🔧 Altima - Rear Shock Absorber Replacement

This job replaces the rear shock absorbers on your Altima. The rear shocks control bounce and help keep the tires planted, so worn shocks can cause a floaty ride, poor stability, and longer stopping distance.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support your Altima with jack stands before working underneath it. Never trust only a floor jack.
• ⚠️ Replace rear shock absorbers in pairs so the suspension behaves evenly side-to-side.
• ⚠️ Do not remove coil springs for this repair. The rear shock absorber is separate from the spring on your Altima.
• ⚠️ Wear safety glasses and gloves. Dirt and rust often fall when removing shock hardware.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for rear shock absorber replacement.

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🔧 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
• 21mm lug nut socket
• Ratchet handle 3/8-inch drive
• Ratchet handle 1/2-inch drive
• 17mm socket
• 18mm socket
• 19mm socket
• 17mm wrench
• 18mm wrench
• 19mm wrench
• Breaker bar 1/2-inch drive
• Torque wrench 1/2-inch drive
• Trim clip removal tool
• Needle-nose pliers
• Penetrating oil spray
• Wire brush
• Paint marker
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear shock absorbers - Qty: 2
• Rear shock upper mounting nuts - Qty: 4
• Rear shock lower mounting bolts - Qty: 2
• Rear shock lower mounting nuts - Qty: 2

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Altima on level ground.
• Shift to Park and set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks in front of the front tires.
• Lightly loosen the rear lug nuts before lifting the vehicle.
• Spray the rear shock lower bolts with penetrating oil and let it soak for 5-10 minutes.
• A torque wrench tightens bolts to a measured amount so parts are secure without being over-tightened.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Rear Wheel Lug Nuts

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to loosen each rear lug nut about half a turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet. The tires should still be touching the ground.
• Crack them loose before lifting.

Step 2: Raise and Support the Rear of the Car

• Use the floor jack at the rear center jacking point or approved rear lift point to raise your Altima.
• Place jack stands under the approved rear side support points.
• Slowly lower the vehicle onto the jack stands.
• Gently shake the vehicle by hand to confirm it is stable before working.

Step 3: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and ratchet handle 1/2-inch drive to remove the rear lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and place them flat under the side of the car as an extra safety backup.

Step 4: Access the Upper Shock Mounts

• Open the trunk.
• Use the trim clip removal tool to carefully remove the trunk side trim clips near the rear shock towers.
• Use needle-nose pliers if a plastic clip is hard to pull out.
• Fold the trunk liner back enough to see the upper shock mounting nuts.
• A shock tower is the body area where the top of the shock absorber attaches.

Step 5: Mark the Shock Position

• Use the paint marker to mark the position of the old shock at the lower mount.
• This gives you a simple visual reference when installing the new shock.
• Match the old orientation.

Step 6: Support the Rear Suspension Arm

• Place the floor jack lightly under the rear lower suspension arm near the shock.
• Raise the jack just enough to support the arm. Do not lift the car off the jack stand.
• This removes pressure from the shock bolt and makes removal easier.

Step 7: Remove the Lower Shock Bolt

• Use the wire brush to clean rust and dirt from the lower shock bolt threads.
• Spray the bolt again with penetrating oil spray if needed.
• Use a 17mm socket, 18mm socket, or 19mm socket with the breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to loosen the lower shock bolt, depending on the replacement hardware size installed on your car.
• Hold the nut with the matching 17mm wrench, 18mm wrench, or 19mm wrench.
• Remove the lower bolt and nut, then let the lower end of the shock hang free.

Step 8: Remove the Upper Shock Nuts

• Inside the trunk, use the correct 17mm socket, 18mm socket, or 19mm socket with the ratchet handle 3/8-inch drive to remove the upper shock mounting nuts.
• Hold the shock from underneath with one hand while removing the final upper nut.
• Remove the old shock absorber from the vehicle.

Step 9: Install the New Shock Absorber

• Position the new rear shock absorber in the same orientation as the old one.
• Start the upper mounting nuts by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use the ratchet handle 3/8-inch drive and matching socket to snug the upper nuts, but do not fully torque them yet.
• Cross-threading means the nut starts crooked and damages the threads.

Step 10: Install the Lower Shock Bolt

• Use the floor jack to slowly raise or lower the suspension arm until the lower shock eye lines up with the mounting hole.
• Install the lower shock bolt and nut by hand.
• Use the matching 17mm socket, 18mm socket, or 19mm socket with the matching wrench to snug the lower hardware.
• Do not force the bolt through with a hammer unless the holes are perfectly aligned.

Step 11: Torque the Shock Mounting Hardware

• Use the torque wrench 1/2-inch drive and matching socket to tighten the lower shock bolt to Torque to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs).
• Use the torque wrench 1/2-inch drive and matching socket to tighten the upper shock mounting nuts to Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs).
• If your replacement shock manufacturer provides a different torque for supplied hardware, follow the supplied hardware instructions.

Step 12: Repeat on the Other Side

• Use the same tools and repeat Steps 6-11 on the opposite rear shock absorber.
• Replace both rear shocks during the same repair.

Step 13: Reinstall the Trunk Trim

• Fold the trunk liner back into place.
• Use your hands and the trim clip removal tool to reinstall the trunk trim clips.
• Make sure the trim sits flat and does not cover the trunk seal incorrectly.

Step 14: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Place each rear wheel back onto the hub.
• Thread all lug nuts by hand first.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and ratchet handle 1/2-inch drive to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 15: Lower the Vehicle and Torque the Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack to raise your Altima slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands.
• Lower the vehicle until the tires touch the ground.
• Use the torque wrench 1/2-inch drive and 21mm lug nut socket to tighten the rear lug nuts in a star pattern to Torque to 113 Nm (83 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Bounce each rear corner of your Altima by hand. It should settle quickly without repeated bouncing.
• ✅ Take a slow test drive first. Listen for clunks, rattles, or knocking sounds.
• ✅ Recheck the rear lug nut torque after the first short drive.
• ✅ If the car feels unstable or pulls, have the rear suspension inspected and alignment checked.
• ✅ No scan tool, battery registration, or infotainment reset is required for this repair.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $350-$650 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $120-$300 (parts only)

You Save: $230-$350 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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