Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
CITROËN C1 (PM_, PN_) 1.4 HDi … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change a front shock strut on CITROEN C1 (PM, PN) [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

All the parts you need to replace – Shock Absorber for C1 (PM_, PN_) and other CITROËN models

Shock absorber

Shock absorber for C1 I Diesel (54 hp)

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C1 1 PM PN. List of the tools you'll need:

                        Wire brush
                      
                        WD-40 spray
                      
                        Brake cleaner 
                      
                        Copper grease 
                      
                        Combination spanner #12
                      
                        Combination spanner #17
                      
                        Combination spanner #19
                      
                        Drive socket # 10 
                      
                        Drive socket # 12 
                      
                        Drive socket # 14 
                      
                        Drive socket # 17 
                      
                        Drive socket # 30 
                      
                        HEX bit no.H6.
                      
                        Wheel impact socket #17
                      
                        Ratchet wrench
                      
                        Torque wrench
                      
                        Tap wrench
                      
                        Hammer
                      
                        Pin punch
                      
                        Flat chisel
                      
                        Round-nose pliers
                      
                        Clip removal tool
                      
                        Chain wrench
                      
                        Ball joint puller
                      
                        Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                      
                        Hydraulic transmission jack
                      
                        Fender cover
                      
                        Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C1 1 PM PN. Professionals recommend:

Both shock struts of the front suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right shock struts of the front suspension.
All work should be done with the engine stopped.

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C1 1 PM PN. Use the following procedure:

Step 1

Open the bonnet.
Step 2

Use a fender protection cover to prevent damaging paintwork and plastic parts of the car.
Step 3

Remove the windscreen wiper arm nut covers. Use a clip removal tool.
Step 4

Unscrew the fasteners of the windscreen wiper arms. Use a drive socket #12. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 5

Treat the wiper arm fasteners. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 6

Remove the wiper arms.
Step 7

Remove the wiper cowl clips. Use a clip removal tool.
Step 8

Remove the wiper arm covers.
Step 9

Detach the windscreen washer nozzle hose.
Step 10

Unscrew the fasteners of the windscreen wiper linkage panel. Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 11

Detach the windscreen wiper connector.
Step 12

Remove the panel assembled with the windscreen wiper linkage.
Step 13

Clean the fasteners of the shock strut upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 14

Loosen the upper fastener of the shock strut mount. Use HEX No.H6. Use a drive socket #17. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 15

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 16

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 17

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.
Step 18

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while unscrewing the fastening bolts. Citroen C1 1 PM PN
Step 19

Remove the wheel.
Step 20

Clean the fastener of the driveshaft. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 21

Unstake the fastener of the driveshaft. Use a flat metal-working chisel. Use a hammer.
Step 22

Loosen the fastener of the driveshaft. Use a drive socket #30. Use a tap wrench.
Step 23

Remove the fastening nut. Use a drive socket #30.
Step 24

Treat the splines of the driveshaft CV joint. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 25

Disconnect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 26

Clean the fastener of the bracket that connects the brake hose to the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 27

Unscrew the brake hose fastening bracket from the shock strut. Use a drive socket #14. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 28

Remove the cotter pin. Use round-nose pliers.
Step 29

Clean all joints of the arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C1 1 PM PN. AUTODOC recommends:
After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 30

Unscrew the ball joint fastening to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #19.
Step 31

Disconnect the lower arm from the steering knuckle. Use a ball joint puller.
Step 32

Clean the stabiliser link fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 33

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer bar with the control arm. Use a combination spanner #12. Use a drive socket #12. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 34

Disconnect the lower arm from the steering knuckle.
Step 35

Remove the drive shaft. Use a pin punch. Use a hammer.

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C1 1 PM PN. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Make sure that the drive shaft is not unloaded (when the car is jacked).
Step 36

Clean the fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 37

Unscrew the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #17. Use a drive socket #17. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 38

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 39

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 40

Release the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a flat metal-working chisel. Use a hammer.
Step 41

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut.
Step 42

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount.

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C1 1 PM PN. Tip:
To avoid injuries, hold the shock strut when undoing the fastening bolts.
Step 43

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 44

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C1 1 PM PN. AUTODOC experts recommend:
Note that when using a spring compressor, spring coils need to be securely gripped, compressing the spring on the opposite sides.Ensure the correct position of the spring in the retainer.Make sure that the spring coils tightly entered the lock handles.
Step 45

Compress the spring.
Step 46

Treat the shock strut rod. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 47

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use HEX No.H6. Use a drive socket #17. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 48

Remove the shock absorber mount, boot and bump stop.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C1 1 PM PN. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 49

Release the coil spring.
Step 50

Remove the spring.
Step 51

Remove the old shock absorber from the hydraulic coil spring compressor.

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C1 1 PM PN. AUTODOC experts recommend:
Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 52

Install the new shock absorber on the hydraulic coil spring compressor.
Step 53

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 54

Compress the spring.
Step 55

Install the mount, the boot and the bump stop on the shock absorber.
Step 56

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use HEX No.H6. Use a drive socket #17. Use a chain wrench. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 33 Nm torque.

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C1 1 PM PN. Tip:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 57

Treat the shock strut rod. Use copper grease.
Step 58

Decompress the spring.
Step 59

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 60

Clean the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 61

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 62

Screw the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Do not tighten it.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts. Citroen C1 1 PM PN
Step 63

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 64

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 65

Clean the splines of the drive shaft CV joint. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 66

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C1 1 PM PN. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 67

Mount the drive shaft into the wheel hub.
Step 68

Connect the lower arm to the steering knuckle.
Step 69

Tighten the ball joint fastener. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 98 nm torque.
Step 70

Install the cotter pin. Use round-nose pliers.
Step 71

Screw in the fastener connecting the stabilizer bar to the control arm. Use a combination spanner #12. Use a drive socket #12. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 72

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 73

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer bar with the control arm. Use a drive socket #12. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 18 Nm torque.
Step 74

Tighten the lower fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #17. Use a drive socket #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 48 Nm torque.
Step 75

Remove the support from under the arm.

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C1 1 PM PN. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Lower the hydraulic transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging assemblies and mechanisms.
Step 76

Tighten the brake hose fastening bracket to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #14. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 77

Connect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 78

Install the fastening nut.
Step 79

Tighten the drive shaft nut. Use a drive socket #30. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 216 Nm torque.
Step 80

Restake the fastener of the driveshaft. Use a flat metal-working chisel. Use a hammer.
Step 81

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 82

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 83

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C1 1 PM PN. Tip from AUTODOC:
After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 84

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts. Citroen C1 1 PM PN
Step 85

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 86

Lower the car and working in a cross order, tighten the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 100 nm torque.
Step 87

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use HEX No.H6. Use a drive socket #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 33 Nm torque.
Step 88

Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.
Step 89

Install the panel assembled with the windscreen wiper linkage.
Step 90

Screw in the fasteners of the windscreen wiper linkage panel. Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 91

Attach the windscreen wiper connector.
Step 92

Install the wiper arm covers.
Step 93

Install the wiper cowl clips.
Step 94

Attach the windscreen washer nozzle hose.
Step 95

Reinstall the wiper arms.

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C1 1 PM PN. Professionals recommend:
Make sure not to mix up the wiper arms on the driver's and passenger's sides.
Step 96

Tighten the fasteners of the wiper arms. Use a drive socket #12. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 18 Nm torque.
Step 97

Install the nut covers of the windscreen wiper arms.
Step 98

Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 99

Close the hood.
Step 100

Remove the jacks and chocks.

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