How to Replace the Shocks and Struts in a Plymouth Voyager

Minivans are great for hauling cargo or passengers and have comfortable and smooth rides. But after 60,000 miles under normal driving conditions, you need to replace the shocks and struts to keep the ride smooth and the handling and braking operating as it should.

Instructions

Replace the Front Struts in a Voyager

1

Lift the front end of the Voyager with a floor jack and support the minivan by the frame with jack stands. Loosen and remove the nuts mounting the front wheels and set the wheels aside. Locate the struts under the front end of the minivan. They look like hardware mounted behind the wheel hubs with a spring surrounding it.

2

Find the brake hose in the wheel hub, and follow it back to the strut. Remove the bracket holding it and the anti-lock brake sensor from the strut. Disconnect the sway bar attaching link from its position halfway down the strut. It's easiest using a wrench to hold the connection and a ratchet to move the bolt.

3

Unbolt the strut from the steering knuckle and pop the hood so you can remove the three upper mounting nuts over the wheel well. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 on the other side of the Voyager.

4

Position the new strut assembly in the same alignment as the old one. Set the dial on your torque wrench to 21 foot lb. Tighten each of the upper mounting nuts until you feel the wrench slip. Under the car, insert the bolts securing the strut to the knuckle and torque them to 65 foot lb. Then add a quarter turn to the tightness.

5

Attach the sway bar link, and torque the nut to 65 foot lb. Mount the brake hose and anti-lock brake sensor bracket. Torque the connecting nut to 10 foot lb.

6

Mount the front wheels, and lower the front end of the Voyager. Have a professional perform an alignment on the front wheels.

Replace the Rear Shocks in a Voyager

7

Raise the rear end of the Voyager and support it by the frame. Slide a jack stand under the rear axle to support it and locate the shocks. They look like two tubes that slide in and out of each other, found directly behind the wheel assemblies.

8

Remove the bolts securing both the top and bottom of the shock and pull out the shock. Repeat this step on the other side of the Voyager.

9

Position the new shock in the suspension system and torque the upper and lower bolts to 75 foot lb.

10

Lower the back end of the Voyager.