How to Change Rear Struts on a 93 Honda Accord Wagon

The 1993 Honda Accord Wagon is equipped with a rear strut assembly that combines the shock absorber with a coil spring that is compressed between the strut and the upper strut mount. The Accord wagon has damper access doors that provide for easy access to upper shock mounting nuts. The safest and recommended way to replace struts is to replace with a complete strut assembly that comes pre-assembled with a new coil spring and strut mount as this will give the best ride possible.

Instructions

Removal

1

Park on a flat and smooth surface. Loosen the lug nuts with the lug wrench.

2

Lift the rear of the vehicle off the ground with the floor jack and place the jack stands under the rear frame rails of the vehicle. Lower the floor jack until the vehicle rests securely on the jack stands. Shake the vehicle to ensure the vehicle is seated on the jack stands properly and is safe to work under.

3

Open the vehicle hatch and climb into the back of the vehicle. Remove both damper access doors near the wheel wells, use a flat-tip screwdriver if necessary to pry the panel open.

4

Remove the two upper strut mounting nuts and set them aside in the vehicle.

5

Remove the lug nuts with the lug wrench and pull the rear wheels and tires from the vehicle.

6

Remove the bolt securing the lower strut fork to the lower rear arm with the socket and ratchet. Pull the strut down from the body and out from under the vehicle.

Installation

7

Lay out the two new strut assemblies and compare to the old ones to ensure they are the same.

8

Lift the new shock assembly into the upper shock mounting holes. Make sure the fixed nut on the lower strut fork is facing the rear of the vehicle. Pull down on the suspension and install the strut fork to the lower arm. Loosely install the lower mounting bolt.

9

Place the floor jack under the rear suspension arm and slowly raise the floor jack until the vehicle raises just slightly off the jack stand, symbolizing the suspension is under full weight of the car. Tighten the lower mounting bolt to 40 foot-pounds with the torque wrench. Lower the suspension until the vehicle rests on the jack stand again and tighten the upper mounting nuts from inside the hatch to 28 foot-pounds with the torque wrench. Repeat the tightening procedure for the opposite side.

10

Place the wheels and tires back onto the rear of the vehicle and hand tighten the lug nuts. Lift the vehicle off of the jack stands with the floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the vehicle to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts 80 foot-pounds with the torque wrench.

11

Tap the damper access cover back into place over the wheel well on the inside of the hatch. Close the vehicle hatch.