If your vehicle doesn't stop bouncing after hitting a bump you may need new shocks or struts. While strut replacement is a job which requires special tools, making it a difficult repair for backyard mechanics, this is not true of changing shocks. This job requires only common tools and therefore is a great job for the home mechanic.
Jack the vehicle up and support it on jack stands. Remove the tires.
Remove the nut on the top stud of the shock. Due to rust, this is sometimes very difficult to do with a wrench and you may need to cut the nut off with a cutoff tool or hacksaw.
Remove the cross bolt in the bottom of the shock. Due to rust, you may need to use a hammer and punch to push the bolt out. Some vehicles do not employ cross bolts and instead have a stud the same as the top stud.
Install a steel washer and rubber cushion on the top stud of the shock. Install the washer with the curve away from the shock. The cushion is installed with the rounded side toward the steel washer.
Compress the new shock and fit it into the mounts. New gas shocks come compressed and restrained by a wire. Do not cut this wire until the shock is in its mounts. Install the bottom bolt first, but do not tighten, then allow the shock to extend into the top hole.
Install a rubber cushion, the steel washer and the nut on the top stud after it is through the mounting hole. Tighten the nut to compress the cushions to about 2/3 of their original thickness.
Tighten the bottom bolt.
