Histone octamers are thought to be a rigid part of nucleosomes that shape chromatin and block cellular machinery from accessing DNA. ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers like ISW2 mobilize nucleosomes to provide DNA access. We find evidence for histone octamer distortion preceding DNA being moved into nucleosomes and processive movement of the ATPase motor of ISW2 on nucleosomal DNA. DNA entering nucleosome is uncoupled from the ATPase activity of ISW2 and alterations of the histone octamer structure mediated by ISW2 by deletion of the SANT domain from the C-terminus of the Isw2 catalytic subunit. We also find that restricting histone movement by chemical crosslinking traps remodeling intermediates resembling those seen by loss of the SANT domain, further supporting the importance of changes in histone octamer structure early in ISW2 remodeling. Transient octamer distortions are stabilized by H3-H4 tetramer disulfide crosslinking, thereby linking intrinsic histone octamer flexibility to chromatin remodeling.