🔧 Civic - Shock Absorber Replacement

On your Civic, the front suspension uses strut assemblies (shock + spring together), while the rear uses a separate rear shock absorber with a separate spring. The steps and tools are different depending on whether you’re doing the front, rear, or all four.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: Rear: 1.0-2.0 hours | Front: 3.0-5.0 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Suspension springs store a lot of energy—only compress a spring with a proper coil spring compressor (a tool that safely squeezes the spring shorter).
• ⚠️ Support the car with jack stands on solid ground; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ If you are reusing front springs, keep hands/face out of the spring’s path while compressing.
• ⚠️ After installation, you need a 4-wheel alignment (especially after front struts).
• Battery disconnect is not required for this job.

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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
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs range)
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (5-60 ft-lbs range)
• Socket set (10mm-19mm)
• Wrench set (10mm-19mm)
• Pry bar
• Needle-nose pliers
• Flat trim tool
• Penetrating oil
• Paint marker
• Coil spring compressor (specialty)
• Allen key set (for sway link stud)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear shock absorber - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear shock upper mount (if worn/noisy) - Qty: 2
• Rear shock dust boot/bump stop (if damaged) - Qty: 2
• Front strut assemblies (complete “quick-strut” type) - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• OR Front struts (cartridge/strut) - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Front strut mounts/bearings (recommended if reusing springs) - Qty: 2
• Front strut dust boots/bump stops - Qty: 2
• New self-locking nuts/bolts (as needed) - Qty: 1 set

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear tires (if doing front) or in front of the front tires (if doing rear).
• Break the lug nuts loose with a 19mm socket and breaker bar before lifting the car.
• Spray fasteners with penetrating oil (rear lower shock bolt; front strut-to-knuckle bolts; sway bar end link nut) and let it soak.
• If you are not installing complete front quick-struts, plan to use a coil spring compressor and work slowly.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and support the car

• Use a floor jack to lift the end you’re working on, then support with jack stands.
• Remove the wheel using a 19mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.

Step 2: Rear shock removal (rear procedure)

• Support the rear lower control arm with the floor jack (just snug, not lifting the car).
• Remove the rear shock lower bolt using a 17mm socket and breaker bar.
• Open the trunk and remove the side trim access as needed using a flat trim tool.
• Remove the rear shock upper mounting nuts using a 14mm socket.
• Pull the shock out from underneath.

Step 3: Rear shock installation (rear procedure)

• Install the new shock into position and start the upper nuts by hand using a 14mm socket.
• Line up the lower mount and install the lower bolt using a 17mm socket.
• With the suspension supported at normal-ish height (control arm supported by the jack), torque fasteners:
• Torque to 22 Nm (16 ft-lbs) for the rear shock upper nuts.
• Torque to 74 Nm (55 ft-lbs) for the rear shock lower bolt.

Step 4: Front strut removal (front procedure)

• Remove the brake hose/ABS wire brackets from the strut using a 10mm socket.
• Disconnect the sway bar end link from the strut using a 17mm wrench; use an Allen key to hold the stud if it spins.
• Mark the strut-to-knuckle relationship with a paint marker (helps keep alignment close).
• Remove the strut-to-knuckle bolts using a 19mm socket and breaker bar.
• Open the hood and remove the three upper strut mount nuts using a 14mm socket.
• Remove the strut assembly from the wheel well.

Step 5: If reusing springs (only if NOT using quick-struts)

• Install the coil spring compressor (specialty) on opposite sides of the spring and compress evenly.
• Remove the strut shaft nut using the appropriate socket and Allen key (method varies by strut design).
• Transfer the upper mount/bearing, spring, boot, and bump stop to the new strut.
• Slowly release the compressor and ensure the spring ends seat correctly in their pockets. Double-check spring seating before fully releasing.

Step 6: Front strut installation (front procedure)

• Position the strut in the tower and start the three upper nuts by hand using a 14mm socket.
• Install the strut-to-knuckle bolts using a 19mm socket.
• Reattach the sway bar end link using a 17mm wrench and Allen key as needed.
• Reinstall brake hose/ABS brackets using a 10mm socket.
• Torque fasteners:
• Torque to 44 Nm (33 ft-lbs) for the front upper strut mount nuts.
• Torque to 44 Nm (33 ft-lbs) for the front sway bar end link nut.
• Torque to 127 Nm (94 ft-lbs) for the front strut-to-knuckle bolts.

Step 7: Reinstall wheels

• Install wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the car and torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a 19mm socket and 1/2" drive torque wrench: Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• Test drive at low speed first; listen for clunks over bumps.
• Get a 4-wheel alignment as soon as possible (especially after front struts).
• Recheck lug nut torque after 25-50 miles using a 19mm socket and torque wrench.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $900-$1,800 (parts + labor, front + rear)

DIY Cost: $250-$900 (parts only, depends on quick-struts vs struts)

You Save: $650-$900 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.

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Two quick questions so I can tailor this perfectly:

• 🔧 Are you replacing rear shocks only, front struts only, or all four?
• 🔧 For the front: are you buying complete quick-strut assemblies, or reusing your springs?