How to Replace Front Struts 01-12 Ford Escape

Difficulty: Advanced · About 90 min · Ford Escape

Replace the front struts, including loosening the axle nut for clearance, on a 2001-2012 Ford Escape.

Steps

1. Remove the wheel

   Loosen the lug nuts with the car on the ground, raise and support it, then remove the lug nuts and wheel.

2. Loosen the axle nut

   Hold the rotor still with a pry bar, then break the axle nut loose with a 1-1/4 inch socket and breaker bar.

3. Remove the old strut

   Pull the brake line's retaining clip with pliers, remove the ABS wiring bracket's 10mm bolt and the ABS sensor's 10mm bolt, free the sensor, remove the upper sway bar link nut with a 15mm wrench, 5mm hex wrench and 17mm wrench and detach the sway bar from the strut, loosen the strut's lower nuts with an 18mm wrench and socket, hammer the lower bolts out with a punch, lower the car, then open the hood, hold the strut by hand, remove the four outer nuts on top of it (leaving the center nut alone) with a 14mm socket, and lift the strut out.

4. Install the new strut

   Set it into place and tighten the top 14mm nuts, torquing them to about 35 ft-lb, connect the knuckle to the strut and insert the two lower bolts, tighten them with the 18mm wrench and socket and torque to about 85 ft-lb, line up and tighten the ABS wiring bracket and sensor bolts, refit the brake hose and its retaining clip, then tighten the upper sway bar nut and torque it to about 46 ft-lb.

5. Tighten the axle nut

   Hold the rotor with the pry bar again, then torque the axle nut to about 221 ft-lb.

6. Reattach the wheel

   Slide the wheel on, start the lug nuts by hand, lower the car, then torque the lug nuts to about 100 ft-lb in a star pattern.

Check your vehicle’s repair manual for exact specifications and fit.