SHO_Off420
SHO Member
Hey guys i just replaced my front struts the weekend before last and it was quite an ordeal so I thought I'd do a little write up and if anyone would like I can run back and take some pictures at some point.
So in order to remove the front struts on the early gen 4s I believe its 2010-2012 you have to nearly remove the knuckle in order to get the strut out but I found a little bit of an easier way to get it done.
So start of by disconnecting your sway bar links, i recommend you just take them out all together, i bumped one and broke it off one of the balls while i was working. Next you are gonna want to disconnect your steering arm. For this and the links you need a 22mm and a 10mm, you need to hold the center of the bolt while you turn the nut.
Next go ahead and remove the bolt that clamps the strut into the knuckle, i believe
that was also a 22mm, i used an impact on it.
Now you're gonna want to crawl up under ther car and remove the 3 bolts holding the control arm up to the frame. The rear are 15mm on one side and 18mm on the other, the front bolts into a welded nut i believe it was an 18mm, youll have to break that loose with a large ratchet to avoid stripping it with an impact because of the angle. These are all pink threadlocked but I went ahead and put red back on them. Now pry that away from the car but don't let it just drop to the floor.
At this point you should be able to take a deadbolt and tap around and shake the knuckle until you are able to get it clear of the strut.
Now remove your 4 mounting strut bolts up in the engine bay, i think they were 15mm.
And you ought to be able to drop the strut out the bottom.
At 117k all of my rubber and plastic pieces on the strut were still good, new ome came with a new bellow and cushion so I used those but reused the strut mount and other parts.
So in order to remove the front struts on the early gen 4s I believe its 2010-2012 you have to nearly remove the knuckle in order to get the strut out but I found a little bit of an easier way to get it done.
So start of by disconnecting your sway bar links, i recommend you just take them out all together, i bumped one and broke it off one of the balls while i was working. Next you are gonna want to disconnect your steering arm. For this and the links you need a 22mm and a 10mm, you need to hold the center of the bolt while you turn the nut.
Next go ahead and remove the bolt that clamps the strut into the knuckle, i believe
that was also a 22mm, i used an impact on it.
Now you're gonna want to crawl up under ther car and remove the 3 bolts holding the control arm up to the frame. The rear are 15mm on one side and 18mm on the other, the front bolts into a welded nut i believe it was an 18mm, youll have to break that loose with a large ratchet to avoid stripping it with an impact because of the angle. These are all pink threadlocked but I went ahead and put red back on them. Now pry that away from the car but don't let it just drop to the floor.
At this point you should be able to take a deadbolt and tap around and shake the knuckle until you are able to get it clear of the strut.
Now remove your 4 mounting strut bolts up in the engine bay, i think they were 15mm.
And you ought to be able to drop the strut out the bottom.
At 117k all of my rubber and plastic pieces on the strut were still good, new ome came with a new bellow and cushion so I used those but reused the strut mount and other parts.
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