Contents: Removal ⤓ Installation ⤓
Note: Some models do not have a strut brace.
Removal
1. Jack up the front of the car and place it on supports. Apply the parking brake and block the rear wheels. Remove the front wheel.
2. Remove the clamp securing the stabilizer to the strut brace.
3. Unscrew the nut securing the strut brace to the front cross member, as well as the two bolts with nuts securing the other end of the brace to the lower arm.
3.3a. To remove the strut brace, first unscrew the large nut on the front of the cross beam, remove the washer and bushing...
3.3b.... then unscrew the two bolts with nuts (shown by arrows) securing the strut brace to the lower suspension arm
4. Remove the large washer and rubber bushings from the front of the strut, then remove the strut brace from the crossmember.
5. Check the strut brace for cracks and deformation. If the strut brace is bent more than 3 mm, it must be replaced. Inspect the bushings for cracks, hardening and general destruction, replace the bushings if necessary.
Installation
6. Before installing the strut brace, old or new, screw the internal lock nut onto it as shown in the illustration.
3.6. Screw the inner lock nut onto the strut brace so that the outer surface of the outer nut is 80.5 mm from the end of the strut - this will ensure the correct setting of the longitudinal tilt angle of the strut pivot axis
7. Install the inner washer, rubber bushing and sleeve onto the strut brace, then insert the brace into the hole in the cross member. Install the two bolts and nuts securing the brace to the lower arm and tighten them to the torque specified in specifications of this Chapter.
8. Install the outer rubber bushing, washer and nut onto the front of the tie rod, but do not tighten the nut completely.
9. Install the clamp and bolt securing the stabilizer to the strut. Lower the vehicle and tighten the clamp bolt securely.
10. Tighten the outer tie rod nut to the torque specified in the specification.
11. It is advisable to take the car to a car repair shop to check and, if necessary, adjust the front wheel alignment angles.