How to remove front shocks

Now we have a problem here, either you didn't give the right model vehicle when you posted or you have one heck of a mixed up dodge durango :P Durangos share frames and suspension with dodge rams and both don't have shock towers per say. They have one bolt holding them to the lower control arm and a frame mount with just one very accessible bolt to hold the shock in place. Usually 3 bolts and a shock tower is only on MacPherson struts usually seen on smaller cars and smaller SUVs. And in any case if you do have a MacPherson type shock and shock tower, you DO need to remove the 3 bolts on the shock tower AND remove the bolts at the spindle to remove the whole assembly (shock, spring and top plate) to change the shocks. And also i must warn you that it is really really really NOT safe to just unscrew the shock bolt that hold it in place in the top plate, as the coil spring will be under pressure even without the weight of the car and will spring out pretty darn fast and you might break or cut off a finger or an arm. And NO i'm not joking... You need a special tool called a coil spring compressor to safely remove and reinstall the coil spring when changing the shock absorber on those models. Hope this helps a bit, if not, just write back with more detail and correct make, model and country of origin and i'll do all i can to help. :) Cheers!

If it's got the coil over shock you take the 3 nuts off the top and the pivot bolt on the control arm, you may also need to pop the upper ball joint loose to get the lower control arm down far enough get the assembly out to compress the spring to change the shock.The center nut on the top of shock has pressure on it from the spring so do not remove that one til spring is compressed. If it does not have a coil over then it may be just the center nut on top if it goes through a bushing then the bottom bolt,just to be safe have the lower control arm sitting on a jack stand as that coil spring may have some pressure on the arms and use a floor jack on the body or cross member to relieve if you need to. I believe the shock will either come through the center of control arm on your 2wd or if it doesn't go through the center should come off then.

crazy glue

Hi Pete, If the bolt you refer to is part of the shock absorber you will need to replace the damaged unit. If you replace one we recommend replacing both on the same axle. If however the unit is a McPherson strut type suspension, and the bolt you refer to is that which is mounted onto the shock pad, bolting onto the shock tower it can be replaced with another. It is a special bolt which has a splined shoulder. (The spline is to lock the bolt in place while being tightened) To replace it. knock out the broken piece with a pin punch and insert the replacement. If you need to remove the shock pad from the assembly, you will need to use suspension spring compressor clamps. Hope this info is of help? Regards John

Remove tire, Remove top bolts from strut tower, then lower bolt and nut. Compress springs with spring compressor and remove shock assembly. You can register for free and login at autozone website to view a free step by step repair manual for your car if needed.

heres what you do rent a shock compressor from autozone compress shock take off bolt on top of shock watch fingers toes it will shoot down very very very very fast the take off lower bolt on shock then put new one on stick through shock tower top hole then mount bottom bolt after both bolts mounted then pull the cotter pin if you pull pin prior you will never get it mounted hope this helps

REMOVE**** FRONT SHOCKS, FIRST OF ALL.SUPPORT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WITH A JACK,REMOVE FRONT WHEEL, REMOVE BRAKE HOSE AND ABS SENSOR HARNESS TO THE STRUT BOLTS OR CLIPS,REMOVE ACTUATOR FROM TOP OF THE STRUT,IF EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC ADJUSTING SUSPENSION. PAINT ALIGNMENT MARKS ON THE UPPER STRUT MOUNTING BLOCK AND STRUT TOWER AND ON THE LOWER STRUT MOUNT TO STEERING KNUCKLE SO THAT CAN BE REINSTALLED IN THE SAME POSITION. REMOVE UPPER STRUT MOUNTING NUTS, REMOVE THE STRUT TO KNUCKLE BOLTS,REMOVE STRUT ASSEMBLY.TO INSTALL ***** INSTALL STRUT INTO THE STRUT TOWER ALIGNING THE PAINT MARKS MADE DURING REMOVAL.INSTALL UPPER MOUNTING NUTS AND TIGHTEN TO 34 - 46 FT LBS. INSTALL STRUT TO KNUCKLE BOLTS TIGHTEN TO 55 - 61 FT LBS. INSTALL ACTUATOR AND ENGAGE THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR IF EQUIPPED WITH AAS. INSTALL BRAKE HOSE AND ABS SENSOR HARNESS CLIPS OR BOLTS.INSTALL WHEEL AND CHECK ADJUST THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT. TO ( REPLACE REAR SHOCKS ) REMOVE REAR WHEELS, REMOVE REAR PACKAGE TRIM. REMOVE SPEED SENSOR HARNESS, REMOVE TOP STRUT NUTS,THE SUSPENSION WILL DROP WHEN THE WEIGHT LIFTS OFF THE WHEELS. REMOVE BOTTOM STRUT BOLTS.REMOVE STRUT ASSEMBLY.TO INSTALL ***** INSTALL STRUT ASSEMBLY, INSTALL BOTTOM STRUT MOUNT BOLTS AND TIGHTEN TO 55 - 61 FT LBS.INSTALL UPPER MOUNTING NUTS AND TIGHTEN TO 33 - 46 FT LBS. INSTALL SPEED SENSOR HARNESS.INSTALL REAR PACKAGE TRIM. INSTALL REAR WHEELS.

For shock removal and replacement is fairly easy -- first remove the top shock nut and then the three nuts on the tower surronding the upper shock nut - then remove the bottom through bolt and pull shock up through the top -- install in reverse order - (don't worry about the shock expanding after you get the bottom bolt back in, you can push the top of the shock down with the tower and secure it). recommend you replace both front shocks

1.Turn ignition to OFF position to place steering column in unlocked position.
2.Remove hub nut
3.Loosen, but do not remove, three top mount-to-shock tower
4.Raise vehicle on a hoist.
5.Remove tire and wheel assembly
6.Move brake caliper and wire out of the way
7.Remove brake rotor
8.Remove cotter pin from tie rod end stud and remove slotted nut.
Discard cotter pin and nut
9.remove tie rod from knuckle
10.Remove stabilizer bar link nut, and remove link from strut
11.Remove and discard lower arm-to-steering knuckle pinch bolt and nut. (A drift punch may be used to remove bolt.) Using a screwdriver, slightly spread knuckle-to-lower arm pinch joint and remove lower arm from steering knuckle.
12.Press halfshaft from hub
13.Remove shock absorber strut-to-steering knuckle pinch bolt. Using a large screwdriver, slightly spread knuckle-to-strut pinch joint, if required, for removal
14.Remove steering knuckle and hub assembly from shock absorber strut
15.Remove three top mount-to-shock tower nuts and remove strut and spring assembly from vehicle
16.Compress spring with Spring Compressor
17.Place 10mm box-end wrench on top of shock strut shaft and hold while removing top shaft retaining nut with a 21mm 6-point crow foot wrench and ratchet
18.Loosen Spring Compressor , then remove top mount bracket assembly, bearing plate assembly and spring.
INSTALLATION
1.Place a 10mm box-end wrench on top of shock strut shaft and hold while tightening top shaft retaining nut with a 21mm 6-point crow foot wrench and ratchet to 53-72 Nm (40-53 lb-ft).
2.Install strut and spring assembly and three top mount-to-shock tower nuts
3.Install steering knuckle and hub assembly to shock absorber strut.
4.Install a new shock absorber strut-to-steering knuckle pinch bolt. Tighten to 98-132 Nm (73-97 lb-ft).
5.Install halfshaft into hub
6.Install lower arm to steering knuckle ensuring that ball stud groove is properly positioned and boot seal is not damaged. Install a new pinch bolt and nut. Tighten to 53-72 Nm (40-53 lb-ft).
7.Install stabilizer bar link to strut and install a new stabilizer bar link nut. Tighten to 77-103 Nm (57-75 lb-ft).
8.Install tie rod end onto knuckle.
9.Install a new tie rod end slotted nut. Tighten to 31-47Nm (23-34 lb-ft).
10.Install a new slotted nut retaining cotter pin.
11.Install brake rotor
12.Install brake caliper
13.Install tire and wheel assembly
14.Tighten three top mount-to-shock tower nuts to 30-40Nm (23-29 lb-ft).
15.Lower vehicle and tighten hub nut to 230-275 Nm (170-202 lb-ft)
16.Depress brake pedal several times prior to moving vehicle.

Hope this helps. Good luck !

rear
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front

Removal

1. Remove front shock absorber-to-upper shock bracket nut and bolt.
   

1. Disconnect the lower end of the front shock absorber bolt and nut from the U-bolt plate.
   

1. Compress the front shock absorber and remove.
   

Installation

1. Insert front shock absorber into the front shock absorber mounting bracket (18183). Insert bolt and tighten nut to 60-81 Nm (45-60 lb-ft).
   

1. Attach the lower end of the front shock absorber to the U-bolt plate by installing the nut and bolt. Tighten to 60-81 Nm (45-60 lb-ft).
   

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front