Can an average person change their car's shocks/struts in their garage?

I have a scion TC and I recently bought shocks and struts for it. I've changed my brakes before. I can't find anything on changing the suspension. Can an average person do this in their garage?
Can an average person change their car's shocks/struts in their garage?
Not recommended without some prior experience and the proper tools. Removing compressed springs can be dangerous and destructive if not properly removed.
Can an average person change their car's shocks/struts in their garage?
With the right tools any job can be easy. But with shocks and struts your working with compressed springs and without the proper tools it might be a job best left up to the pros.
The specialized tooling for this job could be as expensive as paying some one to do it.

Spring compressor with safety cage

Pickle fork.

Knowledge.........

Come on over, I have the tools and the knowledge. Bring your wallet.
Even with a DIY guide and the right tools, it's going to be hell the first time, especially if you aren't working with someone who knows how to do it. The front springs are not so hard to get to, but the rear springs are a PAIN to get to on the tC. Luckily, I have a friend who's changed springs on tC's many times, but it still took us a little over two hours and a LOT of work. Even after helping out and watching carefully, I still wouldn't want to attempt this by myself without more experience. Changing the brakes is cake compared to this.



I would suggest you shop around and find a trusted shop to do it for you unless you can get someone you know who has done it before to help you.
You have to get a spring compressor and make sure the springs line up right on the struts or else that will clank.

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Squishy sound from rear of car?

shop told me it was my struts changed my struts car still makes noise only when i go over bumps. if im on flat road no noise. when ihit a bump it sounds just like a piece of rubber getting squeezed its been driving me nuts for a year. wtf else can it be? could it be defective struts? they are monroe sensatrac
Squishy sound from rear of car?
Could be the bump stops Try some silicone spray on the bump stops and up under the spring pad?
Squishy sound from rear of car?
your question needs more information what kind of car is it?

it could be your sway bar it could be from something other then the suspension too.

could also be comming from your tires them selfs.

please provide info.
What size tire are you using? oversize tires will rub on the lower coil spring mount causing the tire to rub on it. or you got the wrong strut
would help to know what car ..what yr,,,,,

maybe panhard bar bushings

What changes do I have to make to put 20's on a 2004 standerd Impalla, the rear strut sit on the tires.?

You need to do a body lift and a suspension lift to do this
What changes do I have to make to put 20's on a 2004 standerd Impalla, the rear strut sit on the tires.?
Need to change the offset.



Try this site to find different rim sizes to fit your car.



http://www.tirerack.com/upgrade_garage/G鈥?/a>

What is a good estimate to change the front two struts on a Nissan Maxima 1995?

What sort of estimate are you looking to get? Do you want the amount of time or price to do the job yourself or have a garage do it?



If you intend to do the repair yourself, Napa Auto Parts (http://www.napaonline.com) has 1995 Maxima Struts listed for about $80. If doing this at a garage, expect some amount of markup on the part. If you don't have the necessary tools, check with a local auto part store to see if they have a loaner program. Given the age of the vehicle, expect to need to replace the nuts and bolts related to the repair. I don't have an estimate for these but the local Nissan shop should have some %26quot;shop bolts%26quot; that they can sell pretty cheap (not unusual for them to just give them away instead of charging as they aren't very expensive). If going to a shop, I'd expect about 2 hours of mechanic time (they'll have all the air tools to cut the time compared to an at home repair which could take anywhere from 4-8 hours depending no your setup). If you aren't going to a garage that specifically deals in suspension (Meineke - http://www.meineke.com specializes in suspension, breaks, and mufflers), expect the garage to need additional time to receive the parts.



One thing you can do is ask for a rough estimate directly from the local repair shops over the phone. They'll probably tell you that they need to see the vehicle but you should be able to insist on a ball park estimate to get you started.



Oh, check a publication like the %26quot;Pennysaver%26quot; for local garages advertising special deals too. They often run ads for things like this, radiator flushing, timing belts, etc...
What is a good estimate to change the front two struts on a Nissan Maxima 1995?
Both sides according to Alldata get 3.6 hours flat rate. The struts themselves are about $185.00 each, also according to Alldata.



If you need the upper strut mounts you are looking at $42.90 ea. @ 4.0 hrs, for both sides. Also, according to Alldata.

Struts on a toyota camry 93?

i have a 93 toyota camry v6. i need to change my struts on my car. so i a bought a parts car car. it is also a 93 toyota camry 4cylinder...

so i was wonder if the strutz on a 6cyliner and a 4cylinder is the same size..
Struts on a toyota camry 93?
The 4 cylinder sedan and the 6 cylinder sedan DX, LE and XLE not the SE, are the same.

The SE japan built and North America built are different.



Good luck
Struts on a toyota camry 93?
NOT the same. 6 cylinder is heavier, so bigger struts.

And I wouldn't buy a parts car for struts. New inserts are under $100 per pair. Used struts are worn struts.



I'm betting that they will fit, but they are not the same.

To be sure, call a parts store and ask for price of the struts with a 6 cyl. After you get the price, ask if it is the same part for a 4 cyl.
Yep, they should be the same as stated, I myself wouldn't go

through the work %26amp; front end alignment on a guess that the

one's in the replacing Camrys aren't going to take a dump on

you in a short time...



But hey, what have you got to lose ? Save all spare parts until

you're sure things are ok. And pick the best struts mounts that

you have out of them all.



Good Luck to You

95 Camry LE Owner...

Do you do your own car maintance or just take it to Jiffy Lube or a place like that?

I do it myself and save alot of money. I do almost everything from a tune up to changing brake pads, and even my alternator. The only thing i take into the mecahnic for is if i need to change something like shocks or struts.
Do you do your own car maintance or just take it to Jiffy Lube or a place like that?
My late Dad used to have a hoist and gobs of tools and I did all of my cars there. Now hes gone and so's the hoist but I have the gobs of snap on tools and jacks and stands so...I can do allot. The really major stuff I save for professionals and I need a bit of advice from Mr. good wrench from time time but, I don't trust anyone torquing my lugs, I do it with Dads old snap-on torque wrench.....because these are things I have had drilled into my head by my Dad. He was a Chevy service manager/owner for 45 years in his own shop. That man could really diagnose a car if he knew all the detail, he would have loved this site. He taught me many many %26quot;tricks%26quot; of the trade that really make jobs easier...Now I really find a lot of good knowledge at this site and it kind of replaces calling up Dad for advice......but I feel his spirit when I use his tools...thanks
Do you do your own car maintance or just take it to Jiffy Lube or a place like that?
i do about 99% of my maintenance and i agree it saves ALOT of money.
I take it to a place like that.
HAHAHA THAT'S WHY THEY GET PAID FOR!!!
I'd like to do that, but I drive a Vokswagon and they make them more difficult for just anyone to work on for some reason.

I also live in an apartment complex and I don't feel safe crawling under a car in my parking lot
I used to do it all myself (including shocks, struts, and exhaust system). Eventually I realized that my time in doing little things was worth more than I would pay a mechanic.
over the winter, i used to take my car in for oil changes and things that i didnt feel like freezing my *** for.



when it started getting nice again, i tried changing my oil but come to find out, the oil drain plug was horribly stripped.



its definetly best to do it yourself, not only do you save a few bucks, but you dont have to waste your time trying to fix other people's mistakes on YOUR own car
I do everything myself. But, then again, that's what I do for a living. Shocks are easy, leave struts to a shop.
I do most of it if I have the time. I find the time for small jobs like oil changes.brakes,tuneups etc. Changing out the intake or putting different gears in the rear, that I will let my mechanic take care of it.Or if I need special tools.
Places like that .
Yep saves a hell of a lot the more you know the better.I do everything from tuning,servicing,brakes,bearings,shocks,鈥?coz i can
I do all the work on my truck myself for two reasons:



1) I don't trust other people working on my truck. I don't know their qualifications, and what they do or don't do to fix my truck.



2) I'm a college student. I can't afford to take my truck to the shop for repairs.



It saves a ton of money, and you can usually get the work done in less amount of time anyways. When it's in the shop, it's not like you'll be going anywhere anyways.



Plus, it helps when your own personal garage has more tools than many of the service shops.
let me ask you this.who do you trust?most places like that offer fast servicebut is it to fast to do a good job?I work at one that had 1 pit man for 4 bays.each bays 10 mins tops.it's to easy for mistakes.we bought a 1000 dollar rearend because one pit man left the plug out of it when checking it.they arepayed to sell product and do it fast.think about it.....
i do almost all my own work i dont do any major engine repair on my own car because i dont like to or trans work but i will swap out struts shock plugs wires belts hoses batteries and i also do most of hte work on my sisters and mothers cars and do a lot of work on the side i am a mechanic and i know what i am doing
Always do it myself, even though sometimes it's a pain the the a**!

My brother took his car to Jiffy Lube and they put the wrong oil filter on. He paid, backed out of the garage but noticed a huge pool of oil on the ground.

The mistaken filter allowed all the oil to leak out of the engine right away. If he would have just driven off, the engine would have burnt up completely.

Several friends of mine have had Jiffy places forget to tighten the oil plug. After a few days the plug falls off, completely draining the engine of oil in a few seconds, burning it up.

The guys in jiffy places are paid minimum wage and are not mechanics. If they do something wrong and you drive off without noticing, it's extremely hard to prove it was them that ruined your engine.
I take it to a local shop. I'm not mechanically inclined. The place I go does a good job, but they don't charge a ton of money.
i do that **** myself see having older brothers actually helped to teach me a thing or two lol
I do everything myself.

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MY CAR IS MAKING A SQUEAKING SOUND?

I HAVE A 1994 HONDA ACCORD LX THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BY THE TIRE IS MAKING A SQUEAKING/CREAKING SOUND WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS OR TURN.DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THIS IS???I PAID SOMEBODY TO SUPPOSEDLY CHANGE THE STRUT AND CV JOINT BUT ITS STILL MAKING THAT SOUND IT STOPPED ONE DAY AND STARTED BACK UP.
MY CAR IS MAKING A SQUEAKING SOUND?
I would suspect you have a front anti-roll bar bushing or anti-roll bar end link issue. That's the easy stuff. There's an outside chance the inner or outer tie-rod on the right side could be dried out and need replacing with a TRW or Moog grease-able part. There is also a good chance your lower A arm bushings should be inspected along with the lower ball joint.
MY CAR IS MAKING A SQUEAKING SOUND?
the ball joint is bad
I assume you had the work done at a reputable repair facility which furnished you with a receipt as well as a warranty. If so, take it back and have a technician go for a test drive and inspect it. It could be the strut mounts, brakes, wheel bearings, control arm bushing etc..
power steering arm, it's the thing that's next to the cv joint, if it's defective you can see it, it'll be a long stick on left and right side next to cv joint, that would make that kind of sound, mostly when your turning



don't pay somebody to fix it, take it to the shop