🔧 Fusion - Shock/Strut Replacement

On your Fusion, the rear uses shock absorbers, and the front uses a strut assembly (a shock with a coil spring built around it). The steps and tools are different, so I’m giving you both paths—pick the axle you’re replacing.

Difficulty Level: Rear: Intermediate | Front: Advanced | Estimated Time: Rear: 1.5-3 hours | Front: 3-6 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Support the car on jack stands; never work under a jack.
• Front struts involve a compressed spring. If you are not using a complete quick-strut, a coil spring compressor is required—stored spring force can cause serious injury.
• Keep clear of orange high-voltage cables under the car (hybrid system). This job does not require touching HV components.
• Do not loosen suspension bolts with the suspension hanging, then final-tighten them in the air—final tightening should be done at normal ride height when specified.

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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
• Breaker bar (1/2")
• Torque wrench (20–250 ft-lbs range)
• 21mm socket
• 18mm socket
• 15mm socket
• 13mm socket
• 10mm socket
• 21mm wrench
• 18mm wrench
• 15mm wrench
• 13mm wrench
• Ratchet (3/8")
• Ratchet (1/2")
• Trim clip tool
• Flathead screwdriver
• Penetrating oil
• Pry bar
• Paint marker
• Coil spring compressor (specialty)
• Strut spreader tool (specialty)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear shock absorbers - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Front complete strut assemblies (quick-struts) - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Front strut mount nuts - Qty: 6
• Front strut-to-knuckle bolts/nuts - Qty: 4
• Rear shock upper nuts - Qty: 2
• Rear shock lower bolts/nuts - Qty: 2

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to Park, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels (front work) or front wheels (rear work).
• Loosen lug nuts 1/2 turn before lifting. Use a 21mm socket.
• Spray penetrating oil on the main fasteners (strut-to-knuckle bolts or shock bolts) and let it soak 5–10 minutes.
• If doing front struts: plan on an alignment afterward.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and remove the wheel

• Use a floor jack at the correct jacking point and set the car on jack stands.
• Remove the wheel using a 21mm socket.

Step 2 (Rear): Support the rear suspension

• Place the floor jack lightly under the rear lower control arm (just enough to support it).
• This prevents sudden drop when unbolting.

Step 3 (Rear): Remove the lower shock bolt

• Use an 18mm socket and 18mm wrench to remove the lower shock bolt/nut.
• If the bolt is tight, use a breaker bar (1/2").

Step 4 (Rear): Remove the upper shock mount nuts

• Access the upper shock mount area in the trunk/side trim as equipped. Use a trim clip tool and flathead screwdriver to carefully release clips.
• Remove the upper mount nuts using a 13mm socket.
• Remove the shock from the car.

Step 5 (Rear): Install the new rear shock

• Position the new shock and start the upper nuts by hand using a 13mm socket (do not fully tighten yet).
• Line up the lower mount and install the lower bolt/nut using an 18mm socket and 18mm wrench.
• Torque fasteners with a torque wrench:
• Torque upper shock mount nuts to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs)
• Torque lower shock bolt to 115 Nm (85 ft-lbs)

Step 6 (Front): Disconnect brackets and link from the strut

• Remove the brake hose/ABS wire brackets from the strut using a 10mm socket.
• Remove the sway bar end link nut at the strut using an 18mm socket and 18mm wrench.

Step 7 (Front): Remove the strut-to-knuckle bolts

• Mark the relationship between the strut and knuckle using a paint marker (helps keep camber close).
• Remove the two large strut-to-knuckle bolts using a 21mm socket, 21mm wrench, and breaker bar (1/2").
• If the knuckle is stuck on the strut, use a strut spreader tool (specialty) to open the clamp slightly.

Step 8 (Front): Remove the strut assembly from the car

• Open the hood.
• Support the strut from below, then remove the strut mount nuts using a 13mm socket.
• Remove the strut assembly.

Step 9 (Front): Install the new front strut (recommended: quick-strut)

• If you are not using a quick-strut, you must transfer the spring using a coil spring compressor (specialty) (tool that safely compresses the coil spring). For a first-timer, quick-struts are the safer, simpler choice.
• Position the new strut and start the top nuts by hand using a 13mm socket.
• Slide the knuckle onto the strut and install the two strut-to-knuckle bolts using a 21mm socket and 21mm wrench.
• Reconnect the sway bar end link using an 18mm socket and 18mm wrench.
• Reinstall the brake hose/ABS brackets using a 10mm socket.

Step 10 (Front): Torque the front fasteners

• Torque fasteners with a torque wrench:
• Torque strut mount nuts to 48 Nm (35 ft-lbs)
• Torque strut-to-knuckle bolts/nuts to 260 Nm (192 ft-lbs)
• Torque sway bar end link nut to 85 Nm (63 ft-lbs)
• Torque brake hose/ABS bracket bolts to 10 Nm (89 in-lbs)

Step 11: Reinstall wheels and lower the car

• Reinstall wheels using a 21mm socket.
• Lower the vehicle off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Torque lug nuts to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs) using a torque wrench in a star pattern.

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✅ After Repair

• Test drive at low speed first. Listen for clunks over bumps and recheck all visible fasteners.
• If you replaced front struts, get a 4-wheel alignment as soon as possible.
• Re-torque lug nuts after 50–100 km (30–60 miles) using a torque wrench.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: ₹18,000–₹45,000 per axle (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: ₹8,000–₹28,000 per axle (parts only)

You Save: ₹10,000–₹17,000+ by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-3 hours (rear) or 3-6 hours (front).

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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.