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How to change front suspension strut on Citroen C3 1 – replacement guide

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Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
CITROËN C3 I Hatchback (FC_, FN_) 1.1 i, CITROËN C3 I Hatchback (FC_, FN_) 1.4 HDi, CITROËN C3 I Hatchback (FC_, FN_) 1.4 i Bivalent, CITROËN C3 I Hatchback (FC_, FN_) 1.6 16V, CITROËN C3 I Hatchback (FC_, FN_) 1.4 16V HDi, CITROËN C3 I Hatchback (FC_, FN_) 1.4 16V, CITROËN C3 I Hatchback (FC_, FN_) 1.6 16V HDi, CITROËN C3 I Hatchback (FC_, FN_) 1.6 16V HDi, CITROËN C3 I Hatchback (FC_, FN_) 1.4 HDi, CITROËN C3 I Hatchback (FC_, FN_) 1.1 LPG, CITROËN C3 I Hatchback (FC_, FN_) 1.4 BiFuel, CITROËN C3 I Hatchback (FC_, FN_) 1.4 i Bivalent … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change a front shock strut on CITROEN C3 1 (FC, FN) [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

Alternative products

Shock absorber

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C3 1. Tools you need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner 
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Combination spanner #16
                    
                      Combination spanner #17
                    
                      Combination spanner #22
                    
                      Drive socket # 16 
                    
                      Drive socket # 17 
                    
                      Drive socket # 19 
                    
                      Drive socket # 22 
                    
                      Drive socket # 30 
                    
                      HEX bit No.H7.
                    
                      Torx bit T30
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Shock absorber socket
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Flat chisel
                    
                      Pin punch
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Hammer
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C3 1. Tip:

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.
Warning! Shut down the engine before starting any work – Citroen C3 1.

Carry out replacement in the following order:

Step 1

Open the bonnet.
Step 2

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

Clean the fasteners of the shock strut upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 4

Loosen the upper fastener of the shock strut mount. Use HEX No.H7. Use a combination spanner #22. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 5

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 6

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 7

Clean the fastener of the driveshaft. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 8

Unstake the fastener of the driveshaft. Use a flat metal-working chisel. Use a hammer.
Step 9

Loosen the fastener of the driveshaft. Use a drive socket #30. Use a tap wrench.
Step 10

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.
Step 11

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C3 1. AUTODOC experts recommend:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when unscrewing the bolts.
Step 12

Remove the wheel.
Step 13

Clean the stabiliser link fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 14

Disconnect the wiring and the brake hose from the bracket on the shock strut. Use a crowbar.
Step 15

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a combination spanner #17. Use Torx T30. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 16

Remove the stabilizer rod.
Step 17

Clean the fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 18

Clean all joints of the arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 19

Unscrew the fastener connecting the ball joint to the suspension control arm. Use a drive socket #16. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a tap wrench.
Step 20

Disconnect the spherical joint from the arm.
Step 21

Unscrew the fastener connecting the drive shaft to the wheel hub. Use a drive socket #30.
Step 22

Remove the drive shaft. Use a pin punch. Use a hammer.
Step 23

Unscrew the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #16. Use a tap wrench.
Step 24

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 25

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 26

Release the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a special drive socket to remove the shock absorber. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 27

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut. Use a hammer.
Step 28

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #22.

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C3 1. Tip from AUTODOC:
To avoid injuries, hold the shock strut when undoing the fastening bolts.
Step 29

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 30

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C3 1. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
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 31

Compress the spring.
Step 32

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #19. Use HEX No.H7. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 33

Remove the top strut mount.
Step 34

Release the coil spring.
Step 35

Remove the spring.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C3 1. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 36

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

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C3 1. Tip from AUTODOC:
Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 37

Install the new shock absorber on the hydraulic coil spring compressor.
Step 38

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 39

Compress the spring.
Step 40

Install the upper strut mount and the strut mount bearing.
Step 41

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use HEX No.H7. Use a drive socket #19. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 60 Nm torque.

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C3 1. Professionals recommend:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 42

Decompress the spring.
Step 43

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 44

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 45

Important! Hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts. Citroen C3 1 Do not tighten it.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts. Citroen C3 1
Step 46

Treat the shock strut mounting seat on the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 47

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 48

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 49

Screw in the fastener that connects the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #16.
Step 50

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C3 1. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 51

Clean the splines of the drive shaft CV joint. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 52

Install the drive shaft.
Step 53

Attach the ball joint to the control arm.
Step 54

Screw the fasteners of the ball joint. Use a drive socket #16.
Step 55

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.
Step 56

Tighten the stabiliser link fastener. Use a drive socket #17.
Step 57

Fasten the brake hose on the strut. Connect the fastener of the ABS sensor cable to the shock absorber strut.
Step 58

Tighten the lower fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 59 Nm torque.
Step 59

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 35 Nm torque.
Step 60

Tighten the ball joint fastener. Use a drive socket #16. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 52 Nm torque.
Step 61

Screw the nut of the drive shaft. Use a drive socket #30.
Step 62

Treat all joints of the arm. Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 63

Treat all joints of the stabiliser link. Use copper grease.
Step 64

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 65

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

Replacement: suspension strut – Citroen C3 1. Tip from AUTODOC:
After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 66

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts. Citroen C3 1
Step 67

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 68

Lower the car.
Step 69

Tighten the drive shaft nut. Use a drive socket #30. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 245 Nm torque.
Step 70

Tighten the wheel bolts using a criss-cross pattern. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 90 Nm torque.
Step 71

Restake the fastener of the driveshaft. Use a flat metal-working chisel. Use a hammer.
Step 72

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a drive socket #22. Use HEX No.H7. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 60 nm torque.
Step 73

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 74

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 75

Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 76

Close the hood.

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