The suspension system on your car can take a beating driving over snow, ice, and potholes during the winter. You'll know when your front shock absorbers are getting worn out by driving on wintry roads when you start noticing things like your car taking longer to stop, your car swerving or nose-diving when you apply the brakes, or your steering wheel vibrating. Changing shock absorbers is something the beginning car mechanic do-it-yourselfer can easily do with just a couple of tools. If you don't have the right tools, talk with a professional, like Cadwalader Service Centre, Inc., for more information. Here is how you can change your the front shock absorbers on your car in your garage or driveway.

You Will Need:

• New Shock Absorbers
• Ratchet Set
• Torque Wrench
• Open-End Wrench Set
• Ratchet Wrench

Removing the Old Shock Absorbers

Shock absorbers are typically held in place with three bolts. One bolt is actually the threaded end of the shaft that goes through a top bracket to hold the shock absorber at the top of the wheel well, and the other two bolts are used to attach the absorber to a bottom support bracket. The nuts for the bolts will usually be rusted in place by the time a shock absorber goes bad. Spray the nuts with a heavy coating of penetrating oil at least a couple of hours before you start your project. Penetrating oil breaks down the rust and will make it easier to loosen and unscrew the bolts.

Unscrew the top nut first. Put a ratchet wrench on the top nut on the absorber above the support bracket, and then take an open-wrench and place that on the nut that is below the support bracket. Hold the open-wrench in place to keep the shaft from spinning around as you take off the top nut. Loosen and remove the top bolt with the ratchet wrench.

Push down on the absorber to collapse the shaft into the cylinder at the bottom of the shock absorber. Condensing the shock absorber will make it easier to pull out of the wheel well once it's completely unbolted.

Unscrew the bottom of the shock absorber from its lower mounting bracket. Remove the shock absorber.

Installing New Shock Absorber

Slide the bottom bolts through the holes on the bottom bracket and set the bottom of the absorber on the bracket. Tighten the nuts according to the torque rating for the shock absorbers you are using to secure the absorber to the bracket. The shock absorber torque rating should be on the box or listed on the part's list inside the box.

Extend the shaft part of the absorber up so the top bolt goes through the upper bracket. Slide the rubber bushing and washer that comes with the new shock absorbers over the bolt so the bushing rests directly on top of the bracket. There will be another bushing and washer connected to the absorber that will press up against the bottom of the bracket. Make sure to put the open wrench on the bolt under the top bracket to keep the shaft from spinning around. Tighten the nut until the rubber bushings and washers on the absorbers are firmly compressed against the mounting bracket and won't move.

You are now ready to replace the front shock absorber on the other side of the car.