🔧 Equinox - Shock Absorber Replacement

Your Equinox uses rear shock absorbers and front struts. If you're replacing shock absorbers, this procedure covers the rear shocks only. Worn shocks can cause bouncing, poor control, uneven tire wear, and clunking over bumps.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-2.5 hours

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Support the vehicle securely with jack stands before removing any suspension parts.
• Do not rely on a floor jack alone.
• Keep the suspension supported so the shock is not under tension when removing bolts.
• If equipped with rear ride height sensors or brake hose brackets near the shock, do not stretch or damage them.
• Battery disconnect is not normally required for rear shock replacement.

---

🔧 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
• Metric socket set
• Metric wrench set
• Ratchet
• Torque wrench
• Breaker bar
• Penetrating oil
• Safety glasses
• Gloves

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear shock absorber - Qty: 2
• Shock absorber upper mounting hardware - Qty: 2
• Shock absorber lower mounting hardware - Qty: 2

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and set the parking brake.
• Chock the front wheels.
• Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts slightly before lifting.
• Raise the rear of the vehicle and support it on jack stands.
• Remove the rear wheels for better access.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the rear wheels

• Use a lug wrench or metric socket set to remove the lug nuts.
• Set the wheels aside safely.

Step 2: Support the rear suspension

• Use a floor jack under the rear control arm or axle area to slightly support the suspension.
• This helps remove tension from the shock bolts.

Step 3: Remove the lower shock bolt

• Use a metric socket set, ratchet, and breaker bar if needed to remove the lower shock bolt.
• Apply penetrating oil first if the bolt is rusty.
• Torque to factory spec during reassembly.

Step 4: Remove the upper shock fastener

• Use a metric socket set and metric wrench set to remove the upper mounting hardware.
• On some vehicles, access may be from inside the wheel well.
• Carefully remove the shock from the vehicle.

Step 5: Install the new shock absorber

• Position the new shock in place by hand.
• Start the upper hardware first using the metric socket set.
• Install the lower bolt next, but do not fully tighten yet.
• Hand-start every fastener first.

Step 6: Tighten the shock fasteners

• Use the torque wrench to tighten the upper and lower shock fasteners.
• Torque to GM factory spec for both mounting points.
• With the suspension at normal ride height, final torque is best applied if service access allows.

Step 7: Reinstall the wheels

• Install the rear wheels and hand-tighten the lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle and use a torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to factory spec for the wheel lug nuts.

---

✅ After Repair

• Test drive slowly over a rough road.
• Listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check for proper ride control and reduced bouncing.
• Recheck lug nut torque after the test drive.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $300-$700 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $80-$220 (parts only)

You Save: $220-$480 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 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.