Mitsubishi Front Struts Replacement DIY
Does your Mitsubishi have a clunking sound and grinding noises when turning the steering wheel? Learn how to fix the problem by replacing the front struts of your Mitsubishi. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to replace front struts on your Mitsubishi.
Symptoms
- As with any other car component, there are several things that can go wrong with the struts. If experiencing a clunking or popping sound going over bumps, you may have a broken spring or a bad shock absorber.
- Next, the mounts with bearings go bad, causing grinding noises when turning the steering wheel.
- Lastly, the strut mount being loose or the rubber is worn out will allow the strut to move around and make noise. Whatever the reason, struts should always be replaced in pairs, as they endure the same amount of abuse on each side. This means that if one has failed, the other side is not far behind.
What you will need
- Mitsubishi Front Struts
- Torque Wrench
- Jack stands
- Vehicle Floor Jack
- Mechanic Tool Set Metric
- 19mm, 17mm, 10mm, 13mm sockets
- Ratchet wrench
Procedure
- Remove the center cap or a hubcap covering the lug nuts from your wheels. Get loose the wheel lugs nuts with the appropriate socket and a breaker bar. Make sure the tire is still on the ground, preventing the wheel from spinning.
- Raise and support your vehicle. This can easily be done with a jack and jack stand.
- Remove the wheel lugs off once the vehicle is raised and supported. When removing the last lug, keep a hand on the wheel and tire, then remove them.
- On most Mitsubishi’s, front struts are attached with two bolts going through the spindle. Undo these bolts at the front and knock our strut back and off of the spindle.
- Keep an eye out for sensors and hoses that may be connected to the strut and sway bar links. All of these need to be removed.
- Sway bar links need to be fixed with a pair of small vise grips or Allen wrench, as this will keep the stud from turning while you remove the nut on the outside. Be careful not to damage the link, but you want to ensure you have a good enough grip that it will not let the stud spin.
- Remove the bolts holding the strut onto the spindle. Once the nuts are off, shake the spindle back and forth while pulling on the bolt to release it.
- The top of the strut is secured with studs and a nut securing it to the strut tower on the vehicle. Always pay attention to any marks or braces, as these will have to be reinstalled in the same location with a new part.
- While supporting the strut, undo the nuts strut tower nuts. Once all nuts are out, remove the strut from the vehicle.
- When reinstalling a new strut, pay attention to direction, as they might not be symmetrical.
- Line the strut up with the holes, install braces or other parts when we start and tighten the hardware in reverse order.
Torque Specifications
While torque specifications vary with each vehicle type, you may refer to the following figures:
- Strut-to-spindle bolts: 80-100 lb-ft
- Strut-tower-bolts: 30 lb-ft
- Sway-bar-link: 35 lb-ft
These instructions will help you learn how to replace front struts on Mitsubishi Lancer, Outlander, Mirage, Galant, Eclipse, and other models.
The strut combines spring and a shock absorber in one assembly. It suspends the vehicle’s weight and limits the suspension travel rate, preventing excessive body roll.
We hope you find the Mitsubishi Front Struts Replacement DIY guide helpful. Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your Mitsubishi.
