Strut Assembly - Rear

This procedure covers removal and replacement of the rear strut assemblies on a 2018-2024 Honda Accord with 1.5L turbo engine, including disconnection from the knuckle and upper mounting points.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear strut assembly (left) × 1 — Honda OEM or quality aftermarket equivalent
• Rear strut assembly (right) × 1 — Honda OEM or quality aftermarket equivalent
• Strut-to-knuckle bolts and nuts × 4 — Replace if corrosion or thread damage present
• Self-locking nuts for strut tower × 6 — Replace if previously removed

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks in front of front wheels
3. Open trunk and remove trunk floor covering, spare tire, and side trunk trim panels to access strut tower mounting nuts
4. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is on ground
5. Raise rear of vehicle with floor jack at designated rear jacking point
6. Support vehicle on jack stands placed at manufacturer-specified support points on rear subframe or pinch welds
7. Remove rear wheels completely
8. Spray penetrating lubricant on strut-to-knuckle bolts and allow to soak if corrosion is present

Procedure

1. 1

   Support the rear knuckle assembly
   Position floor jack under the rear knuckle/lower control arm to support the suspension weight. Raise jack just enough to take the load off the strut but do not lift the vehicle. This prevents the suspension from dropping when the strut is disconnected.
2. 2

   Disconnect sway bar link if necessary
   If the sway bar link interferes with strut removal (check clearance), remove the upper sway bar link nut from the strut bracket. Use an Allen key to hold the link shaft while turning the nut with a 14mm wrench. Note orientation for reinstallation.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link58 Nm (43 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Remove strut-to-knuckle bolts
   Locate the two bolts connecting the strut to the rear knuckle assembly. These are 17mm bolts oriented horizontally. Remove both bolts completely while supporting the strut. The knuckle may need to be pried away from the strut bracket slightly with a pry bar.
   ⚠Support the strut with one hand or wire while removing the second bolt to prevent it from falling.
4. 4

   Access strut tower mounting nuts
   From inside the trunk, locate the three strut tower mounting nuts on top of the strut tower. These are 12mm self-locking nuts. Clean any debris or dirt from around the nuts and studs.
5. 5

   Remove strut tower nuts
   Using a 12mm socket, remove all three strut tower mounting nuts while supporting the strut from below. Have an assistant hold the strut or secure it with wire to prevent it from falling when the last nut is removed.
   ⚠The strut assembly is heavy and will drop once all nuts are removed. Ensure it is properly supported.
6. 6

   Remove strut assembly
   Carefully guide the strut assembly downward and outward from the wheel well. Maneuver it past the brake lines and any ABS sensor wiring. The strut will need to angle to clear the wheel well opening. Set aside in a safe location.
7. 7

   Inspect mounting points
   Inspect the strut tower mounting surface for damage, cracks, or corrosion. Check the knuckle mounting bracket for cracks or elongated bolt holes. Replace any damaged components before installing new strut. Clean mounting surfaces of dirt and rust.
8. 8

   Install new strut assembly
   Guide the new strut assembly into position, threading the upper mounting studs through the strut tower holes first. Align the lower strut bracket with the knuckle mounting points. Support the strut with jack or wire while installing fasteners.
9. 9

   Install strut tower nuts
   From inside the trunk, hand-thread all three new self-locking nuts onto the strut tower studs. Tighten in a star pattern to ensure even seating. Torque all three nuts to specification using a torque wrench.
   Torque spec

   Strut Tower Nuts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Connect strut to knuckle
    Align the strut bracket with the knuckle mounting holes. Use a pry bar if needed to align holes. Insert both strut-to-knuckle bolts from the front side with nuts on the rear. Hand-tighten both bolts before final torquing.
11. 11

    Torque strut-to-knuckle bolts
    Using a torque wrench, tighten both strut-to-knuckle bolts to specification. Torque the lower bolt first, then the upper bolt. Verify both are properly seated and torqued.
    Torque spec

    Strut-to-Knuckle Bolts116 Nm (86 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Reconnect sway bar link
    If previously disconnected, reconnect the sway bar link to the strut bracket. Install the nut and torque to specification while holding the link shaft with an Allen key to prevent rotation.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link58 Nm (43 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Repeat for opposite side
    Perform steps 1-12 for the opposite rear strut assembly. Ensure both sides are completed before proceeding to final torquing steps.
14. 14

    Install wheels and lower vehicle
    Install rear wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts in a star pattern. Remove jack stands and carefully lower vehicle to the ground. Do not fully torque lug nuts yet.
15. 15

    Final torque with vehicle weight on wheels
    With vehicle on the ground and full weight on suspension, torque wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. Bounce the rear of the vehicle several times to settle the suspension. If any control arm bolts were disturbed during the repair, they must be re-torqued with vehicle weight on wheels.
    ⚠Suspension bushings must be torqued under load. Any control arm bolts loosened during this repair MUST be torqued with vehicle weight on wheels.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Reinstall all trunk trim panels, spare tire, and trunk floor covering
2. Verify all tools and parts have been removed from wheel wells and trunk area
3. Check that all fasteners have been properly torqued and no hardware is missing

Verification

• Visually inspect both rear struts to confirm proper installation and torque of all fasteners
• Bounce each rear corner of the vehicle and verify strut operation - should dampen smoothly without unusual noises
• Test drive vehicle in a safe area at low speed, checking for unusual noises, vibrations, or handling issues
• Listen for any clunking or rattling from rear suspension over bumps - this indicates loose hardware
• After 50-100 miles, re-check torque on all strut mounting fasteners and wheel lug nuts
• Schedule a professional wheel alignment - new struts will affect suspension geometry and tire wear

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