🔧 Grand Cherokee - Front Strut Assembly Replacement

This repair replaces the front strut assemblies on your Grand Cherokee. The front struts support the vehicle, control bounce, and help keep the front tires firmly on the road.

Assumption: “Struts” means the front strut assemblies. The rear suspension uses shock absorbers, not front-style struts.

Difficulty Level: Advanced | Estimated Time: 3-5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Struts contain a compressed coil spring. That spring stores enough force to cause serious injury.
• ⚠️ For a first-time DIYer, use complete loaded strut assemblies. A loaded strut comes preassembled with the spring and mount already installed.
• ⚠️ Do not remove the center nut on the strut shaft unless the spring is secured in a professional strut spring compressor.
• ⚠️ Always support your Grand Cherokee with jack stands. Never work under a vehicle held only by a floor jack.
• ⚠️ Keep the brake hose and ABS sensor wire from stretching when the lower strut is disconnected.
• ⚠️ Replace the front struts in pairs to keep handling and braking stable.
• ⚠️ A wheel alignment is required after this repair.

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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
• Breaker bar 1/2-inch drive
• Torque wrench 1/2-inch drive
• Torque wrench 3/8-inch drive
• Ratchet 1/2-inch drive
• Ratchet 3/8-inch drive
• 22mm socket
• 21mm socket
• 18mm socket
• 15mm socket
• 13mm socket
• 10mm socket
• 21mm wrench
• 18mm wrench
• Pry bar 18-inch
• Ball peen hammer 16-ounce
• Paint marker
• Bungee cord 24-inch
• Penetrating oil spray
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front loaded strut assembly - Driver side - Qty: 1
• Front loaded strut assembly - Passenger side - Qty: 1
• Front strut-to-knuckle bolts and nuts - Qty: 4
• Front upper strut mount nuts - Qty: 6
• Front stabilizer bar link nuts - Qty: 2

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Grand Cherokee on level ground.
• Set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Turn the steering wheel straight ahead.
• Spray penetrating oil on the lower strut bolts, stabilizer link nuts, and upper strut mount nuts.
• Let the penetrating oil soak for 10-15 minutes.
• Use a loaded strut assembly for this repair. This avoids compressing the coil spring yourself.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Front Lug Nuts

• Use a 22mm socket and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to loosen the front wheel lug nuts half a turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.
• Loosen wheels before lifting.

Step 2: Lift the Front of the Vehicle

• Use a floor jack rated 3-ton minimum to lift the front of your Grand Cherokee.
• Place jack stands rated 3-ton minimum under the front structural support points.
• Lower the vehicle slowly onto the jack stands.
• Leave the floor jack nearby as a backup, but do not rely on it alone.

Step 3: Remove the Front Wheels

• Use a 22mm socket and ratchet 1/2-inch drive to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both front wheels.
• Place the wheels flat under the side of the vehicle as an extra safety backup.

Step 4: Support the Lower Control Arm

• The lower control arm is the large suspension arm below the wheel hub.
• Place the floor jack rated 3-ton minimum under the lower control arm.
• Raise the jack just enough to support the arm. Do not lift the vehicle off the jack stand.

Step 5: Remove Brake Hose and ABS Wire Brackets

• The ABS wire is the small electrical wire going to the wheel speed sensor.
• Use a 10mm socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to remove the brake hose bracket from the strut, if equipped.
• Use a 10mm socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to remove the ABS wire bracket from the strut, if equipped.
• Use a bungee cord 24-inch to gently hold the hose and wire out of the way.
• Do not pull or stretch the brake hose.

Step 6: Disconnect the Stabilizer Bar Link

• The stabilizer bar link connects the strut to the sway bar and helps reduce body lean in turns.
• Use an 18mm socket and ratchet 1/2-inch drive to remove the stabilizer bar link nut from the strut bracket.
• If the stud spins, hold it steady with an 18mm wrench while turning the nut with the 18mm socket.
• Move the link away from the strut.

Step 7: Mark the Lower Strut Position

• Use a paint marker to mark the position of the lower strut bracket against the steering knuckle.
• The steering knuckle is the heavy metal part that the wheel hub mounts to.
• This mark helps you put the new strut close to the old position.
• An alignment is still required after the repair.

Step 8: Remove the Lower Strut Bolts

• Use a 21mm socket, 21mm wrench, and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to loosen the two lower strut-to-knuckle bolts.
• Remove the nuts from the bolts.
• Use a ball peen hammer 16-ounce to tap the bolts out.
• Use a pry bar 18-inch only if the strut bracket is stuck to the knuckle.
• Keep one hand on the knuckle so it does not fall outward and pull the brake hose.

Step 9: Remove the Upper Strut Mount Nuts

• Open the hood.
• Find the three upper strut mount nuts at the top of the strut tower.
• Use a 13mm socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to remove the three upper mount nuts.
• Hold the strut with one hand while removing the last nut.
• Do not remove the center strut shaft nut.

Step 10: Remove the Old Strut Assembly

• Lower the old strut assembly out through the wheel well by hand.
• Use a pry bar 18-inch gently if the lower bracket is stuck.
• Compare the old strut and new loaded strut side by side before installing.
• Make sure the mounting brackets face the same direction.

Step 11: Install the New Loaded Strut Assembly

• Guide the new loaded strut assembly up into the strut tower.
• Start the three new upper strut mount nuts by hand.
• Use a 13mm socket and torque wrench 3/8-inch drive to tighten the upper mount nuts to Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).
• Start nuts by hand first.

Step 12: Attach the Strut to the Steering Knuckle

• Line up the lower strut bracket with the steering knuckle.
• Use a pry bar 18-inch carefully if you need help aligning the holes.
• Install the new strut-to-knuckle bolts and nuts by hand.
• Use a 21mm socket, 21mm wrench, and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the fasteners to Torque to 203 Nm (150 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Reconnect the Stabilizer Bar Link

• Place the stabilizer bar link stud into the strut bracket.
• Install the new stabilizer link nut by hand.
• Use an 18mm socket, 18mm wrench, and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the nut to Torque to 102 Nm (75 ft-lbs).

Step 14: Reinstall the Brake Hose and ABS Wire Brackets

• Use a 10mm socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to reinstall the brake hose bracket.
• Use a 10mm socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to reinstall the ABS wire bracket.
• Make sure the hose and wire follow their original path.
• Turn the steering left and right by hand to check for pulling or rubbing.

Step 15: Repeat on the Other Side

• Repeat Steps 4 through 14 on the other front strut.
• Keep all parts organized side by side so nothing gets mixed up.

Step 16: Reinstall the Front Wheels

• Put the front wheels back on.
• Start all lug nuts by hand to prevent cross-threading.
• Use a 22mm socket and ratchet 1/2-inch drive to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 17: Lower and Torque the Wheels

• Use the floor jack rated 3-ton minimum to lift slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands rated 3-ton minimum.
• Lower your Grand Cherokee until the tires touch the ground.
• Use a 22mm socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to Torque to 176 Nm (130 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Bounce the front of your Grand Cherokee gently. It should settle quickly.
• ✅ Listen for clunks while turning the steering wheel left and right while parked.
• ✅ Test drive slowly at first on a smooth road.
• ✅ If the steering wheel is off-center or the vehicle pulls, drive carefully and get an alignment immediately.
• ✅ Get a four-wheel alignment after replacing the front struts.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after 50-100 miles using a 22mm socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $850-$1,400 (parts + labor, alignment not always included)

DIY Cost: $350-$750 (parts only)

You Save: $500-$650 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 3-4 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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