How to Replace Front Strut Assembly 03-07 Cadillac CTS

Difficulty: Advanced · About 110 min · Cadillac Cts

Replace the front strut assembly, including the upper control arm, on a 2003-2007 Cadillac CTS.

Steps

1. Remove the wheel

   Loosen the 19mm lug nuts with the car on the ground, raise and support it, then remove the lug nuts and wheel.

2. Remove the strut and upper control arm

   Remove the upper ball joint's pinch bolt with an 18mm socket and wrench (leaving the nut flush with the bolt's end), tap the bolt out with a hammer and spin it free, soak the strut's two lower 13mm bolts in penetrant and remove them, remove the three 18mm bolts and one 18mm nut from the top of the strut while holding the shock for the last one, unclip the A/C line, then lift the strut and upper control arm out together.

3. Separate the upper control arm

   Remove its 18mm bolts, then remove the control arm from the strut mount.

4. Reinstall the upper control arm

   Insert it into place, then hand-tighten the 18mm bolts and nuts.

5. Install the strut and upper control arm

   Insert the assembly into the car, hand-tighten the five bolts on top of the strut and then torque four of them to about 83 ft-lb, clip the A/C line back in, install the bottom 13mm strut bolts and torque them to about 18 ft-lb, line the upper control arm into the steering knuckle, reinstall the pinch bolt and tighten its 18mm bolt and nut, then torque it to about 44 ft-lb.

6. Simulate ride height and finish torquing

   Jack up under the lower control arm until the suspension sits at its normal ride height, then tighten the upper control arm's 18mm bolts.

7. Reattach the wheel

   Slide the wheel on, start the 19mm 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.