How to Install Struts on a 2005 Hyundai Accent

The Accent arrived as part of Hyundais lineup in 1995, as the replacement for the decrepit Excel. In the 2000 model year, the Accent got a modernizing makeover, eliminating the outdated round body and replacing it with one that has harder body lines and a more pronounced grille. The 2005 Accent came standard with four-wheel independent suspension, which included a MacPherson strut at each corner, an unusual finding in an economy car. Replacing the struts on the 2005 Accent is a rather detailed process that may require significant time to complete.

Instructions

Front Strut Removal

1

Loosen the front lug nuts with a ratchet and socket. Raise the front of the Accent with a floor jack and slide jack stands under the vehicles subframe. Lower the Accent onto the jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheels from the vehicle.

2

Remove the bolt securing the brake hose bracket to the strut, using a ratchet and socket, and pull the bracket from the strut.

3

Unfasten the three upper strut-to-body nuts with a ratchet and socket. Remove the two strut-to-steering knuckle bolts with a ratchet and socket, as you hold the nuts from turning, using a combination wrench.

4

Push the strut away from the steering knuckle and pull it downward to remove it.

5

Repeat steps 2 through 4 to remove the strut on the other side.

Front Strut Disassembly and Reassembly

6

Place the old strut assembly in a soft-jawed vice and tighten the vice to secure it.

7

Pry the rubber dust cover from the top of the strut assembly with a flat-head screwdriver.

8

Compress the spring with a strut spring compressor. This process varies, depending on the model of compressor you use, but the concept remains the same. Hook the compressor's hooks over the second or third coil from the top and bottom, then tighten the compressor until the spring no longer holds any pressure on the strut. Refer to the compressors instructions for specifics.

9

Remove the locknut from the top of the strut assembly, using a ratchet and socket. Pull the following components off the strut: strut insulator, spring seat assembly, upper spring pad coil spring, dust cover and lower spring pad.

10

Check all rubber components for wear and tear. This includes the upper spring pad, dust cover and lower spring pad. Replace these components if they are dry, cracked, ripped or showing any other signs of failure.

11

Remove the old strut from the vice and install the new one in the vice.

12

Guide the lower spring pad onto the strut until it contacts the lower spring seat. Align the protrusions on the spring pad with the holes in the spring seat, then press the pad onto the seat. Slide the dust cover onto the struts piston shaft. Set the compressed spring onto the strut so it seats on the lower spring pad; rotate the coil so its colored stripe will face the knuckle when installed. In this position, the end of the coil spring butts up to the abutment on the lower spring seat.

13

Set the upper spring pad on top of the spring and guide the spring seat assembly, then the strut insulator, onto the top of the strut, guiding the struts upper stud through the hole in spring seat assembly and the strut insulator. Guide the washer onto the upper strut stud and thread the locknut onto the upper strut stud until it is hand-tight.

14

Loosen the spring compressor slowly to allow the spring to apply pressure to the strut. One the spring is fully extended within the strut, remove the spring compressor. Tighten the locknut to between 43 and 51 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

15

Using your fingers, apply a thick coat of new long-life grease onto the bearing inside the strut insulator and rotate the insulator back and forth to spread the grease. Press the dust cover onto the insulator.

16

Repeat steps 1 through 10 to disassemble and reassemble the other strut.

Front Strut Installation

17

Position the strut in the wheel well and guide the strut-to-body studs through the body mount holes at the top of the wheel well. Press the lower strut-to-steering knuckle mount into its mount on the steering knuckle. Press the strut-to-steering knuckle bolts through the lower bolt holes and hand-tighten the nuts onto the bolts.

18

Thread the strut-to-body nuts onto their studs, then torque them to between 15 and 23 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket. Tighten the strut-to-steering knuckle nuts to between 54 and 67 foot-pounds, while holding the bolts steady with a combination wrench.

19

Set the brake line bracket on the new strut and hand-tighten its bolt. Tighten the bolt with a ratchet and socket.

20

Repeat steps 1 through 3 to install the other strut.

21

Reinstall the front wheels onto the front hubs and hand-tighten the lug nuts. Raise the Accent off the jack stands and remove the jack stands. Lower the vehicle to the ground and torque the lug nuts, in a crisscross pattern, to between 65 and 80 foot-pounds.

Rear Strut Removal

22

Fold the rear seat back down and remove the screw securing the rear speaker trim, using a Phillips screwdriver. Pull the trim upward firmly to disengage its retaining clip. Lift the trim just enough to access the speakers wiring harness, unplug the harness and set the trim aside.

23

Loosen the rear lug nuts with a ratchet and socket, and lift the rear of the Accent with a floor jack. Slide jack stands under the rear suspension crossmember. Lower the Accent onto the jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheels off the rear hubs.

24

Pull the U-shaped clip that secures the brake hose to the strut, using needle-nose pliers, and pull the hose from the strut. Remove the bolt securing the antilock brake wiring bracket to the strut, using a ratchet and socket, and remove the bracket.

25

Remove the two lower strut bolts with a ratchet and socket, as you hold each bolts nut still with a combination wrench. Push the bottom of the strut inward to free the lower part, then pull it down and out of the vehicle.

26

Repeat steps 1, 3 and 4 to remove the strut on the other side of the Accent.

Rear Strut Disassembly and Reassembly

27

Follow steps 1 and 3 in the section titled Front Strut Disassembly and Reassembly.

28

Remove the nut at the top of the strut with a ratchet and socket. Pull the upper spring seat-and-insulator assembly, upper spring pad, coil spring, dust boot and lower spring pad from the strut.

29

Pull the old strut from the vice and place the new strut in the vice.

30

Check all rubber components for excessive wear and tear, including cracks, tears or evidence of excessive age.

31

Install the lower spring pad, dust boot and coil spring, by follow step 7 in the section titled Front Strut Disassembly and Reassembly.

32

Set the upper spring pad onto the top of the coil spring and rotate it until its abutment butts up against the end of the coil spring. Guide the upper spring seat-and-insulator assembly onto the stud on top of the strut and rotate it so a strut-to-body stud is directly above the protrusion on the upper spring pad.

33

Guide the washer onto the upper strut stud and hand-thread the locknut just three or four turns. Slowly release the coil spring from the compressor until it is fully extended inside the strut, then remove the compressor. Tighten the locknut to between 30 and 41 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

34

Remove the strut from the vice.

35

Repeat steps 1 through 8 for the other strut.

Rear Strut Installation

36

Follow steps 1 and 2 in the section titled Front Strut Installation.

37

Press the brake line into its mount on the new strut and press a new U-shaped clip, which comes with the new strut, into the mount to lock the hose into place. Set the ABS wire bracket back onto the strut and tighten its bolt with a ratchet and socket.

38

Reinstall the rear wheels onto the rear hubs and hand-tighten the lug nuts. Raise the rear of the Accent off the jack stands, using a floor jack, and remove the jack stands. Lower the vehicle to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts to between 65 and 80 foot-pounds, in a crisscross pattern, with a torque wrench and socket.

39

Reconnect the speaker wiring harness to the speaker. Line up the locking clips on the rear of the speaker trim with their slots and press downward on the speaker trim to engage the locking clips. Tighten the speaker trim screw with a Phillips screwdriver.

40

Repeat steps 1, 2 and 4 for the other strut.