Strut Mount - Rear

Replace the rear strut mount assemblies on a 2016-2021 Honda Civic 1.5L Turbo to eliminate noise, vibration, or handling issues caused by worn upper strut mounts.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear strut mount assembly (left) × 1 — Honda OEM 52207-TBG-A01 or equivalent
• Rear strut mount assembly (right) × 1 — Honda OEM 52207-TBG-A01 or equivalent

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake
2. Chock front wheels securely in both directions
3. If strut mount nuts are corroded, apply penetrating oil to rear strut tower mounting nuts and allow to soak for 15-30 minutes
4. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is on ground, but do not remove
5. Raise rear of vehicle with floor jack at manufacturer-specified rear jacking point (behind center console area)
6. Place jack stands under rear subframe or manufacturer-specified support points
7. Lower vehicle weight onto jack stands and verify stability before proceeding
8. Remove rear wheels completely and set aside

Procedure

1. 1

   Access rear strut tower mount
   Open trunk and remove rear cargo floor cover. Fold down rear seat bottom cushions on the side being serviced. Remove the rear seat back cushion on the working side by releasing the lower locking tabs and lifting upward. Locate the carpeted or plastic trim panel covering the strut tower. Carefully peel back or remove the trim panel to expose the three upper strut mount nuts.
2. 2

   Support lower suspension
   Position a floor jack with a block of wood under the rear lower control arm or knuckle assembly on the side being serviced. Raise jack just enough to slightly compress the suspension and take tension off the strut mount. This prevents the strut assembly from dropping when upper nuts are removed. Do NOT fully compress suspension.
   ⚠The jack must remain in place supporting the lower control arm throughout the entire procedure to prevent sudden dropping of the strut assembly.
3. 3

   Disconnect sway bar link if necessary
   Inspect access to the upper strut mount nuts. If clearance is restricted, disconnect the rear sway bar end link from the strut assembly. Hold the ball stud shaft with an Allen key to prevent spinning, then remove the upper sway bar link nut using a 14mm socket. Swing the link away from the strut.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link58 Nm (43 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Remove upper strut mount nuts
   From inside the trunk area, locate the three strut tower mounting nuts (typically 14mm). Hold the center strut shaft from spinning if necessary (some designs have a hex feature at the top). Remove all three upper strut mount nuts and set aside. The strut assembly is now supported only by the lower mounting bolts and the floor jack.
   ⚠Ensure floor jack is securely supporting the lower suspension before removing these nuts. Do not allow the strut to drop or hang unsupported.
5. 5

   Remove lower strut-to-knuckle bolts
   Locate the two bolts securing the bottom of the strut to the rear knuckle assembly (typically 17mm). These are horizontal bolts passing through the bottom of the strut body into the knuckle. Remove both bolts completely. Carefully lower the floor jack to allow the strut assembly to pivot downward and separate from the knuckle. Pull the strut assembly down and out of the strut tower.
   ⚠Lower jack slowly and control the strut assembly. The strut and spring assembly is heavy and may shift suddenly.
   Torque spec

   Strut-to-Knuckle Bolts116 Nm (86 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Remove old strut mount
   With the strut assembly removed from the vehicle, place it securely in a vise or on a workbench. If replacing only the mount (not the full strut), you must use a spring compressor to safely compress the coil spring, then remove the upper strut shaft nut to disassemble the mount. If replacing the complete strut assembly, skip spring disassembly and transfer the old mount to your core return. CRITICAL: Do not attempt to remove the upper strut nut without properly compressing the spring first.
   ⚠️Coil springs store tremendous energy. Using incorrect or damaged spring compressors can result in violent spring release causing severe injury or death. If you lack proper tools or experience, purchase a complete strut assembly or seek professional service.
7. 7

   Install new strut mount
   Install the new strut mount onto the strut shaft, ensuring the mount is oriented correctly (alignment marks or studs should match original position). Install any dust covers, bump stops, or insulators in the correct order per the replacement parts instructions. Install the upper strut shaft nut and tighten while holding the shaft from spinning. Carefully release spring compressor tension evenly. If installing a complete pre-assembled strut, proceed to next step.
8. 8

   Install strut assembly into vehicle
   Guide the strut assembly back into position, inserting the upper mount studs through the strut tower holes from below. Raise the floor jack under the lower control arm to align the bottom of the strut with the knuckle mounting holes. You may need to use a pry bar to align holes. Install both lower strut-to-knuckle bolts hand-tight but do NOT torque yet.
9. 9

   Install upper strut mount nuts
   From inside the trunk, install the three upper strut mount nuts onto the studs protruding through the strut tower. Tighten these nuts in a star pattern to the specified torque of 50.0 Nm (37.0 lb-ft). Ensure the mount sits flat against the strut tower without gaps or binding.
   Torque spec

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

    Reconnect sway bar link
    If the sway bar end link was disconnected, reconnect it to the strut assembly. Hold the ball stud shaft with an Allen key and install the nut. Torque the sway bar link nut to 55.0 Nm (41.0 lb-ft) while preventing the shaft from spinning.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link58 Nm (43 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Repeat for opposite side
    If replacing both rear strut mounts (recommended), repeat steps 1 through 10 for the opposite side of the vehicle. Work on one side completely before starting the other to maintain some suspension integrity.
12. 12

    Install wheels and lower vehicle
    Reinstall rear wheels and hand-tighten all lug nuts in a star pattern. Carefully raise vehicle slightly with floor jack to remove jack stands. Lower vehicle completely to the ground so full vehicle weight is on the suspension. This is CRITICAL for final torque procedures.
    ⚠Strut-to-knuckle bolts MUST be torqued with vehicle weight on wheels. Do not torque these bolts while vehicle is raised.
13. 13

    Torque all fasteners to specification
    With vehicle on ground and full weight on suspension, torque rear wheel lug nuts to 129.0 Nm (95.0 lb-ft) in a star pattern. Access the lower strut-to-knuckle bolts through the wheel well and torque both bolts to 116.0 Nm (86.0 lb-ft). Verify all fasteners are properly torqued using a calibrated torque wrench.
    ⚠️CRITICAL: Strut-to-knuckle bolts must be torqued with vehicle weight on suspension. Failure to follow this specification can result in bolt failure and loss of vehicle control.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)

    Strut-to-Knuckle Bolts116 Nm (86 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Reinstall interior trim
    Return to trunk area and reinstall all removed trim panels, seat backs, and cargo floor covers. Ensure all clips and fasteners are properly secured and no tools or parts are left in the trunk area.

Reassembly

1. Double-check that all three upper strut mount nuts are torqued to 50.0 Nm (37.0 lb-ft)
2. Verify both lower strut-to-knuckle bolts are torqued to 116.0 Nm (86.0 lb-ft) with vehicle weight on ground
3. Confirm wheel lug nuts are torqued to 129.0 Nm (95.0 lb-ft) in star pattern
4. Ensure all interior trim panels and seats are properly reinstalled

Verification

• Start vehicle and turn steering wheel lock-to-lock while stationary to verify no binding or interference in rear suspension
• Test drive vehicle at low speed in a safe area, listening for any abnormal noises from rear suspension
• Drive over small bumps and verify smooth operation without clunking or rattling from strut mounts
• Perform a visual inspection under the vehicle to confirm no loose fasteners or components
• After 50-100 miles of driving, re-torque wheel lug nuts to specification and verify no loosening of strut mount hardware
• If any unusual noises, vibrations, or handling issues persist, have the installation inspected by a qualified professional immediately

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