🔧 Altima - Shock Absorber Replacement

On your Altima, the front “shocks” are actually part of the front strut assemblies, while the rear uses separate rear shock absorbers. The steps, parts, and torque specs are different front vs rear, so I need one quick detail before I give you the exact dealership-accurate procedure.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-6 hours

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

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support the car with jack stands on the pinch welds/subframe; never rely on a jack.
• ⚠️ If you’re reusing front springs: a coil spring compressor stores huge energy—use only a quality compressor and keep hands/face out of the spring path.
• ⚠️ Don’t let the steering knuckle hang by the brake hose or ABS wire; support it with a strap.
• ⚠️ After suspension work, you should get a 4-wheel alignment (especially after front struts).

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Lug nut socket 21mm
• Breaker bar 1/2"
• Torque wrench 1/2" (20-200 ft-lbs range)
• Torque wrench 3/8" (10-80 ft-lbs range)
• Socket set metric 10mm-22mm
• Wrench set metric 10mm-22mm
• Pry bar
• Hammer
• Penetrating oil
• Paint marker
• Needle-nose pliers
• Trim clip tool
• Ratchet straps
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves
• Coil spring compressor (specialty)

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front strut assemblies (quick-strut) - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• OR Front struts (cartridges) - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Front strut mounts/bearings - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Front bump stops and dust boots - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear shock absorbers - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear upper shock mounts (if worn/noisy) - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Replacement hardware kit (strut/shock nuts/bolts) - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear tires (for front work) or front tires (for rear work).
• Spray penetrating oil on the main strut/shock bolts and let it soak 10–15 minutes.
• If doing front struts, use a paint marker to mark the strut-to-knuckle position to help keep alignment close for the drive to the alignment shop.
• Quick-struts avoid spring-compressor risk.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Stop here so I can give you the correct procedure

• The front and rear hardware locations and torque specs are different on your Altima.
• Reply with: (1) front / rear / all four and (2) quick-struts or reusing springs.
• Once you reply, I’ll send the exact step-by-step with the correct torque specs, plus the alignment notes and any common “stuck bolt” tips for your Altima.

---

✅ After Repair

• Double-check every fastener is tightened, and that ABS/brake hose brackets are reattached.
• Test drive slowly first. Listen for clunks over small bumps.
• Get a 4-wheel alignment after front strut replacement.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $600-$1,600 (parts + labor)

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

You Save: $420-$700+ by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-6 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.