Ford Focus - Front Strut Replacement

[@derekgardin1512]

A tip for spreading the pinch part on the knuckle. After removing the bolt, i put a metal scraper in the gap (or any other strong, thin metal) and then put the bolt back in. When the bolt hits the scraper it will start spreading the knuckle apart. It also makes it easy to get back in, new strut will just drop in. I used to do it like you did but the thing always popped out. I leave the top bolts in until I get the bottom of the strut out of the knuckle, like you did.

[@alexhendon69]

This worked well, I used a pry bar after the bolt punched a clean hole into the scraper. On one side, it was easier to undo the top bolts to remove the bottom of the strut from the knuckle. It gave a bit more clearance to pop it out

[@mrgreen3874]

this should be the gold standard on how to do an instructional utube video. Saved me boatload of time. thx bro

[@hyr0llr]

Appreciate the feedback. I try my best to make it straight to the point and as informative as possible.

[@FranksModelAviationWorkshop]

Will you have to get realigned after strut replacement?

[@XxHockeyKid34xX]

Watched another vid, bro took the entire cowl and wiper arms, your method will save so much more time. Thanks

[@hyr0llr]

Thank you. Im glad this video is helpful compared to others. Cheers. Let me know how your repair goes.

[@TheBadbrad9]

I'm attempting this as an old man, thanks for great instructions and video!

[@hyr0llr]

@@TheBadbrad9 you got this. This is not to bad of a job tp do. Lwt me know how it goes

[@yunfenglu6619]

10 yrs old, 150k miles, under the dust, metal still shinning, no rust, wow, California makes life so easy for mechanics

[@Brianpca]

To the point with no added bs. Wonderful video!!

[@johnkradoska1577]

Excellent bid ... No over explaing like other vids thank you

[@gerrytaylor5516]

I thank you very much. Very quick and to the point. You're going to save me time when I do the job..

[@hyr0llr]

You're welcome. Thank you for the feedback. Let ne know how the repair goes.

[@gerrytaylor5516]

It went easier than I thought. Your video was great! Thanks 👍

[@hyr0llr]

@@gerrytaylor5516 greqt to hear. Cheers on your repair.

[@randallharris2523]

This video deserves a comment. Thankyou for the short and sweet how to video! 🤙

[@hyr0llr]

Much appreciated. And no problem.

[@Thefourthtenor87]

Hell yeah, bro, excellent video. 10/10 would recommend. Gonna do my wife’s Focus soon, will have this queued up for sure! 👍🤘

[@KingCheezy615]

Thanks bro awesome video. I'm saving this and using you as my guide lol

[@hyr0llr]

No problem. Thank you for the feedback .

[@ArthurYankewitz]

Same. Nicely shown visually and staright forward. Thank you. 👍

[@alexhendon69]

Great video. Job was identical on a 2015 Focus. I recommend replacing the sway bar links while you you have the struts out. Its a pain in the ass to reach the bottom bolt otherwise, and its a relatively low cost component.

[@bigwheelsguy]

Nice job making the video. Short and sweet!

[@hyr0llr]

Thank you. I try an make these with just the info you need.

[@royboy3597]

Great video! Everything you need to know and to the point. I thought all struts needed a compression tool, so they don’t take off half your face! LOL! I think we all like a challenge of troubleshooting. But sometimes getting walked through something. Really fits the bill.

[@hyr0llr]

Thank You. The only time you need the compression tool is to just replace the strut but keep the original spring. it can save money but more work overall. It all comes down to the amount cost, labor and effort you want to do for a job lol.

[@johnclemans7802]

Great informative video! Straight and to the point. I'm going to replace the swaybar endlinks at the same time while it's apart. The end links wear out and make noise going over bumps. Thanks again for sharing.

[@hyr0llr]

Thank you for watching thevideo. Let me know how the repair goes.

[@derekgardin1512]

Yes the end links will make noise over small bumps when they're worn. Cheap part to replace and easy since your already there and half the work is done already.

[@Mustang3445]

Thanks for the well made vid I hope it’s as easy as it looks when I tackle this job at the shop tomorrow!

[@hyr0llr]

Good luck!

[@imdave320]

All auto repair videos should be like this. You got a sub from me sir. Thank you.

[@hyr0llr]

I really appreciate the feedback. Thank you.

[@mariogonzalezrealestate]

Thank you Rolando! Great explainer video.

[@laramie54]

Great video you showed me everything i need to do it myself.

[@hyr0llr]

Appreciate the feedback.

[@mikecaravan8023]

Thank u for sharing this video it help me a lot 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@hyr0llr]

Thank you very much. Cheers

[@johnnyaguinaga8661]

Very informative video gonna do this tomorrow on my focus

[@Ian-ot7up]

Great video! 2 questions after watching it: 1) does the knuckle have a place for the strut to bottom out in, or do you have to line up the depth yourself before tightening the pinch bolt? 2) Any concerns about accidentally pulling the half-shaft out while the knuckle's dangling there, or does the ball joint not give the knuckle enough play for that to happen?

[@hyr0llr]

If i remember correctly there is a tab where the pinch bolt goes that bottoms out. 1:50

[@hyr0llr]

As far for the halfshaft. You can get a bungee to hold it for over extending. But i didnt need to this time.

[@bradbaker4679]

Would this be the same procedure for the Ford C-Max??

[@johnkradoska1577]

Great video .

[@rednebmb]

Very well done video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@hyr0llr]

Thank you for feedback. Also you are welcome. Hope your repair is smooth.

[@gunnerb4u978]

How did you get the knuckle to drop down that far? I have the strut loose from the knuckle but can't drop the knuckle far enough to remove strut.

[@hyr0llr]

if the top is unbolted, swing the bottom out towards you first then the top follows. Or do you mean the bottom of the strut is loose but still inside the knuckle?

[@hateunbound3582]

Excellent video. Thank you!

[@Skeltonz]

I need to replace mine this is gonna be very helpful lol

[@hyr0llr]

Glad its gonna help you. Let me know how your repair goes.

[@supremecelo]

Really good video

[@marknovetske4738]

Cool video

[@davids7273]

what about the position/orientation of the upper strut mount? afaik it needs to be fitted in a specific position, which you did not show

[@hyr0llr]

i was lucky that it went in correctly off the bat.

[@RobertFreese-q5s]

Great video! Thanks for sharing.

[@johnkradoska1577]

I subscribed

[@tonyafokas]

What year was this ford focus? Mine is a 2014 ford focus s and wanted to know if the procedure would be the same? Mine appear to be connected to the control arm but may be wrong once under there ..

[@hyr0llr]

@@tonyafokas i believe 14 also

[@tonyafokas]

@@hyr0llr thank you

[@leeannabillups8839]

Would this be the same procedure for a 2012 Ford focus?

[@hyr0llr]

should be yes, if it has the same motor.

[@SharpAlorik]

Do you have the link from where you bought the strut from? Are they good?

[@hyr0llr]

My buddy bought them from the parts store. So i assume its their brand. But you can get motorcraft from rockauto for half the price of a dealer most times

[@autoflowerfarmer3326]

Excellent! Thank you.

[@TroyaJamilyn]

Great video, very helpful.

[@hyr0llr]

Thank you, i appreciate it.

[@TroyaJamilyn]

@@hyr0llr I replaced my front struts today based on this video. As far as the struts were concerned today, it all went very smoothly...though I had to wear ear plugs during the banging process. I meant to change the sway bar links (originals at 116k and worn/noisy), but the nut holding them to the sway bar itself is going to need some special tools or something because I couldn't break it loose and actually rounded out the inside allen key tip of the bolt. Anyway thank you so much for posting this video and showing the best way to do it. It was a huge, huge help.

[@hyr0llr]

@@TroyaJamilyn if you can. But a torx bit just a smidge bigger than the hole(1 time use) and hammer that in to wedge in the hole just enough hold it while you remove the nut. OR if you have a dremel or grinder, cut a slot to hold the stud with a flat head while you remove the nut.

[@hyr0llr]

@@TroyaJamilyn also thank you for the feedback.

[@TroyaJamilyn]

@@hyr0llr Thanks for the tip. The trouble I was having was that I was doing it with the car on a jack stand and it was too difficult to get good leverage. I found a DIY garage with a lift and just raised the car up in the air on the lift and was able to change out those sway bar links. It still took a while to get those things loose but I got them by using locking pliers on the other side of the link. Oddly enough, the bracket holding the sensor cable is shaped differently from yours, and there's a part of it that just sits in the way making it hard to get a tool on there to tighten them. Not sure why they're different. Anyway thanks for your help!!

[@jason454ss]

Great video! that is how instructional videos should be done.

[@hyr0llr]

Much appreciated

[@lucky-qy2ht]

Very nice video , i replaced mine broken coilovers , now noise comes when goes only over bumps and pathols , sound like some hits , when driving over 10mph. Any suggestions please.

[@hyr0llr]

Make sure everything is tight. Especially if the noise only came after you replace the coilover.

[@bigwheelsguy]

You did good. Thanks.

[@hyr0llr]

Thank you. Hope your repair goes smooth

[@sypernova6969]

Well fone. Thanks

[@schunter20]

does the car need to be aligned afterwards?

[@hyr0llr]

Its good practice to get an alignment after messing with suspension yes.

[@memphis_sean8169]

Did you use OEM struts or??

[@funderberg]

Fantastic video!

[@hyr0llr]

Thank you for the feedback

[@NG-tz8wo]

Where do you get the torque specs for the bolts?

[@hyr0llr]

I looked online until i found what looked to be correct.

[@NG-tz8wo]

@@hyr0llr got ya. I’m guessing you have to pay to get it from Ford

[@hyr0llr]

@@NG-tz8wo exactly. I just tty to find someone who uploads the service manual

[@tonymcnamara9368]

Torque the strut bolts when the vehicle is back on the ground, so it's full weight is going through the strut.

[@hyr0llr]

Thats for suspension arms due to the bushings

[@CarlosMorales-gc9dy]

Does the pinch bolt need to be tightened an additional 180 degrees?

[@hyr0llr]

No

[@CarlosMorales-gc9dy]

Thanks good videos btw

[@hyr0llr]

@@CarlosMorales-gc9dy thank you. Hope your repair goes smooth

[@jjoneshauling6104]

Perfect. Thank you bro.

[@hyr0llr]

No problem. Hope your repair goes smooth.

[@Inkadomination]

I see that blue part that is showing on it. Is that normal ?

[@hyr0llr]

My buddies brother wired the ampligier like that. Dont do it like that lol

[@josedaniel4725]

Thanks for the video 👏🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@hyr0llr]

No problem. Hope your repair gors smooth

[@josedaniel4725]

@@hyr0llr live in Texas 🥵🔥 and AC is working on Max but not cooling 😞 so having to repair that and struts are on standby. Applied freon it's holding but starting with power switch before replacing compressor 🤞🏼 👍🏼

[@hyr0llr]

@@josedaniel4725 ah i see, priority for sure. lol is the compressor clutch kicking on and if so, is it rapidly or normal.

[@Gary-hb2zz]

Do you tighten the center bolt and if you do how many pounds of torque does it take?

[@hyr0llr]

time stamp on which one?

[@Gary-hb2zz]

@@hyr0llr if I'm right I think my preloaded struts that are ready to install don't have a center bolt for the 3 mounting screws

[@hyr0llr]

@@Gary-hb2zz yeah that centerbolt should be torques already

[@Gary-hb2zz]

@@hyr0llr I know mine was already but it still is clunking my whole front end is brand new and had it checked already with two mechanics so my suspect is the strut mount bolt

[@Gary-hb2zz]

@@hyr0llr is it dangerous to drive with the strut mount bolts slightly loose not ultra loose

[@jjimapro9756]

I was going to use this video to replace my struts but 4 days after buying the ford focus I hit a deer and got nothing from progressive and the car was beyond fixing 65mph boom now I have the box with struts that I’m trying to return 😭 oh and now I got a 99 corolla 💀 and 10k in debt

[@hyr0llr]

@@jjimapro9756 damn they really didnt cover you?im so sorry. I would drop them just for that and find a different company

[@jjimapro9756]

@@hyr0llr I’m with geico now 😂 progress wanted to charge me $500 a month to insure a 99 corolla geico did $360 still bad but I have 3 tickets and a careless driving on my record

[@hyr0llr]

@@jjimapro9756 damn thats all bad lol Thanks for watching the video though. Hope everything works out for you in the future lol

[@mikle65]

don't compare the old one to the new one after removing it, compare it before you even start the job!

[@mikesabella8281]

napa quick strut?

[@hyr0llr]

Honestly i dont know, my buddy(its his car), just brought them with him, i just installed them.

[@chris.b9869]

Pounds in nm? For the german Guys 😂

[@hyr0llr]

Couldnt tell ya, sorry lol