🔧 Acadia - Front Strut Replacement

On your Acadia, the “strut” is the front suspension unit that supports the spring and controls bouncing. Replacing it restores ride comfort, steering stability, and can fix clunks or leaks.

Difficulty Level: Advanced | Estimated Time: 3-6 hours

Assumption: You mean the front struts (rear uses shocks, not struts).

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ The coil spring is under heavy force—use a coil spring compressor (specialty) correctly or you can be seriously injured.
• ⚠️ Support the vehicle with jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum); never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Do not let the steering knuckle hang by the brake hose or ABS wire.
• ⚠️ After strut replacement, you need a professional wheel alignment.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves
• Breaker bar 1/2-inch drive
• Torque wrench 1/2-inch drive (30-250 ft-lbs range)
• Socket set metric 10mm-24mm (1/2-inch drive)
• Wrench set metric 10mm-24mm
• Pry bar
• Hammer
• Punch set
• Coil spring compressor (specialty)
• Pass-through strut nut socket set (specialty)
• Hex key set metric
• Penetrating oil
• Paint marker

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front complete strut assembly (quick-strut) - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Front upper strut mount nuts - Qty: 6
• Front strut-to-knuckle bolts and nuts - Replace in pairs - Qty: 4
• Front stabilizer (sway bar) link - Optional if worn - Qty: 2

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, straighten the steering wheel, and set the parking brake.
• Chock the rear wheels with wheel chocks.
• Loosen front lug nuts 1/2 turn using a metric socket set and breaker bar.
• Spray penetrating oil on the strut-to-knuckle bolts and sway bar link nuts.
• If you are not using a “quick-strut”: set up your coil spring compressor (specialty) now and read its instructions (it clamps the spring so it can’t “jump”).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the front end

• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift the front of your Acadia at the correct jack point.
• Set it down onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) and give the vehicle a gentle shake to confirm it’s stable.
• Remove the front wheels using a metric socket set.

Step 2: Disconnect brackets and wiring from the strut

• Remove the brake hose/ABS wire brackets from the strut using a metric socket set or metric wrench set.
• Move the lines aside so they won’t get stretched.
• Take a photo before unbolting brackets.

Step 3: Remove the sway bar (stabilizer) link from the strut

• Hold the sway bar link stud with a hex key set metric while removing the nut with a metric wrench set.
• If the nut is seized, apply penetrating oil and use a breaker bar 1/2-inch drive carefully.

Step 4: Mark alignment reference points

• Use a paint marker to mark the position of the strut to the steering knuckle.
• This helps you get close enough to drive to the alignment shop safely (it’s not a substitute for an alignment).

Step 5: Remove the strut-to-knuckle bolts

• Support the steering knuckle with a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) under the lower control arm area (light support only).
• Remove the two large strut-to-knuckle nuts/bolts using a metric socket set and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive.
• If needed, tap bolts out with a hammer and punch set.
• Keep the knuckle supported so the axle/lines aren’t stressed.

Step 6: Remove the upper strut mount nuts

• Open the hood and locate the strut tower nuts.
• Remove the upper mount nuts using a metric socket set.
• Hold the strut as the last nut comes off so it doesn’t drop.

Step 7: Remove the strut assembly

• Pull the strut out of the wheel well.
• If it’s stuck, use a pry bar gently at the knuckle area while keeping the knuckle supported.

Step 8: If NOT using a quick-strut, swap spring and mount (advanced)

• Install the coil spring compressor (specialty) on opposite sides of the spring and compress evenly until the spring is loose in the seats.
• Remove the center strut shaft nut using a pass-through strut nut socket set (specialty) while holding the shaft with a hex key set metric.
• Transfer the mount/bearing/isolators to the new strut in the same order and orientation.
• Slowly release the compressor, making sure the spring ends sit correctly in the upper and lower seats.
• If anything shifts, recompress and reseat.

Step 9: Install the new strut into the tower

• Position the new strut in the wheel well and feed the studs through the strut tower.
• Start the upper mount nuts by hand using a metric socket set (do not fully tighten yet).

Step 10: Attach strut to steering knuckle

• Line up your paint marks and slide the knuckle into position.
• Install the strut-to-knuckle bolts and nuts using a metric socket set and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive.
• Torque to OEM specification (use GM service information for your Acadia).

Step 11: Reconnect sway bar link and brackets

• Reconnect the sway bar link using a metric wrench set and hex key set metric.
• Torque to OEM specification (use GM service information for your Acadia).
• Reinstall the brake hose/ABS brackets using a metric socket set.
• Torque to OEM specification (use GM service information for your Acadia).

Step 12: Tighten the upper mount nuts

• Tighten the strut tower nuts using a torque wrench 1/2-inch drive (30-250 ft-lbs range).
• Torque to OEM specification (use GM service information for your Acadia).

Step 13: Reinstall wheels and lower the vehicle

• Install wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts using a metric socket set.
• Lower the vehicle with the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern with a torque wrench 1/2-inch drive (30-250 ft-lbs range).
• Torque to OEM specification (use GM service information for your Acadia).

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✅ After Repair

• Test drive slowly and listen for clunks over small bumps.
• Re-check that the brake hose and ABS wire are clipped and not rubbing the tire.
• Get a 4-wheel alignment as soon as possible to prevent tire wear and pulling.
• New struts may feel slightly firm at first.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $900-$1,600 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $350-$850 (parts only)

You Save: $550-$750 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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