CAUTION: Use extreme caution when working on the front suspension. The spring coils and other suspension components are under extreme mechanical stress and can cause serious injury if not released correctly. Never remove the nut on top of the shock piston without using a special spring extractor.
The 1984-85 Accord uses a MacPherson strut front suspension. In this type of front suspension, the struts mounted on each side are a combination spring and shock absorber, the outer casing of which actually supports the lower base of the spring. This arrangement saves space, weight, and allows the spring and shock to operate on the same compression axis.
The wheel hub is attached to the base of the strut. A support bearing at the top and a ball joint at the base of the strut allow the entire strut to rotate when cornering. The strut assembly, steering knuckle, and swingarm are all combined into one unit, with no upper control arm. A rubber-bushed sway bar (control arm) connects the bottom of the strut to the crossmember via a ball joint, allowing the suspension to move vertically. All Accords have a front anti-roll bar attached between the control arms; this stabilizer serves to reduce the "yaw" of the body when turning.
The strut assembly provides rigidity and actually mounts the wheel and drive shaft relative to the vehicle, thus ensuring alignment. Generally, the components are not adjustable. If any suspension component is bent or damaged, it should be replaced with a similar one. Do not replace with parts of inferior quality or different design.
All Preludes covered in this book, as well as the 1986-91 Accord, use a new front suspension design. Called a double wishbone system, the lower wishbone consists of a forged cross-link with an anti-roll bar. The lower end of the shock absorber mount is shaped like a fork, allowing the drive shaft to pass through it. The wheel is held in position by the upper control arm, as well as the lower control arm and torque rod.
Since the suspension design has remained unchanged for several years, the independent wishbone suspension has undergone minor changes between models in different families. Components are generally not interchangeable between models due to differences in size, mounting locations, and load characteristics.
Independent wishbone suspension has a number of advantages. There is no need to use shock absorbers that are too high; the styling is improved. Some components that are not replaceable on cars with MacPherson struts can now be replaced as needed. The suspension load is more evenly distributed across the front of the car.
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