How to Service and Repair a Shock Absorber in the Front Suspension Strut on 2004 Dodge Stratus?

Question

Accepted Answer

The first steps to servicing the front suspension strut is to loosen the wheel nuts, lift the vehicle and remove the wheel and tire assembly. For both shock assemblies, take care to identify which is right and which is left. Take off the upper ball joint stud bracket from the steering knuckle and unscrew the nut from the stud with a socket. Next, loosen the stud with Puller, Special Tool, C-3894-A. Loosen the pinch bolt holding the shock absorber clevis to the main shock absorber. After that, unscrew the nut and thru-bolt found on the clevis' side of the lower control arm. Gently strike the clevis off the shock absorber using a brass drift, then remove the bolts that hold the shock tower and upper control arm to the shock. After that, lift out the shock absorber through the front of the car. Compress the coil spring with a strut spring compressor from Pentastar Service Equipment (PSE) tool W-7200 as you disassemble and please mark the coil spring and shock assembly when you have to work on them at the same time. Rectify the upper mounting bracket by unplugging the tension from the coil and after that hold the shock rod in place while you remove the nut with a Snap-On A136- or an equivalent device. After detaching the upper bushing retainer washer, take out each shock absorber component and inspect for any unacceptable wear. When assembling, as well, use the compression method and be sure the coil spring and related parts are positioned correctly. Place the upper coil spring isolator and the shock absorber rod isolator bushings in the correct location and then set the coil spring into the compressor and put on the upper bracket. Place a separator above the coil spring, set the jounce bumper ring around the shock, add a collar above that and a dust shield below, slide in the cup and tighten the retainer nut firmly to 55 Nm (40 ft. lbs.). Place the shock assemblyON the shock tower, ensure the pins are aligned and the holes are in line and tighten the bolts to 95 Nm (70 ft. lbs.). Connect the clevis to the shock absorber and fix it with a pinch bolt tightened to 88 Nm (65 ft. lbs.), before installing the clevis bracket to the lower control arm but not tightening yet. Place the upper ball joint in the steering knuckle, attach with a nut tightened to 27 Nm (20 ft. lbs.) and afterward, connect the wheel speed sensor cable to the bracket. Descend the vehicle so the lower control arm carries the weight and tighten the bolt in the shock adsorber clevis to the lower control arm bushing to 88 Nm (65 ft. lbs.). To complete, secure the converted wheel and tire assembly, tightening the wheel nuts to 135 Nm (100 ft. lbs.) while crisscrossing the pattern, then drive the vehicle down.

OEM 2004 Dodge Stratus Shock Absorber

10 Shock Absorbers found

2004 Dodge Stratus Strut Mount, Passenger Side Part Number: 4764552AC

2004 Dodge Stratus Bushing, Front Part Number: 4764483AA

2004 Dodge Stratus Coil Spring, Front Part Number: 4895029AB

2004 Dodge Stratus Strut, Front Part Number: 4895037AB

2004 Dodge Stratus Strut Mount, Driver Side Part Number: 4764553AC

2004 Dodge Stratus Strut Bushing, Rear Part Number: 4616749

2004 Dodge Stratus Strut, Front Driver Side Part Number: MR455121

2004 Dodge Stratus Upper Retainer, Rear Part Number: 4616934

2004 Dodge Stratus Strut, Front Part Number: 4879422AB

2004 Dodge Stratus Strut, Rear Part Number: 4879888AC

2004 Dodge Stratus Shock Absorber Parts and Q&A

Related 2004 Dodge Stratus Parts

Alternate Year Models