This procedure covers removal and replacement of the rear coil spring on a 2016-2021 Honda Civic 1.5L Turbo, requiring partial suspension disassembly and use of a spring compressor.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear coil spring × 1 — Use OEM specification or quality aftermarket
• Strut mount hardware (inspect and replace if damaged) × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and set parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks in front of front wheels
3. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is on ground
4. Raise rear of vehicle with floor jack at designated lift point near rear wheel
5. Support vehicle on jack stands placed at manufacturer-specified points on chassis (NOT on suspension components)
6. Remove rear wheel completely
7. Spray all suspension fasteners with penetrating oil and let soak 10-15 minutes
8. Visually inspect spring and suspension components for damage or excessive corrosion

Procedure

1. 1

   Support the rear suspension
   Position floor jack under the lower control arm near the wheel hub area. Raise jack until it just makes contact and lightly supports the weight of the suspension. This relieves tension on upper mounting bolts while keeping the assembly controlled. Do NOT lift the vehicle, only support the suspension arm.
2. 2

   Disconnect sway bar end link
   Locate the sway bar end link connecting the sway bar to the lower control arm or damper. Insert an Allen key (typically 6mm) into the shaft to prevent it from spinning. Using a 14mm wrench, remove the lower nut connecting the end link. Detach the end link from the suspension assembly. It may be tight; use penetrating oil if needed.
3. 3

   Remove lower strut mounting bolt
   Locate the large bolt connecting the bottom of the strut/damper to the knuckle assembly. This is typically a 17mm bolt head with a 17mm nut on the opposite side. Remove this bolt completely and set aside. You may need to use a pry bar to slightly separate the joint once the bolt is removed. The suspension will now pivot on the upper mount only.
   ⚠Keep the floor jack supporting the lower control arm to prevent the suspension from dropping suddenly.
4. 4

   Access strut upper mounting nuts
   Open the trunk or rear hatch. Remove the interior trunk trim panel above the strut tower on the side you are working on. This typically involves removing plastic clips or fasteners. You will see the top of the strut assembly with 2-3 mounting nuts visible. Do NOT remove these nuts yet.
5. 5

   Lower the suspension assembly
   Carefully and slowly lower the floor jack supporting the lower control arm. The entire strut/spring assembly will pivot downward at the upper mount. Lower it enough to create slack in the spring, but do NOT remove the upper mounting nuts yet. The spring should become loose in its seats. If the spring is still under significant tension, you may need to disconnect an additional control arm bolt.
   ⚠Control the descent carefully. Do not let the suspension drop suddenly.
6. 6

   Install spring compressor
   With the spring loose or under minimal tension, install the coil spring compressor according to the tool manufacturer's instructions. Install compressor hooks on opposite sides of the spring (180 degrees apart) and at least 3 coils apart. Ensure hooks are fully seated in the coil valleys. Tighten the compressor bolts evenly, alternating sides, until the spring is compressed enough to remove freely. The spring should compress at least 2-3 inches and be visibly shorter than its installed length.
   ⚠️Compress the spring slowly and evenly. Check frequently that compressor hooks are not slipping. An improperly compressed spring can violently release and cause serious injury.
7. 7

   Remove strut upper mounting nuts
   Return to the trunk and remove the strut upper mounting nuts using a 12mm or 14mm socket (typically 12mm on this model). There are usually 2 nuts. Support the strut assembly from below with your hand or have an assistant hold it. Once nuts are removed, the strut can be lowered away from the mounting studs.
8. 8

   Remove strut and spring assembly
   Carefully guide the entire strut/spring assembly out from the wheel well. You may need to maneuver around brake lines and other components. Place the assembly on a clean workbench with the compressed spring still secured by the spring compressor.
   ⚠Do not release the spring compressor yet. Keep the spring compressed during disassembly.
9. 9

   Disassemble strut and remove old spring
   With the spring still compressed, note the orientation of the upper spring seat, bump stop, and any insulators. On the workbench, you can now carefully remove the compressed spring from the strut assembly. The spring, upper mount, and related hardware will separate from the damper shaft. Inspect all rubber components (bump stop, insulators, upper mount) for cracking or deterioration and replace as needed.
10. 10

    Install new spring on strut
    Install the new coil spring onto the strut damper shaft with the spring compressor still attached and compressed. Ensure the spring end is properly seated in the lower spring seat pocket - there is usually a locating tab. Install the upper spring seat, insulators, and mount hardware in the exact orientation as removed. Verify all components are correctly aligned before proceeding.
    ⚠Spring end positioning is critical. The spring must sit in the correct pocket or it can come loose during operation.
11. 11

    Release spring compressor gradually
    With the new spring installed on the strut and all upper mount components in place, slowly and evenly release the spring compressor. Loosen compressor bolts gradually, alternating sides, allowing the spring to expand into its seats. Verify the spring ends are properly seated in both upper and lower spring seats as you release tension. Once fully released and spring is secure, remove the compressor tool completely.
    ⚠️Release spring tension slowly and evenly. Stop immediately if anything appears misaligned.
12. 12

    Install strut assembly into vehicle
    Maneuver the assembled strut/spring unit back into the wheel well. Align the upper mounting studs with the holes in the strut tower. Thread the upper mounting nuts onto the studs by hand. Do NOT fully tighten yet - just snug them to hold the assembly in place.
13. 13

    Reconnect lower strut mount
    Use the floor jack to raise the lower control arm and knuckle assembly up to meet the lower strut mounting point. Align the holes and insert the lower strut mounting bolt. Install the nut on the opposite side. Torque this fastener to specification.
    ⚠Ensure bolt passes through all mounting points cleanly before torquing.
    Torque spec

    Strut Bolts109 Nm (81 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Reconnect sway bar end link
    Reconnect the sway bar end link to the suspension. Hold the shaft with an Allen key and install the nut. Torque to specification.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
15. 15

    Torque upper strut mounting nuts
    Access the upper strut mounting nuts in the trunk area. Torque both nuts to specification using a torque wrench.
    Torque spec

    Strut Tower Nuts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)
16. 16

    Reinstall wheel and lower vehicle
    Reinstall the rear wheel and hand-tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern. Remove jack stands and carefully lower the vehicle to the ground. With the vehicle weight on the wheels, torque the lug nuts to specification in a star pattern.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Reinstall trunk trim panels and ensure all clips are properly seated
2. Test drive the vehicle at low speed in a safe area to verify no unusual noises or handling issues
3. Re-torque all fasteners after 50-100 miles of driving
4. If replacing only one rear spring, strongly consider replacing both sides to maintain balanced ride height and handling

Verification

• Verify all fasteners have been torqued to specification using a calibrated torque wrench
• Visually inspect that spring is properly seated in both upper and lower spring seats
• Check that all suspension components move freely without binding
• Bounce each corner of the vehicle and verify normal damping action with no clunking sounds
• Measure ride height on both sides - they should be within 10mm of each other
• Schedule a professional wheel alignment immediately - suspension work requires alignment to ensure safe handling and prevent premature tire wear
• Test drive at various speeds and verify normal handling characteristics, no pulling, and no unusual noises from the rear suspension

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