This procedure covers the replacement of the front air spring (strut assembly with air suspension component) on the 2016-2021 Honda Civic 1.5L Turbo.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front air spring/strut assembly × 1 — Use OEM specification or aftermarket equivalent
• Strut tower mounting nuts (if damaged) × 3 — M10 flange nuts
• Ball joint castle nut (if damaged) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Cotter pin for ball joint × 1 — 3mm diameter

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and engage parking brake
2. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
3. Raise front of vehicle and support securely on jack stands at manufacturer-specified jacking points
4. Remove front wheel on the side being serviced
5. Spray penetrating oil on ball joint nut, strut bolts, and sway bar link if components appear corroded
6. Take photos of brake line routing and ABS sensor wire positioning for reference during reassembly

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove sway bar link from strut
   Locate the sway bar link connection at the strut assembly. Hold the link shaft with a 6mm Allen key to prevent spinning, then remove the upper nut using a 14mm socket. Separate the sway bar link from the strut mounting point.
   Torque spec

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

   Disconnect brake line bracket and ABS sensor
   Remove the brake line mounting bracket from the strut using a 10mm socket. Carefully unclip the ABS wheel speed sensor wire from any clips attached to the strut assembly. Do not disconnect the sensor itself, just free the wire routing to allow strut removal.
3. 3

   Remove ball joint castle nut
   Remove the cotter pin from the ball joint castle nut at the lower control arm connection to the knuckle. Use a 19mm socket to remove the ball joint nut completely. Do not reuse the cotter pin.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut84 Nm (62 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Separate ball joint from knuckle
   Use a ball joint separator tool to separate the lower ball joint from the steering knuckle. Apply steady pressure with the separator tool until the taper releases. Support the lower control arm to prevent sudden dropping when the ball joint separates.
   ⚠The control arm will drop when the ball joint separates. Keep hands and feet clear of pinch points.
5. 5

   Remove strut-to-knuckle pinch bolts
   Locate the two bolts securing the strut to the steering knuckle at the bottom of the strut assembly. Remove both bolts completely using a 17mm socket. Support the knuckle assembly to prevent it from falling when the strut is removed.
   Torque spec

   Strut Bolts109 Nm (81 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Access strut tower mounting nuts
   Open the hood and locate the strut tower in the engine compartment. Remove the plastic cap or cover if present to access the three mounting nuts at the top of the strut tower. Clean the area around the nuts with a wire brush if necessary.
   ℹ️On some models, you may need to remove the cowl panel or windshield wiper arm for better access.
7. 7

   Remove strut tower nuts and extract strut assembly
   Using a 14mm socket, remove all three strut tower mounting nuts while supporting the strut assembly from below. Once all nuts are removed, carefully lower and remove the complete strut assembly from the vehicle through the wheel well. Note the orientation of any alignment marks or positioning features.
   ⚠The strut assembly is heavy and awkward. Use proper lifting technique and have an assistant if needed.
   Torque spec

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

   Transfer components if necessary
   If the new air spring assembly does not come complete, transfer any reusable components from the old strut such as the dust boot, bump stop, or mounting hardware. If disassembling the strut, use a spring compressor tool following manufacturer instructions. Never attempt to disassemble a strut without proper spring compression.
   ⚠️Compressed springs store enormous energy and can cause severe injury or death if released suddenly. Only qualified technicians should disassemble strut assemblies.
9. 9

   Install new air spring assembly into strut tower
   Position the new air spring/strut assembly into the strut tower from below, aligning the mounting studs with the holes in the tower. Install all three strut tower nuts hand-tight initially. Ensure any alignment marks or positioning tabs are correctly oriented.
   Torque spec

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

    Connect strut to steering knuckle
    Align the steering knuckle with the strut bracket. Insert both strut-to-knuckle pinch bolts and hand-tighten. You may need to use a pry bar to align the holes. Torque both bolts to specification using a torque wrench.
    Torque spec

    Strut Bolts109 Nm (81 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Reconnect ball joint to knuckle
    Raise the lower control arm to align the ball joint stud with the knuckle hole. Insert the ball joint stud into the knuckle and install a new castle nut. Torque the nut to specification, then continue tightening if necessary to align the castle nut slots with the cotter pin hole. Install a new cotter pin and bend the ends to secure.
    ⚠Always tighten to reach the next cotter pin slot; never loosen the nut to align the pin hole.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut84 Nm (62 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Reattach sway bar link
    Connect the sway bar link to the strut mounting point. Hold the link shaft with a 6mm Allen key and install the nut. Torque to specification while preventing the shaft from rotating.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Reinstall brake line bracket and ABS sensor wire
    Reinstall the brake line mounting bracket to the strut. Route the ABS wheel speed sensor wire according to the reference photos taken during disassembly, ensuring the wire is not twisted, kinked, or in contact with any moving parts. Secure all clips.
14. 14

    Torque strut tower nuts and reinstall wheel
    From the engine compartment, torque all three strut tower mounting nuts to specification in a star pattern. Reinstall the strut tower cover if equipped. Mount the wheel and hand-tighten all lug nuts in a star pattern.
    Torque spec

    Strut Tower Nuts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)

    Wheel Lug Nuts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)
15. 15

    Lower vehicle and perform final torquing
    Lower the vehicle until the tires just contact the ground but the suspension is not fully loaded. Torque the wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. Lower the vehicle completely to the ground. Bounce the front end several times to settle the suspension.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Ensure all brake line brackets and ABS sensor wiring are properly secured and routed away from moving suspension components
2. Verify the new cotter pin is properly installed and bent to prevent the castle nut from loosening
3. Double-check that all fasteners have been torqued to specification
4. If the vehicle is equipped with active air suspension, the system may need to be recalibrated using a Honda diagnostic tool

Verification

• Start the vehicle and turn the steering wheel full lock in both directions while stationary to verify no interference or rubbing
• Test drive the vehicle at low speed and verify normal suspension operation with no unusual noises or handling issues
• After test drive, recheck all fastener torques, especially wheel lug nuts
• If equipped with air suspension controls, verify all suspension modes function correctly
• Schedule a professional wheel alignment as suspension geometry has been disturbed

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