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How to change front suspension strut on Ford Focus DAW – replacement guide

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Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
FORD FOCUS (DAW, DBW) 1.4 16V, FORD FOCUS (DAW, DBW) 1.6 16V, FORD FOCUS (DAW, DBW) 1.8 16V, FORD FOCUS (DAW, DBW) 2.0 16V, FORD FOCUS (DAW, DBW) 1.8 Turbo DI / TDDi, FORD FOCUS (DAW, DBW) 1.8 DI / TDDi, FORD FOCUS (DAW, DBW) ST170, FORD FOCUS (DAW, DBW) 1.8 TDCi, FORD FOCUS (DAW, DBW) 1.6 16V Flexifuel … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change a front shock strut on FORD FOCUS (DAW) [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

Alternative products

Shock absorber

Replacement: suspension strut – Ford Focus DAW. Tools you might need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      All-purpose cleaning spray
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Combination spanner #15
                    
                      Drive socket # 13 
                    
                      Drive socket # 15 
                    
                      Drive socket # 19 
                    
                      Drive socket # 32 
                    
                      HEX bit No.H6
                    
                      HEX bit No.H7
                    
                      Torx bit T50
                    
                      Shock absorber socket
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #19
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Pin punch
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Hammer
                    
                      Flat chisel
                    
                      Flat Screwdriver
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – Ford Focus DAW. AUTODOC experts 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 – Ford Focus DAW. Recommended sequence of steps:

Step 1

Open the hood.
Step 2

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

Detach the engine wiring harness. Use a flat screwdriver.
Step 4

Clean the fasteners of the shock absorber upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 5

Loosen the upper fasteners of the suspension strut (3 pieces). Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 6

Clean the fastener of the driveshaft. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 7

Loosen the fastener of the driveshaft. Use a drive socket #32. Use a tap wrench.
Step 8

Secure the wheels with chocks.

Step 9

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #19.
Step 10

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

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

Replacement: suspension strut – Ford Focus DAW. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
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

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a combination spanner #15. Use a drive socket #15. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 15

Remove the stabilizer rod.
Step 16

Detach the brake hose from the shock strut. Use a crowbar.
Step 17

Unscrew the fastener connecting the drive shaft to the wheel hub.
Step 18

Remove the fastening nut.

Step 19

Clean the fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 20

Unscrew the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #15. Use a ratchet wrench. Use a tap wrench.
Step 21

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 22

Clean the fastener connecting the ball joint to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 23

Unscrew the ball joint fastening to the steering knuckle. Use Torx T50. Use a combination spanner #15. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 24

Release the fastener connecting the ball joint to the steering knuckle. Use a flat metal-working chisel. Use a hammer.
Step 25

Remove the fastening bolt.

Step 26

Disconnect the ball joint from the steering knuckle.
Step 27

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

Replacement: suspension strut – Ford Focus DAW. AUTODOC recommends:
Make sure that the drive shaft is not unloaded (when the car is jacked).
Step 28

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

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 30

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut.
Step 31

Unscrew the upper fasteners of the shock strut (3 pieces).

AUTODOC recommends:
Ford Focus DAW – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while unscrewing the fastening bolts.
Step 32

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 33

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: suspension strut – Ford Focus DAW. Tip:
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 34

Compress the spring.
Step 35

Treat the shock strut rod. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 36

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #19. Use HEX No.H6. 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.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Ford Focus DAW. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 41

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

Replacement: suspension strut – Ford Focus DAW. AUTODOC experts recommend:
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 drive socket #19. Use HEX No.H7. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 48 Nm torque.

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

Decompress the spring.
Step 49

Treat the shock strut rod. Use copper grease.
Step 50

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 51

Clean the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 52

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 53

Secure the upper fasteners of the shock strut (3 pieces). Do not tighten it.

AUTODOC recommends:
Ford Focus DAW – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 54

Clean the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 55

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 56

Raise the hydraulic transmission jack by 10-15 cm.
Step 57

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 58

Screw in the fastener that connects the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #15. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 59

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Ford Focus DAW. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 60

Clean the splines of the drive shaft CV joint. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 61

Install the drive shaft.
Step 62

Clean the ball joint mounting seat. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 63

Connect the ball joint to the steering knuckle.
Step 64

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 65

Screw the fastener connecting the ball joint to the steering knuckle. Use Torx T50. Use a combination spanner #15. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 66

Tighten the fastener connecting the ball joint to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #15. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 47 Nm torque.
Step 67

Tighten the lower fastening of the shock absorber. Use a drive socket #15. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 90 Nm torque.
Step 68

Install the fastening nut.
Step 69

Screw the nut of the drive shaft. Use a drive socket #32. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 70

Clean the mounting seats of the stabiliser link. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 71

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.
Step 72

Tighten the stabiliser link fastener. Use a combination spanner #15. Use a drive socket #15. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 73

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #15. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 50 Nm torque.
Step 74

Fasten the brake hose on the strut.
Step 75

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 76

Clean the wheel rim mounting seat. Use a wire brush.
Step 77

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 78

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Ford Focus DAW. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 79

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts on the car. Ford Focus DAW
Step 80

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #19.
Step 81

Lower the car.
Step 82

Tighten the drive shaft nut. Use a drive socket #32. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 275 Nm torque.
Step 83

Tighten the wheel bolts using a criss-cross pattern. Use wheel impact socket #19. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 Nm torque.
Step 84

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 85

Tighten the upper fasteners of the shock strut (3 pieces). Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 25 Nm torque.
Step 86

Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.
Step 87

Attach the engine wiring harness.
Step 88

Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 89

Close the hood.

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