When it comes to changing a car’s suspension and shock absorbers, many individuals find the idea unsettling. Because it looks to be serious work requiring a certain level of knowledge in automotive maintenance, you may be able to comprehend this to some extent.
A solid argument can be made for a claim that modern cars are easier to fix than they were in the past, and this is certainly the case when it comes to replacing your suspension and shock absorbers.
Many used cars in KSA previous owners don’t take proper care of their car’s suspension, so there may come a situation where you will have to change them by yourself to save a lot of bucks.
Pre Assembled Shocks
First, if you’re a novice mechanic, it is strongly advised that you buy pre-assembled shocks. To ensure that you’re getting the correct shocks and suspension system for your car, you’ll need to consult the database of the company you’re purchasing them from.
It’s possible to change your car’s shock absorbers yourself if you don’t want to pay a costly mechanic’s price. Providing a smooth and equal ride is critical to a car’s performance. However, a vehicle’s suspensions degrade over time.
First Step
Before jacking up your car at the first corner, be sure it is on a level surface. It is safer to use jack ramps rather than the actual jack itself since it gives additional security and decreases the risk of accidents. Look for your shock absorbers once you’ve jacked up and secured your vehicle.
A vertical bolt in the engine compartment or at the back of the car for the back system makes it easy to identify these devices, which have to be loosened. Start by loosening this bolt and then removing it completely.
Shocks are notoriously greasy, therefore the next step is to dismantle the shock itself, which may be tough.
Check if any screw is loose enough to remove
If you notice any rubber surrounding the bushings, you should examine those as well. Breaking the rubber is acceptable in some situations if you need to remove it.
Read More: 5 Car Maintenance Expenses that Deserve your Extra Cash
Do struts and shocks are same?
Shocks and struts are two independent components that do the same thing. It is impossible to use a strut to replace an air spring or to use a shock to replace an air spring in the same vehicle. A strut is part of the vehicle’s suspension system, while a shock is a separate component.
Taking the Shocks Out
After that, the shocks and the nut that connects them to the suspension must be removed. A section of a brake component must be removed in order to get access to some models, however, your owner’s manual will be able to assist you in this regard.
There is a bolt at both the top and bottom of the shock to keep it in place. If this is the case, you may be able to reuse the spring in order to save money.
Inexperienced car owners should avoid this because it’s a difficult process
It is the first time that shocks have been placed. Finally, we need to speak about how to install the new shocks with the suspension in order to complete this tutorial. Once the new shock has been attached to the suspension arm, you will need to use some energy to compress the shock until it is properly in place.
In order to get the bolts to line up correctly, you may also need some assistance elevating the suspension a tad in order to make it easier. Once the bolts are aligned, tighten the nuts as much as possible to secure it in place.
Before moving on to the following step, reattach the bolts that go through the engine bay or the back of the car and secure them. Before tightening anything up, double-check the torque suggested in your manual to make sure that everything is in order.
Just repeat the process with each shock absorber, since there is a good chance you’ll be doing all of them. As you can see, replacing the shock absorbers is easier than you may think, but the complete suspension requires more experience.
You may, at the very least, see how to carry out this job yourself, allowing you to save money while maintaining your vehicle in the best possible way.
Read More: Car Maintenance Tips: 2021
