🔧 Altima - Strut Replacement

Struts support the weight of your Altima, control bounce, and keep the tires planted. Replacing worn struts restores ride quality, braking stability, and tire wear.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 3-6 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Never loosen the strut center nut with the spring loaded; the coil spring can release violently.
• ⚠️ If you are reusing the coil spring, use a coil spring compressor (a tool that safely squeezes the spring).
• ⚠️ Support the car with jack stands on solid lift points; never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Keep fingers clear of pinch points between the knuckle and strut.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Lug wrench (21mm)
• Socket set (10mm-21mm)
• Wrench set (10mm-21mm)
• Breaker bar (1/2")
• Torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs)
• Pry bar (18")
• Hammer (2 lb)
• Punch (6mm)
• Needle-nose pliers
• Penetrating oil
• Paint marker
• Coil spring compressor (specialty)
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front strut assemblies - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear strut assemblies - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Strut mount kits - Replace with struts - Qty: 2 front / 2 rear
• Bump stops and dust boots - If not included with struts - Qty: 2 front / 2 rear
• Sway bar end links - Optional if worn - Qty: 2 front

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and chock the rear wheels.
• Spray penetrating oil on the strut-to-knuckle bolts and sway bar end link nuts 10–15 minutes ahead.
• Please answer these 2 quick questions so I can give the exact OEM torque specs and the correct step-by-step for your setup:
  • Are you replacing front, rear, or all four struts?
  • Are you installing complete “quick-strut” assemblies (preloaded spring + strut), or reusing your original springs?

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Pause here (torque-spec dependent)

• Reply with the answers from “Before You Begin.”
• Once you reply, I’ll give you the complete front/rear procedure with exact Nissan torque specs, plus beginner-friendly tips for stuck bolts and spring safety.

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✅ After Repair

• Get a 4-wheel alignment after any front strut replacement (recommended after rear, too).
• Test drive slowly first; listen for clunks and recheck fasteners afterward.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $700-$1,600 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $250-$900 (parts only)

You Save: $450-$700 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 3-6 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.