Changing the shock absorbers of a car can become a necessity, although it can also be done for the simple fact of looking for different sensations in the vehicle. If you notice that your car has little stability when cornering; that bounces too much after going through a pothole; Or if the tires on one side show more wear than the other, you may need to change them.
Being aware that many people prefer to do this process themselves, saving themselves the labor involved in taking the car to a workshop, we are going to explain the steps you must follow to make this change yourself.
Why change shock absorbers?
Making a change of shock absorbers can become essential for safety reasons. This element is of great importance in the vehicle, and if they are in poor condition they can be a great danger to the driver, the occupants and other road users.
This is because, if they present any deficiency or problem, they reduce the ease of handling the vehicle on the road. In addition, they cause the braking distance to be increased by several meters and also negatively affect the comfort of the car.
If you don’t replace the shock absorbers at the right time, you may run into problems when driving your vehicle, especially if you find yourself needing to make some kind of sharp turn or dodge an obstacle. In addition, you will also be able to notice it in the event that you have to make an emergency stop.
The shock absorbers are one of the most important elements of the vehicle in terms of safety, along with the tires and the brakes. For this reason, it is essential that you make sure that they are always in perfect condition and that, therefore, they work optimally. This is the best way to not take risks or endanger your integrity or that of other people, in addition to enjoying greater comfort.
Instructions to change the shock absorbers of a car
Once you have made sure that it is time to change the shock absorbers, for whatever reason, and that you have all the necessary tools, you can start the change process, which we are going to detail below:
- First of all, you must raise your car using the hydraulic jack and its supports, in a way that allows you to carry out a correct manipulation of the wheels. Later you can, using a cross wrench, remove the different screws from these and extract the wheel from the shock absorber that you want to remove at that time.
- Once the above is done, it is time to remove the support of the braking lines and the stabilizer bar. The former can be removed by removing the screws with a screwdriver, while for the bar you will need to use a wrench. Depending on the model you may or may not need to remove them before removing the shock absorber.
- Next you must locate the long screws that join the shock absorber with the address and proceed to remove them. In this case, you may find yourself needing to hammer a little in the direction and lubricate them for removal. However, depending on the case, it may or may not be necessary.
- The next step is to remove the bolts from the shock towers, which you will be able to locate from the hood. You must remove the three screws and in this way the shock absorber will be free so you can start manipulating it and proceed to change them.
- When it is released and you can manipulate it, it is time to remove the shock absorber. For this you can choose to buy a new mounting base for the shock or compress the springs. If you choose not to compress them, you will only have to remove them together with the shock absorber. If you compress them, you must be very careful and remove the screw that they have in their upper part to be able to extract the shock absorber.
- Once the old shock absorber has been removed from the vehicle, you will need to start installing the new If you purchased a mounting base you will need to attach the shock base to the headset, making sure the bolts are properly seated. Next place the mounting base on the shock tower and tighten the bolts using a wrench.
- To finish you will only have to place the wheel again. Make sure that all the screws are properly placed and that you have not left any unattended. Also, check that they are properly tightened to avoid any possible accident.
What do you need to change the shock absorbers of a car?
In order to carry out the change of shock absorbers, you must have the following supplies and tools:
- Hydraulic jack and supports. You will need it to be able to raise the vehicle and be able to manipulate the wheels, keeping it raised safely.
- Toolbox. You will need to have different ratchets, screwdrivers, Allen keys and a wrench.
- Spring compressor: You will need it in case you want to remove the springs from the shock absorber.
