How to Replace Front Struts or Rear Shock Absorbers on a 2018 Honda Odyssey
Step-by-step DIY instructions with required tools, parts list, safety tips, and alignment notes
How to Replace Front Struts or Rear Shock Absorbers on a 2018 Honda Odyssey
Step-by-step DIY instructions with required tools, parts list, safety tips, and alignment notes
🔧 Odyssey - Shock Absorber Replacement
On your Odyssey, “shocks” can mean the rear shock absorbers or the front strut assemblies (a strut is a shock with a spring and mount built into it). The steps, parts, and torque specs are different front vs rear, so I need one quick detail to keep this accurate.
Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-6 hours
⚠️ Safety & Precautions
- 🛑 Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack; use jack stands.
- 🛑 Suspension parts can shift suddenly; keep fingers clear of pinch points.
- 🛑 If doing front struts: the coil spring is stored energy—only compress it with a proper spring compressor, or use complete strut assemblies.
- 🛑 Let the exhaust cool before working near the rear suspension.
🔧 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 nut socket 22mm
- Breaker bar 1/2"
- Torque wrench 3/8"
- Torque wrench 1/2"
- Socket set 10mm-22mm
- Wrench set 10mm-22mm
- Pry bar 18"
- Rubber mallet
- Penetrating oil
- Trim clip removal tool
- Safety glasses
- Mechanic gloves
- Spring compressor (specialty)
🔩 Required Parts
HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:
- Rear shock absorbers - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
- Rear shock upper mounting hardware - Qty: 1 set
- Rear shock lower mounting hardware - Qty: 1 set
- Front complete strut assemblies - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
- Front strut mounting hardware - Qty: 1 set
đź“‹ Before You Begin
- 🅿️ Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and chock the rear wheels (for front work) or front wheels (for rear work).
- 🔩 Break the lug nuts loose with a 22mm lug nut socket and breaker bar 1/2" before lifting.
- đź“Ś Decide your job type: rear shocks only, or front struts.
🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these steps in order:
Step 1: Quick confirmation (needed)
- Please reply with just one: Rear shocks or Front struts.
- Also tell me if you’re installing complete quick-strut assemblies (prebuilt strut + spring + mount) or reusing your original springs.
Step 2: What I’ll send once you confirm
- A fully accurate, Elite-specific procedure with all bolt locations, order of removal, and Torque to XX Nm (YY ft-lbs) specs.
- If you choose front struts, I’ll also include the safest path (quick-strut vs spring compressor).
âś… After Repair
- 🧪 Road test at low speed first; listen for clunks over small bumps.
- 🛞 If you replace front struts, plan for a front-end alignment immediately after.
- 🔍 Recheck lug nut torque after 25-50 miles using a torque wrench 1/2".
đź’° DIY vs Shop Cost
Shop Cost: $450-$1,600 (parts + labor)
DIY Cost: $180-$900 (parts only)
You Save: $270-$700 by doing it yourself!
Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-5 hours.
🎯 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.
