How to Service and Repair a Shock Absorber in the Front Suspension on 2006 Dodge Stratus?

Question

Accepted Answer

Before working on the front suspension shock, make sure to raise and support your vehicle and then eliminate the wheel and tire assembly. When taking out both assemblies at the same time, mark them with right and left labels. Take apart the wheel speed sensor cable routing bracket, then remove the nut from the top of the ball joint stud and pull out the stud using Puller, Special Tool, C-3894-A. After that, unscrew the pinch bolt at the shock absorber clevis and take out the nut and thru-bolt that join the clevis to the control arm from beneath. Gently hit the clevis off with a softly used brass drift. Remove the bolts attaching the shock absorber/upper control arm bracket to the shock tower and use that opening to pull the shock assembly out from under the wheel well. For removal, use tool W-7200 to compress the coil spring from the strut spring compressor Pentastar Service Equipment (PSE) and mark the spring and shock if they are serviced together. Add the shock assembly to the compressor, so that the upper ball joint is aligned with the upper front hook and remove all tension from the upper bracket by compressing the coil until it's flat. Grab a special Snap-On A136 socket which locks the shock rod, so you can safely remove the nut and washers above it. Pull the shock absorber and the lower spring isolator, jounce bumper, cup, dust boot and washer from the coil spring by removing the clamp. Check each component for problems and exchange those that are not working. First, fit the sleeve into the lower shock absorber rod isolator bushing, then the lower isolator bushing and sleeve into the upper mounting bracket. Adjust the coil spring in the compressor and then place the dust shield and cup in the coil spring. Put the lower shock rod bushing retainer washer on the cup, then set the upper coil spring isolator in place, place the upper control arm ball joint below the front hook and finally mount the upper bracket on the isolator. Grasp the coil spring's center, fit the lower spring isolator over the shock absorber and add the jounce bumper and collar to the shock rod. Attach the shock through the coil spring and utilize a clamp to keep it in place for now. Assemble and install the shock rod bushing retainer washer, along with the retainer nut onto the shock and tighten to 45 Nm (33 ft. lbs.). Little by little remove the pressure from the coils, keeping everything aligned and take out the shock assembly from the press. Slot the shock assembly into the shock tower, making sure the locating pins and mounting holes are in line, then connect it with four 92 Nm (68 ft. lbs.) tightened bolts. Clevis the shock absorber, let it rest fully in place and use a 71 Nm (52 ft. lbs.) torque wrench when installing the pinch bolt. Slide the clevis-to-lower control arm thru-bolt into place but don't tighten it, then push the upper ball joint into the steering knuckle and attach it with a 65 ft. lbs. tightened nut. Put the routing bracket back and make sure to tighten the bolt that holds the wheel speed sensor cable in place. Place a jack stand under the lower control arm, raising it so the car is stable and only presses on the jack stand and then screw the shock absorber clevis to lower control arm bushing thru-bolt nut to 68 ft. lbs. After you finish raising the vehicle, pull out the jack stand and put the tire and wheel assembly in place. Tighten the nuts evenly, until the final torque is 135 Nm (100 ft. lbs.).

OEM 2006 Dodge Stratus Shock Absorber

8 Shock Absorbers found

2006 Dodge Stratus Strut Mount, Passenger Side Part Number: 4764552AC

2006 Dodge Stratus Bushing, Front Part Number: 4764483AA

2006 Dodge Stratus Coil Spring, Front Part Number: 4895029AB

2006 Dodge Stratus Strut, Front Part Number: 4895037AB

2006 Dodge Stratus Strut Mount, Driver Side Part Number: 4764553AC

2006 Dodge Stratus Strut Bushing, Rear Part Number: 4616749

2006 Dodge Stratus Upper Retainer, Rear Part Number: 4616934

2006 Dodge Stratus Strut, Front Part Number: 4879422AB

2006 Dodge Stratus Shock Absorber Parts and Q&A

Related 2006 Dodge Stratus Parts

Alternate Year Models