Things You'll Need:
- Lug wrench
- Floor jack and jack stands
- Pencil
- Wrench set
- Ratchet and socket set
- Rubber mallet
- New strut to steering knuckle bolts and nuts if necessary
- Torque wrench
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Step 1
Park your car in a safe place on a level surface. Open the hood and loosen the front wheel lugs using a lug wrench on the side you are replacing the strut assembly or both sides if you are replacing both strut assemblies.
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Step 2
Raise the front of the vehicle using a floor jack. Safely support it on jack stands and remove the tire or tires.
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Step 3
Match-mark the strut bracket to steering knuckle assembly using a pencil or other suitable marker to align the new strut during installation.
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Step 4
Remove the ground strap and wheel speed sensor from the strut bracket (if equipped) located behind the wheel assembly, using a wrench or ratchet and socket.
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Step 5
Remove the bolts and nuts from the strut to steering knuckle assembly. Use a wrench as a backup tool to hold the bolt in place as you remove the nut using a wrench or ratchet and socket.
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Step 6
Remove the three upper strut mounting nuts using a wrench or ratchet and socket.
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Step 7
Remove the strut assembly off the steering knuckle. You might need to force the strut off the knuckle using a rubber mallet.
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Step 8
Set the new strut assembly in place and install the upper mounting nuts and torque to 23-foot lbs. (31 Nm). Install the strut to steering knuckle bolts and nuts.
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Step 9
Align the strut bracket to the match-mark on the steering knuckle. Hold the bolt firmly in place with a wrench as you install the nut using a wrench or ratchet and socket.
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Step 10
Install the nuts in two steps. First, torque them to 40-foot lbs. using a torque wrench. Then turn the nuts another 90 degrees. If the bolts and nuts are rusted, replace them with new ones.
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Step 11
Install the ground strap and wheel speed sensor on the strut bracket.
