Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

?
Lv 5

How much money would I save replacing 4 shocks myself rather than paying a shop to do it?

The car is a 99 Altima GXE 5 sp Manual. The rear shocks seem to be difficult to get to because of the locations. What is the easiest way to access them. How much time should it take to get all four done doing it myself.

7 Answers

Relevance
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    You could save alot of money, it's easily book timed at over 5 hours labor, no way I would do it at my shop for 150, the technicians couldn't survive on flat rate.

  • bobweb
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    You can't replace McPherson strut shocks yourself without a spring compressor tool which can be dangerous to use without other tools like a heavy duty bench vise and good socket sets and wrenches. Also, you essentially have to disassemble the wheel suspension in the front in order to remove the McPherson spring and shock assembly. That means you need good safety jack stands and a floor jack would be desirable. You'll also have to get a wheel alignment after you finish the job, so price that in too. Make sure to replace the upper strut bearing isolator mounts no matter who does the job.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    On your car... our shop would charge about $150 labor, being the front will be struts not shocks. So I guess you'd save about that much... give or take with your local area's labor rates.

    - Good Luck!

  • 1 decade ago

    well,hmmmm ; you should have struts on all 4 corners. pretty intensive even if you have the right tools.(my opinion only) it takes 3.6 hours to do the rears and 1.4 hours for the front. hope this helps some.

  • How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
  • 1 decade ago

    If I was you, I would take it to the shop. If you get it wrong, and its easy to make a mistake, it is your life and that of others at stake. However, if you are mechanically minded, I expect you would save $150.00 to $200.00 doing it yourself. Get yourself a comprehensive workshop manual first dude, it could save you money and your life. Good luck.

  • 1 decade ago

    @ 200

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    If you know how to replace shocks, you should know how much it would cost.

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.