🔧 Legacy - Shock/Strut Replacement

On your Legacy, the rear uses separate shock absorbers, but the front uses strut assemblies (a strut is a shock with a coil spring mounted to it). The steps, required tools, and torque specs are different front vs rear, and also differ depending on whether you’re swapping complete assemblies or reusing your springs.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: Rear: 1.5-3 hours (pair) / Front: 3-6 hours (pair)

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Never work under a car supported only by a jack—use jack stands.
• 🛑 If doing front struts and reusing springs: a spring compressor can be dangerous if misused; keep hands/face away from the spring’s path.
• 🛑 Wear eye protection; rust and grit fall from the wheel well.
• 🛑 Do one side at a time so you can use the other side as a reference.
• 🛑 Keep brake hoses and ABS wires from being stretched or pinched.

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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
• Lug nut socket (19mm)
• Breaker bar (1/2")
• Torque wrench (20–200 ft-lbs range)
• Socket set (10mm–19mm, 3/8" and 1/2")
• Wrench set (10mm–19mm)
• Pass-through strut nut socket set (specialty)
• Allen key set (metric)
• Pry bar
• Needle-nose pliers
• Trim clip tool
• Penetrating oil
• Paint marker
• Dead-blow hammer
• Spring compressor (specialty)
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves

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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 strut assemblies - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Front strut mounts (top hats) - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Front strut bearings - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Front bump stops and dust boots - Qty: 2
• Rear upper shock mounts - Qty: 2
• Self-locking strut/shock nuts and bolts - As needed - Qty: 1 set

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🧰 Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and chock the rear wheels (or front wheels if doing rear).
• 🧴 Spray penetrating oil on the lower strut/shock bolts and sway bar/line bracket bolts 10–20 minutes before removal.
• 🧭 Plan an alignment: any front strut replacement should be followed by a professional alignment.
• ❓ Quick questions so I give you the correct, torque-accurate steps:
  • Are you replacing rear shocks, front struts, or all four?
  • For the front: are you installing complete quick-strut assemblies (prebuilt), or reusing your original springs?

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

I can lay out the exact step-by-step with the correct torque specs once you answer the two questions above (front vs rear, and quick-strut vs reusing springs). Those two details change the procedure and which fasteners must be replaced, and I don’t want you guessing on anything suspension-related.

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✅ After Repair

• 🧪 Test drive slowly at first; listen for clunks over small bumps.
• 🔍 Recheck all visible fasteners and brackets after the first short drive.
• 🧭 If front struts were replaced: schedule a wheel alignment immediately.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $200-$900 (parts only)

You Save: $400-$700 by doing it yourself!

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