🔧 Explorer - Shock Absorber Replacement

On your Explorer, the rear uses true shock absorbers, while the front uses strut assemblies (a strut is a shock + spring in one unit). The steps, tools, and torque specs are different front vs rear, so I need one quick detail before I lay out the exact procedure.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-4.0 hours (depends front vs rear)

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ If doing front struts, the coil spring is high-tension; don’t disassemble the spring unless you’re using a proper spring compressor.
• ⚠️ Support the vehicle on jack stands on a level surface; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Keep hands clear of suspension pinch points when lowering/raising the control arm.

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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
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves
• Breaker bar (1/2")
• Torque wrench (20–250 ft-lbs)
• Socket set (8mm–24mm, 1/2" drive)
• Wrench set (8mm–24mm)
• Pry bar
• Rubber mallet
• Penetrating oil
• Spring compressor (specialty)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear shock absorbers - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Front strut assemblies - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Upper strut mount kit - If reusing springs - Qty: 2
• Strut-to-knuckle bolts/nuts - If specified as one-time-use - Qty: 2 sets
• Rear shock mounting hardware - If corroded/damaged - Qty: 2 sets

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and chock the wheels.
• Loosen the lug nuts slightly with the vehicle on the ground (don’t remove yet).
• Spray penetrating oil on the shock/strut mounting fasteners and let it soak 10–15 minutes.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Before I give you the exact steps + torque specs, answer these 2 quick questions:

• Are you replacing the rear shocks, the front struts, or all four?
• For the front: are you installing complete quick-strut assemblies (pre-built strut + spring), or reusing your spring (requires a spring compressor)?

Reply with “rear only”, “front only (quick-struts)”, or “all four (reuse springs)”.

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✅ After Repair

• If you replace front struts, get a 4-wheel alignment as soon as possible.
• Test drive at low speed first; listen for clunks and recheck all fasteners.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $600-$1,800 (parts + labor, depends front/rear and parts type)

DIY Cost: $180-$900 (parts only, depends quick-struts vs reuse springs)

You Save: $420-$900 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-4.0 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.