Replacing rear struts...
 

Hi,

My rear left-rear shock is shot (leaked out). The ride is pretty bad now. I wanted to know how hard it would be to replace the rear strut myself, or if I should get a mechanic to do it. Are any special tool required? Torque wrench, etc.?

I have been told that it is not possible to just replace the shock inside the spring, and that I would have to replace the whole thing (the whole assembly... spring and shock). Is this true?

I have read that if one of them is bad, you should replace both to ensure that the ride stays even. I can get them from the Mazda dealer for $71.28 each strut, but would like to save the other $71.28 if I don´t need to replace the right one. Is this advisable, or should I replace both even if the right one "feels" like it´s ok? The installation is not an issue... that is only $48.00 for both.

Thanks.

Sounds like I better pay the $48 they charge to replace both of them.



Edit: Just found another shop that will do it for $30.

I'd let the shop do it for $30. Since your car is older, some of the bolts my be rusted together. I had to cut off the nuts for the strut to endlink mount because they were rusted together.

Yeah... I decided $30 bucks was nothing. So I will let them do it. Besides, they let me stick around while they do it, so i can watch every move and learn from them.

Just got the struts replaced this morning. Nothing to it if you have a spring compressor (which I didn´t, so I had them done for $30). Fortunately nothing was rusty or damaged in any way whatsoever.