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How to Change the Front Strut Assemblies on Your 2006 to 2011 Honda Civic Si

Your Honda Civic’s front struts work as a structural component to absorb energy from the suspension system, preventing excessive movement when driving. Removing and replacing faulty or worn struts can improve the overall ride and comfort of your 2006 to 2011 Honda Civic Si, since struts can affect the handling, braking, tire wear, and alignment of your car. Struts can wear or deteriorate from high heat and weather, and failing struts should be changed to prevent tire or suspension damage. It’s recommended that you inspect your Civic’s struts every 50,000 miles, and they should always be replaced in pairs since they have experienced the same amount of wear. Replacing your Civic’s struts with complete strut assemblies can also help ensure that all the parts of the strut are within specification and working together at their best. Our detailed instructions and educational video can help you perform a front strut replacement on your 2006 to 2011 Honda Civic Si.


Tools & Materials List

Step by Step Instructions:

Tools & Materials

Safety Eye Glasses Safety glasses
Protective Gloves Nitrile Gloves
floor Jack Jack
jack stands Jack Stand
orange wheel chocks Wheel Chocks
strut assembly Strut Assemblies
ratchet Ratchet and Torque Wrench
socket Sockets
breaker bar Breaker Bar
Flathead Screwdriver Flathead Screwdriver
hammer Hammer
allen wrench Allen Wrench (5mm)
PB Blaster B’laster Rust Penetrant

How to Replace the Front Struts on a 2006-2011 Honda Civic Si

We’ll be working on this 2008 Civic Si, and procedures will be similar for this model from 2006 to 2011, but be sure to know the specifics for your vehicle before getting started. If you’re not completely comfortable doing this yourself, we’d be happy to recommend a professional technician in your area. Once you’ve got your supplies together, here’s what you’ll do: And if you’re not completely comfortable doing this yourself, we’d be happy to recommend a professional technician in your area.
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Prepare Your Honda Civic Si

Photo of a blue Honda Civic, parked on a level surface with the hood propped open.

Step 1: Open The Hood

Park on a level surface and open the hood. Take off the small service panel to give yourself access to the top of the strut tower.
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Photo of the Civic’s wheels chocked to prevent moving

Step 2: Stabilize Your Vehicle

Chock the rear wheels.
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19mm socket wrench loosening the lug nuts on the Honda Civic’s front wheels

Step 3: Loosen Lug Nuts

Loosen the lug nuts on the front wheels with a 19mm socket.
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Civic’s front end being lifted with a jack and secured with a jack stand

Step 4: Lift the Front End

Lift the front end of the Civic using a jack and securing with a jack stand.
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Close-up shot of Blaster rust penetrant being used on the Civic’s nuts and bolts, being prepared for removal.

Step 5: Remove Lug Nuts

Remove the lug nuts to the front wheels using your socket wrench.

Do It Right: It may be helpful to use rust penetrant a few minutes before using your wrench.

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Civic’s front wheels lug nuts being removed using a torque wrench.

Step 6: Remove Front Wheels

Finish removing the lug nuts on your wheel and remove the front wheels of your Civic.
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Civic’s wheel speed sensor harness clip being removed from the strut assembly

Step 7: Removing the Wheel Speed Sensor Harness Clip

Remove your wheel speed sensor harness clip.
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Replacing Your Old Strut Assembly

Civic’s brake hose bracket being removed from strut assembly using a socket wrench

Step 8: Remove Brake Hose Bracket

Remove the brake hose bracket using a 12mm socket wrench.
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Civic’s strut assembly lug nuts being removed with a torque wrench and the old strut assembly being lifted from the wheel well

Step 9: Loosen Strut Assembly Nuts

Loosen the two nuts at the bottom of the assembly using a 19mm socket wrench and 17mm wrench. Use a 14mm socket wrench to loosen the three nuts from the top of the assembly. Remove the nuts and bolts at the bottom of the strut and carefully lift the strut assembly from the wheel well.

Do It Right: Compare your old strut with your new strut assembly to make sure you have the right part. Strut Assemblies should be changed in pairs, so repeat the following steps on the other side.

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Installing Your New Strut Assembly

new strut assembly being place onto the wheel well with the bracket at the bottom positioned toward the vehicle

Step 10: Installing Your New Strut Assembly

Lift your new assembly into place, making sure the bracket at the bottom is positioned toward the outside of the car.
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lug nuts being replaced and retightened in the new strut assembly

Step 11: Reinstall Nuts

Loosely reinstall the nuts at the top of the assembly and the nuts and bolts at the bottom of the strut assembly.
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Civic’s front end raise by a jack stand and a jack in the frame

Step 12: Load the Suspension

Raise the front suspension with a floor jack to load the suspension with the vehicle’s weight.
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torque wrench and a socket wrench tighten more nuts and bolts in the Civic’s new strut assembly

Step 13: Tighten Nuts and Bolts

Tighten the top nuts using your 14mm socket wrench to 43 foot pounds. Use your torque wrench to tighten the bottom nuts to 67 foot pounds.
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Close up image of a socket wrench reinstalling the brake hose bracket

Step 14: Reinstall the Brake Hose Bracket

Tighten the bolt on the brake hose bracket to 16 foot pounds using a 12mm
socket wrench.
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Close up side-by-side images of the wheel speed sensor harness clip and the service panel being reinstalled

Step 15: Reinstalling Parts

Reinstall the wheel speed sensor harness clip, service panel and weather strip back in place.
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Image of lug nuts being reattached by hand

Step 16: Reinstall Wheels

Reinstall your wheels and tighten the wheel lug nuts with your fingers so that the wheels are flush against the wheel rotors.
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Image of lug nuts being tightened with a torque wrench

Step 17: Tighten Your Lug Nuts

Lower the front part of your vehicle and close the hood. Take this time to remove the wheel chocks and to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to 80 foot pounds.
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Additional Resources

Hands holding an air filter

How to Install an Air Filter on a 2006 to 2011 Honda Civic
Replace the Rear Shocks on a 2006 to 2011 Honda Civic

How to Replace the Rear Shocks on a 2006 to 2011 Honda Civic
replace the brake pads & rotors on a 2006 to 2011 Honda Civic Si

How to Replace the Brake Pads & Rotors on a 2006 to 2011 Honda Civic Si

This video and instructions explain how to replace the front struts on a 2008 Honda Civic Si MUGEN, and will be similar to a 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Honda Civic Si replacement procedures. Keeping your Civic’s struts in working condition is crucial to maintaining your vehicle’s suspension system, since they help stabilize your Honda’s handling, braking, and more. Signs that your strut assembly is worn out includes cupping wear on your tires, excessive rocking, poor handling, longer braking times, or bottoming out on uneven road surfaces. You should replace failing struts as soon as you notice these problems to prevent damage to your Civic’s tires or suspension system.

The automotive repair work depicted in this series is performed under the direction of the manufacturer of the product featured. Prior to undertaking any of the demonstrated repairs on your vehicle, we suggest you consult with a certified mechanic or another professional who can adequately advise you of the proper repair or remedy required. O’Reilly Automotive Stores, Inc. and its affiliates (“O’Reilly”) disclaims any responsibility for injury or damage resulting from a viewer’s attempt to recreate the repairs shown in this series.

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