🔧 Tacoma - Shock Absorber Replacement

This repair replaces the front and rear shock absorbers on your Tacoma to restore ride control, reduce bouncing, and improve tire contact with the road. On your Tacoma, the front shock is part of a coilover-style shock assembly, and the rear shock is a separate bolt-on shock.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 3-5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support your Tacoma with jack stands only. Never work under a vehicle held up by a jack.
• ⚠️ The front coil spring is under heavy tension. Do not disassemble the spring from the front shock unless you have the correct spring compressor and experience.
• ⚠️ For a beginner, replace the front shock as a complete loaded strut/coilover assembly if available.
• ⚠️ Wear safety glasses and gloves. Rust, dirt, and spring tension can be dangerous.
• ⚠️ Replace shocks in pairs: both fronts together or both rears together. All four is best for balanced handling.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this repair.

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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
• Breaker bar 1/2-inch drive
• Torque wrench 1/2-inch drive
• Impact wrench 1/2-inch drive
• 21mm socket
• 19mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 14mm socket
• 12mm socket
• 19mm wrench
• 17mm wrench
• 14mm wrench
• Ratchet 1/2-inch drive
• Ratchet 3/8-inch drive
• Socket extension 6-inch 1/2-inch drive
• Pry bar 18-inch
• Hammer 16-ounce
• Needle-nose pliers
• Penetrating oil
• Paint marker
• Spring compressor kit (specialty)
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front loaded shock/coilover assemblies - Left: 1, Right: 1
• Rear shock absorbers - Qty: 2
• Front shock upper mounting nuts - Qty: 6
• Front shock lower mounting bolts and nuts - Qty: 2 sets
• Rear shock mounting bolts and nuts - Qty: 4 sets

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Tacoma on level ground and set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks behind the wheels that stay on the ground.
• Loosen the wheel lug nuts slightly before lifting the truck.
• Spray penetrating oil on the shock mounting bolts and let it soak for 10-15 minutes.
• A loaded shock/coilover assembly means the shock and spring are preassembled, so you do not need to compress the spring.
• If using bare front shocks only, a spring compressor is required. A spring compressor squeezes the coil spring safely so the shock can be removed.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Wheel Lug Nuts

• Use a 21mm socket and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to loosen each lug nut about 1/2 turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.
• Loosen before lifting.

Step 2: Lift and Support the Front of the Truck

• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) under the front crossmember to lift the front of your Tacoma.
• Place jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) under the frame rails.
• Lower the truck gently onto the jack stands.
• Use the floor jack to lightly support the lower control arm on the side you are working on.

Step 3: Remove the Front Wheels

• Use a 21mm socket and ratchet 1/2-inch drive to remove the lug nuts.
• Remove both front wheels and set them flat on the ground.

Step 4: Remove Front Shock Lower Mounting Bolt

• Use a 19mm socket and 19mm wrench to remove the lower shock bolt and nut.
• If the bolt is stuck, apply penetrating oil and use a breaker bar 1/2-inch drive.
• Tap the bolt out gently with a hammer 16-ounce if needed.

Step 5: Remove Front Shock Upper Mounting Nuts

• Open the hood for better light and access.
• Use a 14mm socket, ratchet 3/8-inch drive, and socket extension 6-inch 1/2-inch drive if needed to remove the three upper shock mounting nuts.
• Do not remove the center nut on the shock shaft. That nut holds spring tension.
• Never remove the center spring nut.

Step 6: Remove the Front Shock Assembly

• Use a floor jack to slightly adjust the lower control arm height until the shock is loose.
• Use a pry bar 18-inch carefully if the lower shock eye is stuck in the bracket.
• Remove the front shock assembly through the wheel opening.

Step 7: Install the New Front Loaded Shock Assembly

• Guide the new front loaded shock/coilover assembly into place by hand.
• Install the three upper nuts by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a 14mm socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the upper mounting nuts to Torque to 64 Nm (47 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Install the Front Lower Shock Bolt

• Use the floor jack to raise or lower the lower control arm until the lower shock hole lines up.
• Install the lower bolt and nut by hand.
• Use a 19mm socket, 19mm wrench, and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the lower mounting bolt to Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Repeat Front Shock Replacement on the Other Side

• Repeat Steps 4 through 8 on the other front shock.
• Use the same 14mm socket, 19mm socket, 19mm wrench, and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive.

Step 10: Reinstall the Front Wheels

• Install the front wheels by hand.
• Use a 21mm socket and ratchet 1/2-inch drive to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Lower your Tacoma until the tires touch the ground.
• Use a 21mm socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the lug nuts to Torque to 113 Nm (83 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Lift and Support the Rear of the Truck

• Place wheel chocks in front of the front wheels.
• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) under the rear differential to lift the rear of your Tacoma.
• Place jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) under the frame rails.
• Keep the floor jack lightly supporting the rear axle so it does not drop when the shocks are removed.

Step 12: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use a 21mm socket and ratchet 1/2-inch drive to remove the rear lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels for better access.

Step 13: Remove the Rear Shock Absorber

• Use a 17mm socket and 17mm wrench to remove the lower shock bolt and nut.
• Use a 17mm socket and 17mm wrench to remove the upper shock bolt and nut.
• Use a pry bar 18-inch if the shock bushing is stuck in the mount.
• Remove the rear shock absorber from the truck.

Step 14: Install the New Rear Shock Absorber

• Position the new rear shock absorber in the upper mount first.
• Install the upper bolt and nut by hand.
• Use the floor jack to raise or lower the rear axle until the lower shock hole lines up.
• Install the lower bolt and nut by hand.

Step 15: Tighten the Rear Shock Bolts

• Use a 17mm socket, 17mm wrench, and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the upper rear shock bolt to Torque to 74 Nm (55 ft-lbs).
• Use a 17mm socket, 17mm wrench, and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the lower rear shock bolt to Torque to 74 Nm (55 ft-lbs).

Step 16: Repeat Rear Shock Replacement on the Other Side

• Repeat Steps 13 through 15 on the other rear shock.
• Use the same 17mm socket, 17mm wrench, and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive.

Step 17: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Install the rear wheels by hand.
• Use a 21mm socket and ratchet 1/2-inch drive to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Lower your Tacoma fully to the ground.
• Use a 21mm socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the lug nuts to Torque to 113 Nm (83 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• Push down firmly on each corner of your Tacoma. It should rebound once and settle.
• Test drive slowly at first. Listen for clunks, rattles, or rubbing.
• Recheck all shock mounting bolts after the first short drive.
• Have a wheel alignment checked after front shock/coilover replacement.
• Retorque the wheel lug nuts after 25-50 miles to Torque to 113 Nm (83 ft-lbs).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $700-$1,300 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $300-$750 (parts only)

You Save: $400-$550 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 3-5 hours.

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