Replace both front coil springs on a 2016-2021 Honda Civic 1.5L Turbo by disassembling the strut assembly, compressing and replacing springs, and reinstalling.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front coil spring (left) × 1 — OEM 51401-TBA-A01 or equivalent
• Front coil spring (right) × 1 — OEM 51401-TBA-A01 or equivalent
• Strut mount bearing (if worn) × 2 — OEM 51726-TBA-A01
• Strut mount rubber bushing (if worn) × 2 — OEM 51720-TBA-A01
• Ball joint nut (recommended replacement) × 2 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Loosen front wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is on ground
3. Raise front of vehicle and support securely on jack stands at manufacturer-specified lift points behind front wheels
4. Remove both front wheels completely
5. Spray penetrating oil on strut tower nuts, strut-to-knuckle bolts, sway bar link nuts, and ball joint nuts; allow 15 minutes to penetrate
6. Take photos of spring orientation and positioning for reference during reassembly
7. Verify spring compressor is in good working condition with no damaged threads or hooks

Procedure

1. 1

   Disconnect sway bar link from strut
   Locate the sway bar link connecting to the strut assembly. Insert 6mm Allen key into the shaft from the back side to hold it stationary. Use 14mm wrench to remove the upper nut connecting the link to the strut. Allow the link to hang down out of the way. Repeat for both sides.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Separate ball joint from knuckle
   Remove the castle nut or self-locking nut from the lower ball joint stud (19mm socket). Do not reuse this nut. Use a ball joint separator tool positioned between the lower control arm and steering knuckle. Tighten the separator tool gradually until the ball joint pops free from the knuckle taper. Do not strike the knuckle with a hammer. Repeat for both sides.
   ⚠The ball joint separator is under high spring tension. Keep face and hands clear when the joint releases as the knuckle will drop suddenly.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut84 Nm (62 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Remove strut-to-knuckle bolts
   Locate the two large bolts connecting the bottom of the strut assembly to the steering knuckle (18mm). Support the knuckle with one hand or a jack to prevent it from dropping. Remove both bolts completely and pull the knuckle assembly away from the strut. The knuckle will now be free to pivot downward on the lower control arm. Repeat for both sides.
   ⚠The knuckle assembly with brake caliper and rotor attached is heavy and will drop when the second bolt is removed. Support it or let it rest on the control arm.
   Torque spec

   Strut Bolts109 Nm (81 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Remove strut tower nuts in engine bay
   Open the hood and locate the strut tower on each side of the engine bay. Remove the plastic cap if present. You will see three 17mm nuts surrounding the strut shaft. Have an assistant support the strut assembly from below, or position a jack under the strut to prevent it from falling. Remove all three nuts from each strut tower. Do not allow the strut shaft to spin while removing nuts.
   ⚠️The strut assembly will fall once the third nut is removed. Ensure it is properly supported from below before removing the final nut.
   Torque spec

   Strut Tower Nuts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Remove strut assembly from vehicle
   With all mounting points disconnected, carefully lower and maneuver the strut assembly out of the wheel well. The assembly is bulky and may require angling to clear the fender and suspension components. Place the strut assembly on a clean workbench. Repeat for the second side. Keep left and right assemblies clearly marked.
6. 6

   Install spring compressor on strut assembly
   Position the spring compressor tools on opposite sides of the coil spring (180 degrees apart), engaging at least three full coils on each compressor. Ensure the compressor hooks are fully seated in the coils and cannot slip. Begin tightening the compressors gradually, alternating between them to compress the spring evenly. Continue until spring tension is completely relieved from the upper strut mount (you should be able to wiggle the mount freely).
   ⚠️Compress spring slowly and evenly. Check compressor alignment every few turns. If compressors slip or spring cocks at an angle, release tension immediately and reposition before continuing.
7. 7

   Remove strut shaft nut and disassemble
   With spring fully compressed, hold the strut shaft with a 6mm Allen key inserted into the top of the shaft. Use a 19mm wrench to remove the strut shaft nut. Remove the upper strut mount, bearing, upper spring seat, bump stop, dust boot, and compressed spring assembly. Inspect the strut mount bearing for roughness or damage and the rubber mount for cracks or deterioration. Replace if necessary.
8. 8

   Remove old spring and install new spring
   Carefully remove the spring compressors from the old spring and set aside. Position the new spring on the workbench with the same orientation as the old spring. Install the spring compressors on the new spring in the same positions as before, engaging multiple coils. Compress the new spring until it is the same compressed length as the old spring was. Verify the spring end is positioned correctly to align with the lower spring seat on the strut body.
   ⚠️Do not release spring compressors from old spring while near face or body. Set spring aside safely before removing compressors.
9. 9

   Reassemble strut with new spring
   Place the compressed new spring onto the strut body, ensuring the spring end aligns with the positioning tab on the lower spring seat. Install the dust boot, bump stop, upper spring seat (aligning any tabs or marks), bearing, and upper strut mount in order. The mount must be oriented correctly - reference your photos. Thread the strut shaft nut onto the shaft finger-tight. Hold the shaft with Allen key and torque the nut to 59 Nm (44 lb-ft). Slowly and evenly release the spring compressors, alternating sides, until all spring tension is on the mount. Remove compressors. Repeat entire spring replacement process for second strut.
10. 10

    Install strut assembly into vehicle
    Lift the strut assembly into the wheel well, guiding the three strut shaft studs through the holes in the strut tower. Have an assistant hold the assembly in place, or use a jack for support. From the engine bay, install the three strut tower nuts finger-tight, then torque in a star pattern to specification. Ensure the strut is properly seated in the tower before final torquing.
    Torque spec

    Strut Tower Nuts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Connect strut to steering knuckle
    Lift the steering knuckle assembly (with brake rotor and caliper) into position and align it with the mounting holes on the strut. Insert both strut-to-knuckle bolts and start the nuts finger-tight. Ensure the knuckle is fully seated against the strut before torquing. Torque both bolts to specification. Repeat for both sides.
    Torque spec

    Strut Bolts109 Nm (81 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Reconnect ball joint to knuckle
    Clean the ball joint stud taper and the knuckle taper bore with a wire brush. Position the knuckle over the ball joint stud and install a new castle nut or self-locking nut. Torque to specification. If using a castle nut, align the cotter pin hole and install a new cotter pin. Never loosen a torqued castle nut to align the pin hole - only tighten further if needed. Repeat for both sides.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut84 Nm (62 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Reconnect sway bar links
    Lift the sway bar link up to the strut mounting point. Insert the link stud through the hole in the strut. Install the nut finger-tight. Hold the link shaft with a 6mm Allen key and torque the nut to specification using a 14mm wrench. Repeat for both sides.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Reinstall wheels and lower vehicle
    Install both front wheels and start all lug nuts by hand. Snug the lug nuts in a star pattern with a wrench, but do not torque yet. Carefully lower the vehicle until the wheels just touch the ground but most weight is still on the jack stands. Torque the lug nuts in a star pattern to specification. Fully lower the vehicle and remove jack stands. Bounce each corner of the vehicle several times to settle the suspension.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Reinstall any plastic strut tower caps or covers that were removed
2. Check brake hose routing to ensure it is not kinked, twisted, or stretched
3. Verify all fasteners have been tightened to proper torque specifications
4. Test drive vehicle at low speed in a safe area to verify no unusual noises or handling issues before returning to normal operation

Verification

• Visually inspect all connection points to ensure hardware is installed and torqued properly
• Check that steering turns smoothly lock-to-lock with no binding or unusual noises
• Bounce each corner of the vehicle - suspension should rebound smoothly with no clunking
• Schedule a professional four-wheel alignment within 24 hours of completion - suspension geometry has been altered
• During the first 50 miles, check for any unusual tire wear patterns, pulling to one side, or suspension noises
• Re-torque wheel lug nuts after 50-100 miles of driving

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