🔧 Kicks - Front Strut Assembly Replacement

This repair replaces the front strut assemblies on your Kicks. The strut supports the vehicle’s weight, controls bouncing, and helps keep the tire planted on the road.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support your Kicks only on jack stands. Never work under a vehicle held up by a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Replace struts in pairs on the same axle. Do both front struts together so the suspension stays balanced.
• ⚠️ If using bare struts, the coil spring must be compressed. A coil spring stores dangerous energy and can cause serious injury if released incorrectly.
• ⚠️ For a beginner, complete loaded strut assemblies are strongly recommended. A loaded strut includes the spring, mount, and strut already assembled.
• ⚠️ Do not pull, stretch, or let the brake hose hang tight while the strut is removed.
• ⚠️ An alignment is required after replacing front struts because the strut-to-knuckle connection affects wheel alignment.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this repair.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive torque wrench
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 17mm socket
• 18mm socket
• 19mm socket
• 21mm socket
• 12mm socket
• 13mm socket
• 14mm socket
• 17mm wrench
• 18mm wrench
• 19mm wrench
• 21mm wrench
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Trim clip removal tool
• Paint marker
• Rubber mallet
• Penetrating oil
• Bungee cord
• Spring compressor (specialty)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front loaded strut assemblies - Left and Right - Qty: 2
• Front strut-to-knuckle bolts and nuts - Replace in pairs - Qty: 4
• Front upper strut mount nuts - Qty: 6
• Front stabilizer bar link nuts - Qty: 2

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🚗 Park your Kicks on level ground and shift to Park.
• 🧱 Set the parking brake and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• 🔩 Loosen the front wheel lug nuts slightly before lifting the vehicle.
• 🧰 Use loaded strut assemblies if possible. This avoids compressing the coil spring.
• 📏 Plan for a professional wheel alignment after the repair.
• 🖊️ Use a paint marker to mark the strut-to-knuckle position before disassembly. This helps get the alignment close enough to drive carefully to the alignment shop.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Front Wheel Lug Nuts

• Use a 21mm socket and 1/2-inch drive breaker bar to loosen each front wheel lug nut about one turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.
• Break them loose on the ground.

Step 2: Raise and Support the Front of the Vehicle

• Use a floor jack to lift the front of your Kicks at the front center jacking point or approved side pinch weld lift points.
• Place jack stands under the approved front support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands.
• Lightly shake the vehicle by hand to confirm it is stable before removing the wheels.

Step 3: Remove the Front Wheels

• Use a 21mm socket to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both front wheels and place them flat under the vehicle as an extra safety backup.

Step 4: Open Access to the Upper Strut Mounts

• Open the hood.
• Use a trim clip removal tool and flat-blade screwdriver to remove any plastic cowl trim clips or covers blocking access to the upper strut mount nuts.
• The upper strut mount is the top mounting point where the strut bolts to the body.
• Do not remove the center strut shaft nut if reusing spring components. That nut holds spring tension.

Step 5: Mark the Strut Position

• Use a paint marker to mark around the lower strut where it meets the steering knuckle.
• The steering knuckle is the heavy metal part that holds the wheel hub and turns with the steering.
• This mark helps place the new strut close to the old position before alignment.

Step 6: Disconnect the Brake Hose and ABS Wire Brackets

• Use a 12mm socket or 10mm socket if equipped to remove the brake hose bracket bolt from the strut.
• Use a flat-blade screwdriver or trim clip removal tool to gently release any ABS wheel speed sensor wire clips from the strut.
• Move the hose and wire aside carefully.
• Do not pull on the rubber brake hose or the ABS sensor wire.

Step 7: Disconnect the Stabilizer Bar Link from the Strut

• Spray the stabilizer bar link nut with penetrating oil.
• Use a 17mm wrench to hold the stabilizer link stud if it spins.
• Use a 17mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to remove the stabilizer bar link nut from the strut bracket.
• The stabilizer bar link connects the strut to the anti-roll bar and helps reduce body lean in turns.

Step 8: Support the Steering Knuckle

• Use a bungee cord to support the steering knuckle from the body or spring area.
• This prevents the knuckle from dropping outward and stretching the brake hose or axle shaft.
• Do not place heavy weight on the brake hose.

Step 9: Remove the Lower Strut-to-Knuckle Bolts

• Spray the lower strut bolts and nuts with penetrating oil.
• Use a 21mm wrench on the bolt head and a 21mm socket with 1/2-inch drive breaker bar on the nut.
• Remove the two lower strut-to-knuckle nuts and bolts.
• If the bolts are tight in the holes, tap them out gently with a rubber mallet.
• Keep the knuckle supported as the strut separates.

Step 10: Remove the Upper Strut Mount Nuts

• Hold the strut with one hand from below.
• Use a 13mm socket or 14mm socket if equipped to remove the three upper strut mount nuts.
• Remove the strut assembly from the wheel well.
• Do not remove the center shaft nut on the old strut unless the spring is safely compressed with a spring compressor.

Step 11: Compare the New Strut Assembly

• Place the new loaded strut assembly next to the old one.
• Confirm the spring seat, brake hose bracket, stabilizer link bracket, and upper mount orientation match.
• Use a paint marker to mark the new strut left or right if needed.
• Left and right struts are different.

Step 12: Install the New Strut Assembly

• Guide the new strut up into the strut tower by hand.
• Install the three new upper strut mount nuts by hand first.
• Use a 13mm socket or 14mm socket if equipped to snug the upper nuts.
• Do not fully torque them until the lower strut is attached.

Step 13: Attach the Strut to the Steering Knuckle

• Align the steering knuckle with the new strut using the paint marks as a guide.
• Install the two new lower strut-to-knuckle bolts and nuts by hand.
• Use a 21mm socket, 21mm wrench, and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the lower fasteners.
• Torque to 166 Nm (122 ft-lbs)

Step 14: Torque the Upper Strut Mount Nuts

• Use a 13mm socket or 14mm socket if equipped with a 3/8-inch drive torque wrench.
• Tighten the three upper strut mount nuts evenly.
• Torque to 39 Nm (29 ft-lbs)

Step 15: Reconnect the Stabilizer Bar Link

• Insert the stabilizer bar link stud into the strut bracket.
• Install a new stabilizer bar link nut by hand.
• Use a 17mm wrench to hold the stud if it spins.
• Use a 17mm socket and torque wrench to tighten the nut.
• Torque to 85 Nm (63 ft-lbs)

Step 16: Reattach the Brake Hose and ABS Wire Brackets

• Use a 12mm socket or 10mm socket if equipped to reinstall the brake hose bracket bolt.
• Torque to 18 Nm (13 ft-lbs)
• Use a flat-blade screwdriver or your fingers to clip the ABS wire back into its holders.
• Turn the steering by hand left and right enough to confirm the hose and wire do not stretch or rub.

Step 17: Repeat on the Other Front Side

• Use the same tools and steps to replace the other front strut assembly.
• Always replace front struts in pairs.

Step 18: Reinstall the Front Wheels

• Place each wheel back onto the hub.
• Install the lug nuts by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a 21mm socket to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 19: Lower the Vehicle and Torque the Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack to raise the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands.
• Lower the vehicle to the ground.
• Use a 21mm socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the wheel lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 113 Nm (83 ft-lbs)

Step 20: Settle the Suspension

• Push down gently on the front bumper a few times by hand.
• This helps the suspension settle into its normal ride position.
• Visually check that both front sides sit evenly.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Drive slowly at first and listen for clunks, rattles, or rubbing noises.
• ✅ Recheck that the brake hose and ABS wire are clipped securely on both sides.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after 25-50 miles using a 21mm socket and torque wrench.
• ✅ Get a professional four-wheel alignment as soon as possible.
• ✅ If the steering wheel is off-center or the vehicle pulls, avoid highway driving until alignment is completed.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $650-$1,100 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $250-$550 (parts only)

You Save: $400-$550 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2.5-4 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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