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How to change front suspension strut on DS DS 3 – replacement guide

downloads: 40

Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
DS DS 3 1.2 THP 130 (SAHNYM) … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

This video shows the replacement procedure of a similar car part on another vehicle

Alternative products

Shock absorber

Replacement: suspension strut – DS DS 3. List of the tools you'll need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      HEX bit No.H7.
                    
                      Combination spanner #19
                    
                      Drive socket # E8 
                    
                      Drive socket # 16 
                    
                      Drive socket # 18 
                    
                      Drive socket # 21 
                    
                      Drive socket # 32 
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Shock absorber socket
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Pin punch
                    
                      Hammer
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Rubber mallet
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – DS DS 3. Tip from AUTODOC experts:

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 – DS DS 3. Recommended sequence of steps:

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 wiper cowl grille located on the right side.
Step 4

Remove the shock strut mount cap.
Step 5

Clean the fasteners of the shock strut upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 6

Loosen the upper fastener of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #21. Use HEX No.H7. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 7

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 8

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 9

Loosen the fastener of the driveshaft. Use a drive socket #32. Use a tap wrench.
Step 10

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.

Step 11

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the wheel while unscrewing the fastening bolts. DS DS 3
Step 12

Remove the wheel.
Step 13

Disconnect the wiring and the brake hose from the bracket on the shock strut.
Step 14

Clean the shock strut fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 15

Unscrew the nut and remove the stabilizer rod from the shock strut. Use a drive socket #16.
Step 16

Clean the fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 17

Unscrew the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #18.
Step 18

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 19

Take out the fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle.
Step 20

Unscrew the fasteners of the stabilizer bush brackets. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 21

Clean the fastener connecting the ball joint to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 22

Unscrew the ball joint fastening to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #E8. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 23

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 24

Unscrew the fastener connecting the drive shaft to the wheel hub. Use a drive socket #32. Use a tap wrench.
Step 25

Detach the driveshaft from the steering knuckle. Use a pin punch. Use a hammer.
Step 26

Lower the hydraulic transmission jack by 10-15 cm.

Replacement: suspension strut – DS DS 3. Tip:
Lower the hydraulic transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging assemblies and mechanisms.
Step 27

Disconnect the lower arm from the steering knuckle. Use a crowbar.
Step 28

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 29

Remove the drive shaft.
Step 30

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 31

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut. Use a rubber mallet.

Step 32

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount.

AUTODOC recommends:
To avoid injuries, hold the shock strut when undoing the fastening bolts.
Step 33

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 34

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: suspension strut – DS DS 3. 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 35

Compress the spring.
Step 36

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a combination spanner #19. Use HEX No.H7. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 37

Remove the top strut mount.
Step 38

Release the coil spring.
Step 39

Remove the spring.
Step 40

Remove the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop.
Step 41

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

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – DS DS 3. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 42

Install the new shock absorber on the hydraulic coil spring compressor.
Step 43

Install the dust sleeve and the bump stop on the new shock absorber.
Step 44

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 45

Compress the spring.
Step 46

Install the upper strut mount and the strut mount bearing.
Step 47

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

Replacement: suspension strut – DS DS 3. Professionals recommend:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 48

Decompress the spring.
Step 49

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 50

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 51

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. DS DS 3
Step 52

Treat the shock strut mounting seat on the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 53

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 54

Clean the splines of the drive shaft CV joint. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 55

Mount the drive shaft into the wheel hub.
Step 56

Screw the nut of the drive shaft.
Step 57

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

Replacement: suspension strut – DS DS 3. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Lower the hydraulic transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging assemblies and mechanisms.
Step 58

Connect the ball joint to the steering knuckle. Use a crowbar.
Step 59

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 60

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 61

Install and tighten a new bolt of the steering knuckle.
Step 62

Screw the fastener connecting the ball joint to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #16. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 63

Screw in the fastener that connects the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #18.
Step 64

Remove the support from under the arm.

AUTODOC recommends:
DS DS 3 – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 65

Clean the mounting seats of the stabilizer bushes. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 66

Screw the fasteners of the stabilizer bush brackets. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 67

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link. Use a drive socket #16.
Step 68

Tighten the lower fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 55 Nm torque.
Step 69

Tighten the ball joint fastener. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 40 Nm torque.
Step 70

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 43 Nm torque.
Step 71

Fasten the brake hose on the strut. Connect the fastener of the ABS sensor cable to the shock absorber strut.
Step 72

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 73

Clean the wheel rim mounting seat. Use a wire brush. Treat the contacting surface. Use copper grease.
Step 74

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts on the car. DS DS 3
Step 75

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 76

Lower the car.

Step 77

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a drive socket #21. Use HEX No.H7. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 60 Nm torque.
Step 78

Install the shock strut mount cap.
Step 79

Install and secure the wiper cowl grille located on the right side.
Step 80

Tighten the drive shaft nut. Use a drive socket #32. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 245 Nm torque.
Step 81

Tighten the wheel bolts using a criss-cross pattern. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 100 Nm torque.
Step 82

Remove the fender protection cover.

Step 83

Close the hood.

Step 84

Remove the jacks and chocks.

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