🔧 Sierra 1500 - Strut Replacement

On your Sierra 1500, “struts” may mean different parts depending on 2WD vs 4WD. 2WD typically uses a front coil-over style shock (often called a strut), while many 4WD setups use torsion bars with a regular front shock (not a strut).

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support the truck on jack stands, never the jack.
• 🛑 Chock the rear wheels before lifting the front.
• 🛑 If your front suspension has a coil spring: a spring compressor can be dangerous if used wrong; consider complete pre-assembled “quick struts” instead.
• 🛑 After any front strut/coil-over work, you should get a professional alignment.
• 🛑 No battery disconnect is 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
• Lug wrench or 22mm socket
• Ratchet (3/8" drive)
• Breaker bar (1/2" drive)
• Torque wrench (20–200 ft-lbs range)
• Socket set: 13mm, 15mm, 18mm, 21mm, 24mm
• Wrench set: 13mm, 15mm, 18mm, 21mm
• Pry bar (18")
• Penetrating oil
• Paint marker
• Spring compressor (specialty)
• Allen key set

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front quick-strut assemblies - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• OR front shock absorbers (torsion-bar front suspension) - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear shock absorbers - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Front upper mount nuts - Qty: 6
• Front lower strut/shock bolts and nuts - Qty: 2

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🧭 Quick check: Is your Sierra 1500 2WD or 4WD?
• 🧭 Are you replacing the front “struts/coil-overs” or the rear shocks?
• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear tires.
• Spray penetrating oil on the lower strut/shock bolts and upper nuts 10 minutes before disassembly.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and remove the wheel

• Use a lug wrench or 22mm socket to loosen lug nuts 1/2 turn on the ground.
• Lift with a floor jack and support with jack stands under the frame.
• Remove the lug nuts with a 22mm socket and remove the wheel.

Step 2: Identify which front setup you have

• If you see a coil spring wrapped around the front shock, you have a coil-over style unit (common on 2WD).
• If you see a torsion bar and the front shock has no coil spring, it’s a standard shock (common on 4WD).
• Take a photo before removing anything.

Step 3A (Coil-over / “strut” style): Remove upper mount nuts

• Open the hood.
• At the top of the coil-over mount, use a 15mm socket to remove the upper mount nuts.
• Leave one nut loosely threaded a few turns so the unit doesn’t drop.

Step 4A (Coil-over / “strut” style): Remove the lower bolt

• Support the lower control arm lightly with the floor jack.
• Use an 18mm socket and 18mm wrench (or 21mm if equipped) to remove the lower strut/shock bolt and nut.
• Remove the last upper nut with a 15mm socket and remove the assembly.

Step 5A (Recommended): Install a pre-assembled quick-strut

• Place the new assembly into the tower and hand-thread the upper nuts using a 15mm socket.
• Line up the lower mount and install the lower bolt using an 18mm socket and 18mm wrench.
• Final tighten: Torque upper mount nuts to 47 Nm (35 ft-lbs).
• Final tighten: Torque lower bolt/nut to 95 Nm (70 ft-lbs).

Step 5B (Not recommended): Swap spring onto your old mount

• Install a spring compressor (specialty) and compress the spring evenly, alternating sides.
• Hold the strut shaft with an Allen key (if required) while removing the top nut with the correct socket.
• Move the spring and isolators to the new strut, then reassemble in the same order.
• Release the spring compressor slowly and evenly.
• If anything binds, stop and reset.

Step 3C (Torsion-bar front): Remove and replace the front shock

• At the top of the front shock, use a 15mm socket to remove the upper nut(s) or bolts (varies by shock/mount style).
• At the lower mount, use an 18mm socket and 18mm wrench to remove the lower bolt/nut.
• Install the new shock and start all hardware by hand first.
• Final tighten: Torque upper hardware to 47 Nm (35 ft-lbs).
• Final tighten: Torque lower bolt/nut to 95 Nm (70 ft-lbs).

Step 4D (Rear shocks): Replace if that’s what you meant by “struts”

• Support the rear axle lightly with the floor jack.
• Use a 21mm socket and 21mm wrench to remove the lower shock bolt/nut.
• Use a 15mm socket and 15mm wrench (or 18mm depending on hardware) to remove the upper shock bolt/nut.
• Install the new rear shock and start both bolts by hand.
• Final tighten: Torque rear upper bolt to 70 Nm (52 ft-lbs).
• Final tighten: Torque rear lower bolt to 95 Nm (70 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Reinstall wheel and lower the truck

• Reinstall the wheel and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Final tighten: Torque lug nuts to 190 Nm (140 ft-lbs) using a torque wrench.

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✅ After Repair

• 🧪 Test drive slowly and listen for clunks over small bumps.
• 🧪 Recheck all visible fasteners with a torque wrench after the test drive.
• 🧭 If you replaced front struts/coil-overs, schedule a front-end alignment.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $500-$1,400 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$900 (parts only)

You Save: $320-$500+ by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-4 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.