Replace both front struts on a 2014 Ram 2500 4WD with 6.7L Cummins diesel engine, including removal of strut assemblies from the vehicle and installation of new units.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front strut assembly (complete) × 2 — Use OEM specification or quality aftermarket equivalent
• Sway bar link nuts (if damaged) × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Anti-seize compound × 1 — High-temperature rated

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
3. If components are rusty, spray strut-to-knuckle bolts, upper mounting nuts, and sway bar links with penetrating oil 24 hours before starting
4. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground (do not remove)
5. Raise front of vehicle with floor jack at manufacturer-specified lift point on frame
6. Support vehicle with heavy-duty jack stands under frame rails, ensuring vehicle is stable
7. Remove both front wheels completely
8. Visually inspect brake lines and ABS sensor wiring to plan routing during reassembly

Procedure

1. 1

   Access strut upper mounting nuts
   Open the hood and locate the strut tower on the driver side. Remove the three upper mounting nuts securing the strut to the strut tower. These are 13mm nuts accessible from the engine bay. Support the strut from below with your hand or have an assistant hold it to prevent it from dropping when the nuts are removed.
2. 2

   Disconnect sway bar link from strut
   Locate the sway bar link connection to the strut. Use a 6mm Allen key to hold the shaft from rotating while removing the upper sway bar link nut with a 15mm wrench or socket. Separate the link from the strut bracket. Note the orientation of washers and bushings for reassembly.
   ⚠Do not allow the sway bar link shaft to spin freely as this can damage the internal bushing.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link82 Nm (61 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Remove strut-to-knuckle bolts
   Locate the two bolts securing the strut to the steering knuckle at the bottom of the strut assembly. These are large 18mm bolts that pass through the knuckle. Apply penetrating oil if not already done. Use a breaker bar if necessary to break them loose. Remove both bolts completely and retain hardware.
   ⚠These bolts are extremely tight (165 Nm). Ensure your tools are properly seated to avoid rounding the bolt heads.
4. 4

   Remove strut assembly from vehicle (driver side)
   Carefully maneuver the strut assembly out from the wheel well. You may need to pull the knuckle outward slightly to clear the strut bracket. Guide brake lines and ABS wiring clear of the strut. Lower the strut through the bottom of the wheel well. Be careful not to damage brake lines, CV axle boots, or ABS sensors during removal.
   ⚠The strut assembly is heavy (approximately 30-40 lbs). Use proper lifting technique to avoid back injury.
5. 5

   Repeat removal for passenger side
   Repeat steps 1 through 4 for the passenger side strut assembly. Access the upper mounting nuts from the engine bay, disconnect the sway bar link, remove the strut-to-knuckle bolts, and remove the strut assembly from the vehicle.
6. 6

   Inspect and prepare new strut assemblies
   If installing complete strut assemblies, verify they are correct for your vehicle (4WD configuration). Inspect new struts for shipping damage. If transferring components from old struts, use a quality spring compressor following manufacturer instructions to safely compress springs before disassembly. Clean all mounting surfaces on the knuckle and strut tower with a wire brush.
   ⚠️Never attempt to disassemble a strut without a proper spring compressor. The coil spring is under extreme pressure and can cause fatal injuries.
7. 7

   Install passenger side strut assembly
   Guide the new strut assembly up through the wheel well from below, routing it clear of brake lines and ABS wiring. Align the upper mounting studs with the holes in the strut tower. Install the three upper mounting nuts hand-tight first. Do not torque yet.
8. 8

   Connect strut to knuckle (passenger side)
   Pull the knuckle outward and align the strut bracket with the bolt holes in the knuckle. Insert both strut-to-knuckle bolts from the front side (toward vehicle front). Apply anti-seize to bolt threads. Install nuts hand-tight. Ensure the strut is properly seated in the knuckle bracket before proceeding.
9. 9

   Torque passenger side fasteners
   Torque the two strut-to-knuckle bolts to 165 Nm (122 lb-ft) in a cross pattern. Then torque the three upper strut tower mounting nuts to 50 Nm (37 lb-ft). Verify all fasteners are tight.
   ⚠These are critical safety fasteners. Use a calibrated torque wrench and verify proper torque values.
   Torque spec

   Strut-to-Knuckle Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

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

    Reconnect sway bar link (passenger side)
    Connect the sway bar link to the strut bracket, ensuring washers and bushings are in correct order. Install the nut hand-tight, then use the 6mm Allen key to hold the shaft while torquing the nut to 55 Nm (41 lb-ft) with a 15mm socket.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link82 Nm (61 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Install driver side strut assembly
    Repeat steps 7 through 10 for the driver side strut assembly. Install the strut through the wheel well, align upper mounting studs, connect to knuckle, torque strut-to-knuckle bolts to 165 Nm (122 lb-ft), torque upper mounting nuts to 50 Nm (37 lb-ft), and reconnect sway bar link with nut torqued to 55 Nm (41 lb-ft).
    Torque spec

    Strut-to-Knuckle Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

    Strut Tower Nuts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)

    Sway Bar Link82 Nm (61 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Install wheels and lower vehicle
    Install both front wheels and thread lug nuts by hand to prevent cross-threading. Snug lug nuts in a star pattern with a hand wrench. Carefully raise vehicle slightly with floor jack, remove jack stands, and lower vehicle to ground. With full weight on wheels, torque all lug nuts to 183 Nm (135 lb-ft) in a star pattern.
    ⚠Ensure lug nuts are torqued properly. Under-torqued lug nuts can cause wheel detachment.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts183 Nm (135 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Final verification and bounce test
    With vehicle on ground, bounce each corner of the front end to settle suspension components. Re-check all fastener torques including strut tower nuts (accessible from engine bay). Verify no tools or parts were left in wheel wells. Close hood securely.

Reassembly

1. All fasteners must be torqued to specification using a calibrated torque wrench
2. Verify brake lines and ABS wiring are properly routed and secured away from moving suspension components
3. Check that no tools, rags, or parts remain in wheel wells before driving

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at low speed in a safe area and verify no unusual noises, vibrations, or handling issues
• Re-torque all wheel lug nuts to 183 Nm (135 lb-ft) after 50-100 miles of driving
• REQUIRED: Schedule four-wheel alignment immediately. New struts will affect camber, caster, and toe settings
• After alignment, verify vehicle tracks straight and steering wheel is centered during highway driving
• Inspect for any fluid leaks from struts after first 100 miles of driving

More procedures for this vehicle