How to Replace the Shocks and Struts in a Dodge Intrepid

Since the Dodge Intrepid was introduced in model year 1993, it has been one of Dodge's most comfortable cars with the innovative cab design and the wheel placement. Part of keeping it so comfortable is maintaining the suspension system and replacing the shocks and struts every 60,000 miles.

Instructions

Replace the Front Shocks

1

Open the hood and pop the shock tower cap off the top of the shock assembly, which is directly over each wheel well. Unscrew the three nuts holding the shock assembly mounted to the shock tower. Lift the car with a car jack, and support the frame with jack stands. Use a tire iron to remove the bolts holding your wheels on, and set the wheels aside.

2

Disconnect the nut holding the stabilizer link to the shock assembly and slide away the link ball joint stem. Unbolt the shock assembly from the lower control arm, and pull the routing clip away from the brake tube bracket to disconnect the wheel speed sensor.

3

Loosen the nut on the ball joint stud connecting it to the steering knuckle until it's even with the end of the stud. Use a puller to pull the ball joint stud and the steering knuckle apart. Take off the nut at the end of the ball joint stud the rest of the way.

4

Push the top of the steering knuckle out of the way, and pull out the shock assembly. Be careful not to pull on the brake flex hose. Replace the shock assembly with the new one.

5

Place the nut connecting the ball joint stud to the steering knuckle on loosely. Hold the ball joint stud with a hex wrench, and torque the nut to 35 foot-pounds and then one additional 90 degrees. Reconnect the wheel speed sensor cable to the brake tube bracket.

6

Insert the lower shock mounting bolt through the hole on the shock assembly into the lower control arm. Don't tighten it yet. Reposition the stabilizer link and put the nut back on that connects it to the shock assembly. Hold the ball joint stud with a wrench and torque the nut to 95 foot-pounds.

7

Mount the wheel back on your car and lower it. Fasten the shock assembly to the shock tower with the three nuts, and torque them to 20 foot pounds. Pop on the shock tower cap.

Replace the Front Struts

8

Lift the car with a floor jack and support the frame with jack stands. Make sure the suspension arms are not supporting the weight of the car. Remove the front wheels. Disconnect the negative battery cable, and remove the nut attaching the stabilizer bar to the strut assembly with a wrench. Remove the nut attaching the outer tie rod end to the strut assembly. Pull them apart with a puller.

9

Disconnect the speed sensor wiring harness bracket from the strut, and remove the brake caliper assembly. Support it with some electrical wire so it doesn't hang from the brake hose. Unbolt the front brake rotor.

10

Hold the bolts connecting the steering knuckle to the strut assembly with a wrench, and ratchet the nuts off the bolts. Remove the upper strut mounting nuts and washers from the shock tower and pull the strut off the shock tower.

11

Replace the strut, and torque the upper mounting nuts and washers to 25 foot pounds. Reposition the steering knuckle neck in the strut assembly. Insert the bolts and hold the heads with a wrench so they don't rotate while you torque the nuts to 150 foot pounds.

12

Reconnect the brake rotor and the caliper assembly. Torque the bolts to 14 foot-pounds. Mount the speed sensor cable routing bracket to the strut and reposition the outer tie rod on the steering knuckle. Torque the nut to 27 foot pounds. Reattach the stabilizer link to the strut assembly and torque the nut to 70 foot pounds.

13

Mount the front wheels according to the manufacturer's specifications and connect the negative battery cable to the battery. Lower the car.