Front Strut Assembly Repair Procedures

Removal

1. 1
   Loosen the wheel nuts slightly. Raise the vehicle and make sure it is securely supported.
2. 2
   Remove the front wheel and tire (A) from the front hub.

   Tightening torque: 88.3 ~ 108 N·m

   

   Be careful not to damage the hub bolts when removing the front wheel and tire.

3. 3
   Using a hex key, hold the end of the stabilizer link, then loosen the nut (A).

   Tightening torque: 98.1 ~ 118 N·m

   [EXC]

   

   [HPD]

   

4. 4
   Loosen the bolt and nut (A), and separate the front shock absorber assembly from the lower arm.

   Tightening torque: 137.3 ~ 157 N·m (14.0 ~ 16.0 kgf·m, 101.3 ~ 115.7 lbf·ft)

   [4WD]

   

   [2WD]

   

5. 5
   Disconnect the connector and loosen the wheel speed sensor bracket bolt to remove it. [EXC]

   Tightening torque: 8.8 - 13.7 N·m

   

6. 6
   Loosen the wheel speed sensor bracket bolt to remove it. [HPD]

   Tightening torque: 6.9 ~ 10.8 N·m

   

7. 7
   Remove the cotter pin and castellated nut.

   Tightening torque: 78.5 - 88 N·m

   

8. 8
   Disconnect the front upper arm from the steering knuckle using SST (09568-2J100).

   

9. 9
   Disconnect the front strut assembly from the body by loosening the mounting bolt (A).

   Tightening torque: 53.9 ~ 64 N·m

   

10. 10
    Loosen the nuts and remove the bracket (B) from the strut assembly (A).

    Torque: 19.6 ~ 29 N·m

    

11. 11
    Install in the reverse order of removal.
12. 12
    Check alignment. (Refer to Tires/Wheels – Wheel Alignment)

    A.	When moving the rear shock absorber assembly, do not pinch the only valve or cable.

    B.	Be careful not to damage the ECS shock absorber assembly connector, which is made of brittle plastic.

    C.	A damaged ECS damper cable may cause system malfunction. Be careful not to damage the ECS damper cable with sharp objects. Materials

Disassembly

1. 1
   Compress the coil spring using a strut spring compressor. Do not compress the spring excessively.
2. 2
   Remove the lock nut (B) after removing the cover (A).

   Tightening torque: 24.5 - 29 N·m

   

3. 3
   Gradually turn the bolt on the spring compressor to slowly release the spring tension. Then disconnect the components.
4. 4
   Installation is performed in the reverse order of removal.

   Do not reuse the self-locking nut. When compressing the coil spring, position the hook so that it is symmetrical on both sides. If the shock absorber centerline does not align with the coil spring, press the shock absorber to align the centerline.

Inspection

1. 1
   Inspect the components for damage or deformation.
2. 2
   Compress and extend the piston rod, and make sure there is no abnormal resistance or unusual noise during operation.
3. 3
   When disposing of the shock absorber, fully extend the piston rod (A), then drill a hole in section B to release gas from the cylinder.

   The escaping gas is harmless, but be careful of chips that may fly off during drilling. Always wear safety glasses or goggles when performing this task.