Front Suspension Strut

REMOVAL
1. Disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Scribe alignment marks on cover plate, then loosen three cover plate retaining nuts.
3. Raise and support vehicle, then remove wheel and tire assembly.
4. Remove brake caliper and bracket assembly, leaving hose attached, and support caliper out of way.
5. Remove brake rotor, then the hub and bearing to knuckle attaching bolts.
6. On models with anti-lock brakes (ABS), remove ABS sensor mounting bolt and position sensor aside.
7. On all models, separate axle from transaxle and carefully remove drive axle assembly.
8. Remove tie rod to knuckle attaching nut.
9. Using tie rod puller/ball joint remover tool No. J-35917 or equivalent, separate tie rod from knuckle.
10. Remove lower ball joint to knuckle attaching nut.
11. Using tool No. J-35917 or equivalent, separate ball joint from lower control arm.
12. Remove ball joint heat shield, then the cover plate retaining nuts.
13. Remove strut and knuckle assembly.

Fig. 3 Cross-sectional View Of Strut & Knuckle Assembly:

SERVICE
Springs are under high tension. Do not remove strut shaft nut without using a suitable spring compressing tool.
1. Mount strut and knuckle assembly into strut spring compressor tool No. J-34013-A and strut compressor adapter tool No. J-34013-88, or equivalents, then compress spring with compressor forcing screw just enough to release tension from upper spring insulator.
2. Using Torx bit and strut rod nut remover/installer tool No. J-35669, or equivalents, remove strut shaft nut.
3. Relieve all spring tension, then remove spring and strut components, Fig. 3.
4. Install spring seat and bearing.
5. Install lower spring insulator. Lower spring coil end must be visible between the step and the first retention tab of insulator.
6. Install front suspension spring.
7. Install dust shield to lower spring seat.
8. Install jounce bumper.
9. Install upper spring insulator. Upper spring coil end must be between step and location mark on insulator.
10. Using strut mount plate wrench tool No. J-35670 or equivalent, install jounce bumper retainer to strut mount.
11. Install strut mount and upper strut mount bushing.
12. Using strut spring compressor and strut compressor adapter tools Nos. J-34013-A and J-34013-88, or equivalents, compress strut assembly.
13. Align strut cartridge shaft with strut extension rod tool No. J-35668 or equivalent.
14. Using strut rod nut remover/installer tool No. J-35669 or equivalent and Torx bit, install strut shaft nut, torquing to specifications.

INSTALLATION
1. Install strut mount cover plate and upper strut mount to body attaching nuts. Do not tighten nuts until vehicle is lowered to floor.
2. Install ball joint heat shield.
3. Install lower ball joint to control arm attaching nut, Torquing to 15 ft. lbs., then tighten an addition 90°.
4. Further tighten to next slot in nut with cotter pin hole in stud and install new cotter pin. Do not tighten more than an additional 60° to align with hole and do not loosen nut at any time during installation.
5. Install tie rod to knuckle attaching nut, torquing to specifications, and install cotter pin.
6. Carefully install drive axle assembly through opening in knuckle and insert drive axle into transaxle.
7. Install hub and bearing to knuckle attaching bolts, torquing to specifications.
8. On models with anti-lock brakes (ABS), position ABS sensor and install mounting bolt.
9. On all models, install brake rotor, then the brake caliper and bracket assembly.
10. Install wheel and tire assembly and lower vehicle.
11. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft. lbs. and the cover plate nuts to specifications.
12. Connect battery ground cable.