Ford 9M6Z-18124-AR Shock Absorber Assembly

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Reconnect the following components: Brake hose bracket to the strut. Speed sensor wiring harness bracket (if equipped with ABS). Stabilizer bar link to the strut bracket.

Inside the vehicle.

To test the operation of the strut during inspection, hold it in an upright position and: Move the piston through a full stroke. Move the piston through short strokes of 2 to 4 inches. In both cases, the resistance felt should be smooth and continuous. Jerky or uneven resistance, or visible wear or damage, indicates the need for replacement.

Loosen the wheel lug nuts, raise the vehicle and support it securely on jackstands. Block the front wheels to prevent the vehicle from rolling. Remove the wheel. Support the rear end of the trailing arm with a floor jack. Raise the jack slightly to take the spring pressure off the shock absorber lower mount. Working inside the vehicle, remove the rear quarter trim panel for access to the shock absorber upper mounting nut. Remove the nuts, upper retainer, bushing and lower retainer. Unscrew the shock absorber lower mounting nut, then pull the shock off the mounting pin. Note how the retainers are positioned. Installation is the reverse of the removal procedure. Tighten the mounting fasteners to the torque.

To reinstall the strut assembly, follow these steps: Guide the strut assembly up into the fender well. Align the previously made matchmarks. Insert the upper mounting studs through the holes in the body. Install the nuts to secure the strut in place. This may require assistance due to the weight and awkwardness of the strut.

If the front suspension struts exhibit signs of wear such as leaking fluid, loss of damping capability, sagging or cracked coil springs, then they should be disassembled and overhauled as necessary. The struts themselves cannot be serviced, and should be replaced if faulty; the springs and related components can be replaced individually. To maintain balanced characteristics on both sides of the vehicle, the components on both sides should be replaced at the same time. With the strut removed from the vehicle, clean away all external dirt, then mount it in a vise. Install the coil spring compressor tools, ensuring that they are fully engaged, and compress the spring until all tension is relieved from the upper mount. Hold the strut piston rod with an Allen key and unscrew the thrust bearing retaining nut with a box-end wrench. Withdraw the top mounting, thrust bearing, upper spring seat and spring, followed by the boot and the bump stop. If a new spring is to be installed, the original spring must now be carefully released from the compressor. If it is to be reused, the spring can be left in compression. With the strut assembly now completely disassembled, examine all the components for wear and damage, and check the bearing for smoothness of operation. Replace components as necessary. Examine the strut for signs of fluid leakage. Check the strut piston rod for signs of pitting along its entire length, and check the strut body for signs of damage. Test the operation of the strut, while holding it in an upright position, by moving the piston through a full stroke, and then through short strokes of 2 to 4 inches. In both cases, the resistance felt should be smooth and continuous. If the resistance is jerky, uneven, or if there is any visible sign of wear or damage to the strut, replacement is necessary. Reassembly is a reversal of dismantling, noting the following points: The coil springs must be installed with the paint mark at the bottom. Make sure that the coil spring ends are correctly located in the upper and lower seats before releasing the compressor. Check that the bearing is correctly installed on the piston rod seat. Tighten the thrust bearing retaining nut to the specified torque.