🔧 Front Strut Assembly - Replacement

Your Accord uses MacPherson struts in the front. This job means removing the old strut assembly, transferring the spring and mount if needed, and reinstalling everything with the correct torque so the suspension stays safe and aligned.

Difficulty Level: Advanced | Estimated Time: 3-5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• The front coil spring is under high tension. Use a proper spring compressor before removing the top mount.
• Support the car with jack stands on solid ground. Never work under a car held up only by a jack.
• Do not let the brake hose or ABS wire hang or twist while the strut is out.
• Mark the camber bolt position before removal if equipped. You will still need an alignment after the repair.
• Disconnect the battery only if you must move harnesses near the battery area. It is not usually required for this job.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm lug wrench
• 10mm socket
• 12mm socket
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 19mm socket
• Ratchet
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• Penetrating oil
• Paint marker
• Spring compressor (specialty)
• Pick tool
• Rubber mallet
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front strut assembly - Qty: 2
• Front strut mount - Qty: 2
• Front strut bearing - Qty: 2
• Front strut dust boot and bump stop - Qty: 2
• Front strut upper mounting nuts - Qty: 6
• Front stabilizer link nuts - Qty: 2

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground. Set the parking brake. Chock the rear wheels.
• Loosen the front lug nuts before lifting the car.
• If your car has aftermarket lowering springs or coilovers, the procedure can differ.
• Have the alignment scheduled before you start. A front-end alignment is required after strut replacement.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and remove the wheel

• Use a 21mm lug wrench to loosen the front lug nuts.
• Use a floor jack to raise the front of the car.
• Place the car on jack stands.
• Remove the wheel.

Step 2: Free the brake hose and ABS wire from the strut

• Use a 10mm socket or 12mm socket to remove any brackets attached to the strut.
• Unclip the brake hose and ABS wire carefully with a pick tool.
• Do not let the hose or wire hang by itself.

Step 3: Remove the stabilizer link from the strut

• Use a 14mm socket and a matching wrench if needed to remove the stabilizer link nut.
• If the stud spins, hold it with a wrench on the flat spot while you remove the nut.
• Penetrating oil helps on rusty fasteners.

Step 4: Separate the strut from the knuckle

• Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar to remove the lower strut-to-knuckle bolts.
• Mark the camber bolt position with a paint marker before removal if equipped.
• Support the knuckle so the axle and brake hose are not stressed.

Step 5: Remove the upper strut nuts

• Open the hood.
• Use a 14mm socket to remove the three upper strut mount nuts.
• Hold the strut assembly from below while removing the last nut.
• Lift the strut assembly out of the wheel well.

Step 6: Transfer the spring and mount

• If you are reusing the spring, install it in a spring compressor and compress it evenly on both sides.
• Use a 17mm socket to remove the center strut shaft nut.
• Remove the top mount, bearing, boot, bump stop, and spring.
• Install the spring and parts onto the new strut in the same order.
• Compress the spring only as much as needed.

Step 7: Install the new strut assembly

• Place the strut back into the tower and start the upper nuts by hand.
• Use a 14mm socket to snug the three upper nuts.
• Line up the lower strut bracket with the knuckle.
• Install the lower bolts and nuts with a 19mm socket.
• Torque the upper strut mount nuts to 44 Nm (32 ft-lbs).
• Torque the lower strut-to-knuckle bolts to 177 Nm (131 ft-lbs).
• Torque the stabilizer link nut to 44 Nm (32 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Reattach brackets and reinstall the wheel

• Reinstall the brake hose and ABS wire brackets with a 10mm socket or 12mm socket.
• Install the wheel.
• Hand-tighten the lug nuts.
• Lower the car and torque the lug nuts to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs) with a torque wrench.

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✅ After Repair

• Bounce the front of the car by hand to check for proper seating.
• Turn the steering wheel lock-to-lock and listen for rubbing or clicking.
• Check that the brake hose and ABS wire are routed correctly.
• Get a professional front-end alignment as soon as possible.
• Take a short test drive and recheck for loose fasteners and abnormal noises.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $900-$1,500 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $250-$600 (parts only)

You Save: $650-$900 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 3-5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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