This procedure replaces both front strut assemblies on a 2015-2020 Ford F-150 with 5.0L V8 Coyote engine, including removal of strut tower nuts, lower strut bolts, and sway bar link connections.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front strut assembly - Left × 1 — Use OEM specification or equivalent aftermarket
• Front strut assembly - Right × 1 — Use OEM specification or equivalent aftermarket
• Sway bar link nuts (if damaged) × 4 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
3. Loosen front wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is on ground (do not remove)
4. Raise front of vehicle with floor jack at designated front jacking point
5. Support vehicle securely on jack stands placed at manufacturer-specified lift points on frame rails
6. Remove front wheels completely and set aside
7. Spray penetrating oil on sway bar link nuts and strut bolts if corrosion is present; allow to soak

Procedure

1. 1

   Access strut tower mounting nuts
   Open the hood and locate the strut tower assembly on the driver side. The strut tower is visible from the engine bay with three mounting nuts securing the top of the strut. These nuts are accessible from above without removing any components.
2. 2

   Remove strut tower nuts - Driver side
   Using a socket wrench, remove the three nuts securing the top of the strut assembly to the strut tower. Support the strut from below with your hand or have an assistant hold it to prevent it from dropping when the last nut is removed. Set nuts aside for reinstallation.
   ⚠The strut assembly will become loose once all three nuts are removed. Ensure the strut is supported from below to prevent it from falling.
3. 3

   Disconnect sway bar link - Driver side
   Locate the sway bar link connecting the sway bar to the lower control arm or strut assembly. Insert an Allen key into the shaft of the sway bar link to prevent rotation. Using a wrench on the nut, remove the upper sway bar link nut connecting to the strut. The link will remain attached to the sway bar.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link76 Nm (56 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Remove lower strut bolts - Driver side
   Locate the two bolts securing the bottom of the strut to the steering knuckle. These are large bolts typically accessed from the front or rear of the strut. Remove both bolts completely. You may need to use a breaker bar for initial loosening. Once removed, carefully maneuver the strut assembly out from the wheel well, tilting it as needed to clear the strut tower opening.
   Torque spec

   Strut Bolts144 Nm (106 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Inspect and clean mounting surfaces - Driver side
   With the strut removed, inspect the strut tower mounting surface and steering knuckle mounting holes for corrosion, damage, or debris. Use a wire brush to clean threads on the steering knuckle bolt holes. Inspect the sway bar link connection point for damage.
6. 6

   Install new strut assembly - Driver side
   Position the new strut assembly into the wheel well. Guide the upper mounting studs through the strut tower holes first, then align the lower portion with the steering knuckle. Insert the two lower strut bolts through the knuckle and strut mounting holes. Hand-tighten the bolts but do not torque yet.
   ⚠Ensure the strut is properly oriented with mounting studs aligned correctly before installing bolts. Forcing misaligned components can damage threads.
7. 7

   Install strut tower nuts - Driver side
   From the engine bay, install the three strut tower mounting nuts onto the upper studs. Torque these nuts to specification using a torque wrench in a star pattern to ensure even loading.
   Torque spec

   Strut Tower Nuts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)
8. 8

   Torque lower strut bolts - Driver side
   Using a torque wrench, torque both lower strut-to-knuckle bolts to specification. Torque evenly and ensure the strut is properly seated against the knuckle.
   Torque spec

   Strut Bolts144 Nm (106 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Reconnect sway bar link - Driver side
   Align the sway bar link with the strut mounting point. Install the sway bar link nut. Hold the shaft with an Allen key to prevent rotation and torque the nut to specification using a torque wrench.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link76 Nm (56 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Repeat procedure for passenger side
    Perform steps 1 through 9 for the passenger side strut assembly. Access the strut tower from the engine bay, remove the three strut tower nuts, disconnect the sway bar link, remove the lower strut bolts, install the new strut, and torque all fasteners to specification in the same sequence.
11. 11

    Reinstall wheels
    Mount both front wheels onto the hubs. Install all lug nuts and hand-tighten them in a star pattern. Do not fully torque yet.
12. 12

    Lower vehicle and final torque
    Remove jack stands and carefully lower the vehicle to the ground using the floor jack. Once the vehicle weight is fully on the wheels, torque all wheel lug nuts to specification using a star pattern with a torque wrench. Remove wheel chocks.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts169 Nm (125 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Verify all fasteners have been torqued to specification
2. Ensure no tools or parts remain in wheel wells or engine bay
3. Close hood securely

Verification

• Perform a visual inspection of both strut assemblies from the wheel well, confirming all bolts are installed and tight
• From the engine bay, verify all three strut tower nuts are present and properly torqued on both sides
• Rock the vehicle side-to-side and bounce each corner to verify struts are functioning and no unusual noises are present
• Test drive at low speed in a safe area, listening for clunks, rattles, or abnormal handling characteristics
• After the first 50-100 miles, re-check all fastener torque values, especially wheel lug nuts and strut bolts
• Have front end alignment checked by a professional alignment shop, as strut replacement affects suspension geometry

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