Bouncy ride? Nose-dive on braking? Inspection flagged worn shocks or struts? Shocks and struts wear gradually, which is why most drivers don’t notice until they fail a vehicle inspection or someone else points it out. At Rite-Price Auto Service Centre, we replace standard shocks and struts in-house, including most front struts with the spring assembly. Pairs quoted upfront, alignment bundled into the front-strut quote, and OEM or quality aftermarket parts your call.
If we’re replacing one shock or strut, the other side usually needs to go with it — uneven dampening creates handling problems we won’t sell you a half-fix on. We quote in pairs, we quote alignment upfront when front struts come out, and we use OEM or quality aftermarket parts (KYB, Monroe, Bilstein) so the new install matches the factory feel.
Shock and strut wear shows up in handling, not warning lights. If any of these match what your car is doing, an inspection is in order:
Most shock and strut jobs at Rite-Price are straightforward replacements with OEM or quality aftermarket parts.
Most front-wheel-drive cars and SUVs use MacPherson struts. We replace the assembled strut and spring as a unit — safer, faster, and more accurate than spring-compressing in-house.
Straightforward on most vehicles. Usually a one-to-two hour job per pair.
Some SUVs and hatchbacks. Same procedure as fronts but usually simpler access.
Clunk over bumps, steering binding. Almost always done together with strut replacement so we don’t open the assembly twice.
Included with any suspension complaint. Push down on each corner, count the rebounds — more than two means worn dampers.
KYB, Monroe, Bilstein, Sachs, depending on vehicle and budget. We’ll quote both OEM and aftermarket where reasonable so you can decide.
If your ride has gone floaty, your nose dives under braking, or your inspection flagged the dampers, come by Rite-Price Auto Service Centre for an honest shocks and struts inspection. Call today — we’ll talk through your symptoms and the alignment-bundled quote in 60 seconds.
Shocks and struts don’t live alone. Worn dampers show up alongside steering and suspension wear and uneven tire wear. If your inspection flagged multiple components, a single visit usually handles it. Visit Rite-Price Auto — one of the most trusted auto repair shops in Calgary.
Calgary roads are brutal on dampers. Frost heaves and potholes after spring thaw pound the shock shafts. Road salt corrodes the seal area, and once the seal is compromised, the oil leaks out and dampening collapses. Daily driving on Stoney Trail or Deerfoot with frost-heave sections accelerates wear noticeably — a vehicle that felt fine last fall can show clear shock wear by July after one rough freeze-thaw cycle.
Located in SE Calgary and serving drivers across Chinook, Ogden, Lynnwood, Riverbend, Douglasdale, Acadia, Maple Ridge, and Willow Park, Rite-Price Auto Service Centre handles standard shock and strut replacement in pairs, with alignment quoted upfront when the front struts come out. We don’t sneak alignment onto the bill at checkout — if you need it, it’s in the original quote.
Click “Book Appointment” to book your shocks and struts inspection with the trusted experts in Calgary.
Yes, almost always. Replacing one shock or strut when the other side is old creates uneven dampening — the car handles unpredictably, and the new part wears faster matching the old one's behaviour. We quote in pairs so the install is balanced and the warranty stays honest.
Both are fine for most vehicles. OEM is more expensive but matches the factory feel exactly — worth it on a vehicle you plan to keep. Quality aftermarket like KYB or Monroe is a reasonable money-saver with a good warranty. We'll explain the trade-off and quote both when both make sense.
Yes if we replaced front struts — they affect camber, and the alignment needs to be reset. Rear shocks usually don't need it. Either way, the alignment cost is in the original quote, not a checkout-surprise upcharge.
Most jobs are same-day. Rear shock pairs are typically one to two hours; front strut pairs are two to four hours depending on access and whether the strut mount and bearing are being replaced at the same time. The quote includes the expected finish time so you can plan the day.
