrench. You can then remove the wheel and carefully store its nuts for reassembly later.

Step 3: Remove the worn shock absorber.

Using a wrench, loosen the shock absorber nut and do not hesitate to apply penetrating oil if it resists. Second, remove the anti-roll bar mounting bolt to remove it from the body. It was the turn to remove the strut pinch bolt in order to remove the suspension strut using a lever.

Now take the spring compressor to remove the shock absorber retainer, spring, and protective bellows.

Step 4: Install the new shock absorber

The new shock absorber must be placed in the suspension strut and the protective cover must be reinstalled. Finally, assemble the spring, stopper, suspension strut and anti-roll bar.

Step 5: assemble the wheel

Collect the removed wheel and observe its tightening torque, it is indicated in the service log. You can then remove the jack supports and lower the vehicle from the jack. After this intervention, it is recommended to start working on the geometry of your vehicle in a workshop.

Shock absorbers are essential for the proper functioning of your vehicle. They guarantee his handling and your safety while traveling. On average, you should replace them every 80 kilometers or at the first sign of wear. Perform annual maintenance to check the condition of your vehicle's various systems, especially the front and rear shock absorbers!