The importance of shocks and struts are extremely high in every modern car on the road today.
By understanding the importance of these parts and these internal components’ function, you can figure out the average cost to replace shocks and struts when you notice something going wrong in your car.
Both of these internal suspension parts play a huge role in the suspension, steering, and safety system within your vehicle. The shocks and struts keep the car smoothly on the road, prevent any swaying back and forth, and enhance the vehicle’s stability to work effectively on varying terrain.
Determining the average cost to replace shocks and struts is usually characterized by replacing both struts or both shocks in pairs since everything has to be done simultaneously.
The cost is affected by the brand of struts, the brand of shocks, the autobody shop or mechanic you choose, and your vehicle’s make and model.
Usually, the average cost to replace shocks and struts comes in between $50 and $900 on the high end to replace just the pair of struts. In addition, you will have to pay the labor costs for this job, which typically come in between $150 and $300 on average.
Difference Between Shocks and Struts
Many times, you’ll hear people refer to shocks and struts interchangeably. However, shocks and struts are two distinct parts with different functions.
While both can help with your vehicle’s ride and handling, these parts work in different ways. Shocks are individual components of the suspension system while struts are a major structural component of the chassis and suspension system.
What do Shocks Do?
Despite what many people think, conventional shock absorbers do not support vehicle weight. Instead, the primary purpose of the shock absorber is to control spring and suspension movement. This is accomplished by turning the kinetic energy of suspension movement into thermal energy, or heat energy, to be dissipated through the hydraulic fluid.
The amount of resistance a shock absorber develops depends on the speed of the suspension and the number and size of the tiny holes or orifices in the piston.
All modern shock absorbers are velocity-sensitive hydraulic damping devices – meaning the faster the suspension moves, the more resistance the shock absorber provides. Because of this feature, shock absorbers adjust to varying road conditions and reduce the rate of:
- Bounce
- Roll and sway from worn shocks losing the ability to control the rate of weight transfer
- Brake dive and acceleration squat
Shock absorbers work on the principle of fluid displacement on both the compression and extension cycle. A typical car or light truck will have more resistance during its extension cycle than its compression cycle. The compression cycle controls the motion of a vehicle’s unsprung weight, while extension controls the heavier sprung weight.
What do Struts do?
The strut is a common damper type used on many of today’s independent suspension, front wheel drive vehicles as well as some rear wheel drive vehicles.
A strut is a major structural part of a suspension. It takes the place of the upper control arm and upper ball joint used in conventional suspensions. Because of its design, a strut is lighter and takes up less space than the shock absorbers in conventional suspension systems.
Struts perform two main jobs. First, struts perform a damping function like shock absorbers. Internally, a strut is like a shock absorber. A piston is attached to the end of the piston rod and works against hydraulic fluid to control spring and suspension movement.
Just like shock absorbers, the valving generates resistance to forces created by the up and down motion of the suspension. Also like shock absorbers, a strut is velocity sensitive, meaning that it is valved so that the amount of resistance can increase or decrease depending on how fast the suspension moves.
Struts also perform a second job. Unlike shock absorbers, struts provide structural support for the vehicle suspension, support the spring, and hold the tire in an aligned position. Additionally, they bear much of the side load placed on the vehicle’s suspension.
As a result, struts affect ride comfort and handling as well as vehicle control, braking, steering, wheel alignment and wear on other suspension parts.
Signs Your Shocks or Struts Are Worn
Properly working shocks and struts add to your safety on the road and help reduce damage to other parts of your vehicle. Look for these signs that indicate it might be time to get your shocks and struts checked and replaced.
- Unusual tire wear (including cupping). If you spot cupping (as seen in the image below) or other unusual tire wear you may have issues with your shocks or struts, which is throwing off your alignment. This can be especially important to notice if a rotation was performed but abnormal wear is still occurring.
- Rubber shock covers that are cracking, peeling or off-center. These covers can be found at the top and bottom of the shocks.
- Leaking fluid. If you find clear or light brown fluid on the outside of the shocks or struts, it could indicate a broken seal.
- Ride issues. If your vehicle dives when braking, bottoms out (scrapes loudly) when going over a speed bump, the rear-end squats when accelerating, or your vehicle bounces more than usual after going over a bump, it could be signs of bad shocks or struts.
- Braking issues. You might notice that your vehicle takes longer to stop than usual.
- Swaying. This can be especially noticeable after a turn, lane change, or in cross winds.
- Unusual noises. As the shocks or struts wear, they can fail to do their job. This can cause many different sounds, including knocking and banging.
Struts vs. Shocks Replacements
When determining what kind of shock absorbers your car currently uses, you need to figure out if you should get the struts or shocks repaired or replaced.
When you are buying struts or shocks, you buy brand-name products so you can use reliable, consistent, and confidence-inspiring products that are long-lasting and durable.
Although you will be buying different products when comparing struts vs. shocks, you still need to keep in mind that you can choose what works best for you and your goal.
If performance is your main concern, you can buy stiffer shocks and struts. However, if you prefer a comfortable and smooth ride, you might want other struts or shocks.
How Much Would It Cost to Replace Your Shocks and Struts?
A typical shock and strut replacement can set you back anywhere between $450 and $1,100. However, keep in mind that this can vary depending on the type of vehicle suspension you have and your location.
To begin with, shocks come in several grades, and you get what you pay for. But heavy-duty shocks can sometimes cause a harsh ride much different from the OEM shock absorbers.
Pro Tip: Most shocks now are nitrogen-charged and actually help support the weight of the vehicle; older oil-only shocks didn’t do that.
When a strut cartridge is purchased, it’s more affordable than buying the entire assembly because much of the old hardware (the spring, strut mount, etc.) are all re-used. But there’s extra labor in the breaking down of the shock.
It requires a special spring compressor (don’t try it at home) and reassembling it, then reinstalling the assembly. Sometimes a wheel alignment may be necessary after strut replacement, depending on the suspension configuration, so that cost will need to be factored in (or not) depending on the vehicle.
The total cost of a replacement job can be divided between labor and parts. Drivers should also anticipate additional costs, such as wheel alignment.
Labor Cost
Mechanics charge for their technical expertise and the effort they expend in maintaining or repairing a vehicle. Estimated labor costs for replacing a shock and strut assembly can range anywhere from $150 to $300 per assembly.
Auto repair shops charge higher labor costs to help cover the greater overhead of running a physical facility. Dealerships may charge even more because of their affiliation with the vehicle’s manufacturer.
Drivers with extensive experience in DIY auto repair may save on labor costs by removing the old shocks and struts and installing the new ones themselves. However, if you lack the knowledge and tools for the job, it’s better to leave it to a professional.
Note that the springs on a set of struts can cause severe injury when mishandled, so don’t try disassembling struts yourself unless you know how to do it right.
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Parts Cost
Purchasing replacement shocks and struts will take up a large chunk of your overall expense. An individual shock and strut assembly can cost anywhere between $150 and $900.
Because it’s recommended to replace the shocks and struts in pairs, this cost can easily multiply.
Auto repair shops often have markups on the replacement parts they offer, while official dealerships use original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts that cost even more.
To save on costs, consider purchasing an aftermarket replacement online. They typically offer the same performance as the factory-issued parts, but for a more competitive price.
Wheel Alignment Cost
Installing new shocks and struts can alter vehicle alignment. This results in uneven tire wear, which may contribute to early tire failure.
To prevent this, mechanics almost always recommend a wheel alignment after a strut replacement. Depending on the type of suspension on your vehicle, an alignment may also be required after the shocks are replaced.
An alignment will return the wheels to manufacturer-specified positions, restoring normal tire wear patterns and extending tire lifespan.
The cost of a wheel alignment can vary between $150 and $200. Meanwhile, the supplies for the job will set you back by about $20.
How are Suspension Shocks or Struts replaced?
To change a suspension strut, a technician first needs to lift and support the vehicle with a hoist (or a jack and jack stands) and remove the front wheel. The brake caliper and rotor are removed and the sway bar link is disconnected.
The technician then disconnects the strut from the steering knuckle and from the strut tower to remove it from the vehicle. If the entire strut assembly is being replaced, installation is relatively simple.
On the other hand, it is common to reuse the coil spring from the old assembly. In this case, the worn strut will need to be compressed and disassembled, and the new strut will need to be put together before it is installed.
On the other hand, shocks are much easier to change. Most often, removal of the wheel is sufficient to allow the upper and lower mounting bolts to be removed. Once removed, the new shock mount and shock are installed. Once the wheel is torqued, the process is repeated on at least one more shock.
Can I replace the Suspension Shock or Strut myself?
Replacing an entire suspension strut assembly as a unit could be considered an intermediate DIY repair.
On the other hand, if the coil spring is to be transferred from the old strut to the new strut, or if the old spring is broken and in need of replacement, this repair should only be attempted by an advanced DIYer, or left to a professional technician.
However, since shock absorbers are typically easier and safer to replace, most DIY mechanics will have an easy time replacing these. That is if proper lifting and supporting of the vehicle is understood.
Conclusion
When looking at the average cost to replace shocks and struts, you need to take into account the function of the shocks and struts within your vehicle, the important part they play in the steering and suspension system, and the symptoms of failing shocks and struts.
Noticing these signs and symptoms can help prevent this issue from getting worse and lead to higher replacement costs.