It is important to change old shock absorbers to maintain the stability of the car at high speed, ensuring a smooth, comfortable and safe ride. Shock absorbers are basically shock absorbing and have been a staple in automobile manufacturing since the 1950s. They wear out with use and sometimes break when driving over particularly uneven terrain, producing something like a sound. serious when you turn. Buying the shock mount base is the fastest way to change them yourself. Go to the first step to learn how to do it.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Exposing the Shock Absorber
Step 1. Locate the shock mounting base
Shock absorbers are cylindrical pistons filled with hydraulic fluid and are usually shaped like a metal cone with a wrap around it.
Open the hood and find the shock absorber bolts (a circle of three bolts on a tray inside the engine compartment) on each side of the car, next to the windshield. In the center of this ring of screws is the shock absorber itself. Don't loosen any of these screws yet, especially the center one, but use it as your guiding point
Step 2. Remove the wheel
First loosen the bolts that secure the wheel with a wrench and raise the car with a mechanical jack, positioning it according to the instructions in the manufacturer's manual for changing a tire. Once you've raised the car, place a hydraulic jack underneath to give it stability. Remove the bolts that secure the wheel and remove it.
It is always important to use a hydraulic jack stand to secure the car. Don't try to do this job without the stand. Cats can suddenly fall over, drop the car, and trap you under it. Jacks use hydraulic force that can be lost suddenly and need to be secured with supports to do the job safely. Invest in a pair of cat stands
Step 3. Remove bracket from brake lines if necessary
You may need to remove the braking line brackets from the shock mounting base. They are not present in all cars, so skip this step if you don't see a small hitch attaching the brake lines to the shock.
If you see it, unscrew the hitch with the appropriate screwdriver and move the brake lines to be able to remove the shock
Step 4. Remove the stabilizer bar if necessary
The stabilizer bar works in conjunction with the shock mounting base to stabilize the car under rough road conditions or jumps. To do this, remove the hook that secures it with a wrench and remove the stabilizer bar.
Find a small metal hook that attaches a metal bar (usually black) to the shock and remove it. Again, it is not always an obstacle in all cars; Maybe you just need to release the steering damper to free it. Once you have removed all the obstacles, you are ready to change the shock
Part 2 of 3: Remove the shock absorber
Step 1. Remove the steering bolts
There are usually two or three long bolts that hold the shock absorber to the steering. Remove them by removing the mounting base nuts and loosening the damper.
- This is usually rusty and difficult to remove. You can steam a little WD-40 on the screws before loosening them. Try "hammering" the steering itself a few times to loosen the elements a bit before hitting the steering-fixing screws directly. You may also need a little oil or lubricant.
- Depending on the car model, you may need to place the jack under the steering to raise it slightly to see the bolts.
Step 2. Open the hood and find the shock towers to remove the bolts
They are usually found in the middle of the fender and look like cylinders. They are usually held in place by three screws. Remove these screws.
With the steering bolts removed, the shock absorber may fall off. It may help to have a partner hold the mounting base of the shock while you loosen the screws
Step 3. Pull the damper
Do not unscrew the center screw at the top of the shock tray until you have compressed the springs (if you do). If you have a shock mount base, you can throw away the old shock and move on to mounting the new shock mount base.
It is recommended that the first few times you try to compress the springs you use a compressor or clamp. This method is used to save money by "salvaging" the old springs and mounting the new shock, but if you don't have a compressor, it will cost you about $ 700. It is much better to spend a little more money on a shock mount base as it is pre-assembled and you only need to install it on the car
Step 4. If you can get a spring compressor, consider removing the spring
Make sure the compressor is secure and is not pointing in the direction of anything you don't want damaged, compress the spring, or have someone with experience do it.
At the very top of the shock is a large disc-like nut which is actually the ratio of the shock. Remove this nut with a ratchet and gasket, and hold the damper bar with a wrench just below the damper link
Step 5. Mount the new shock
Put the spring on the new shock. Make sure to include all the rubber parts from the old shock. Install the shock link on the spring and change the bar following the torque specified by the manufacturer.
Again, if you've purchased a shock mount base, don't waste time with the springs from the old shock. Go straight to the installation
Part 3 of 3: Fitting the new shock
Step 1. Mount the new shock mount base on the steering
Replace the screws, firmly fixed but allowing the assembly to move freely.
Step 2. Place the mounting base on the shock tower and attach its screws
Now do tighten the bolts with a wrench, fixing the mounting base to the steering following the torque specified by the manufacturer.
If you removed the stabilizer bar or brake line bracket, reattach them now
Step 3. Attach the wheel
Finger tighten the bolts before lowering the car. Raise it slightly to remove the hydraulic jack bracket, then the jack itself and lower the car. Secure the wheel following the manufacturer's instructions, as well as the bolts on the shock tower.
Step 4. Do a final check to make sure everything is properly seated
Take a low speed test to safely evaluate the car. Avoid speeding or high-traffic areas. The car may need some adjustments.
If the car is going to the side or is not driven normally, adjust it by measuring the degree of difference and adding cams to fix the problem
Step 5. Repeat the process with all the shock absorbers that you are going to change
It is cheaper to change the shocks as needed, but the most common is to change them all at once, so do this if you plan to invest in 2 or 4 new shocks. The process is basically the same for all shock absorbers regardless of position.
Not all cars have rear shock absorbers. Check the manufacturer's manual before buying unnecessary parts
Advice
- Don't use wood blocks or ash instead of hydraulic jacks. Use the right tools to work safely.
- You must replace worn, damaged or broken springs. Do not attempt to change springs or shock absorbers until you assume the risks that the compressor, spring, shock absorber, or jack could fail and injure or kill you. Not all spring compressors are the same. Inspect your compressor for possible signs of poor design or workmanship.