Suspension and steering — general information (Honda Civic 6)

General information

Front suspension is fully independent with upper and lower arms, shock absorbers with coil springs and anti-roll bar (see illustrations below).

Independent rear suspension uses trailing arms, upper and lower control arms and shock absorber assemblies with coil springs (see illustrations below).

All models are equipped with a rack and pinion steering system. Some models are equipped with hydraulic power steering. The power steering system (PAS) uses an engine-driven steering pump connected to the rack and pinion housing via flexible hydraulic hoses.

Often, when servicing suspension components, you have to deal with fasteners that cannot be loosened. The fasteners "stick" because they are constantly exposed to external influences, are in contact with water, dirt, soot and other substances that promote corrosion. In order to facilitate the procedure of loosening such "stuck" fasteners, they should be soaked in a large amount of penetrating oil beforehand. Cleaning the exposed threaded parts of the fasteners with a hard wire brush also helps to loosen rusted nuts. Sometimes, in especially difficult cases, a drift can be used to loosen a "stuck" bolt/nut. The drift rests against the edge of the nut/bolt head slot and sharp blows are applied to its opposite end with a hammer. Make sure that the drift does not come off, try not to damage the thread with inaccurate blows. Another quite effective method is to heat the fastener that does not give way and the surface of the component around it with a blowtorch or gas torch, although the authors of this Guide do not recommend resorting to this technology unless absolutely necessary due to its potential danger associated with the possibility of fire and the risk of burns. Various types of extended wrenches and pipe attachments for them are designed to increase the torque when releasing the fastener, but remember that you should not use such reinforcing devices in a set with a ratchet-equipped drive - the risk of failure of the ratchet mechanism is too great. Sometimes a nut/bolt begins to give way after it has been slightly tightened clockwise. All fasteners, the release of which required the use of extraordinary measures during assembly, are subject to replacement!

Note: After delivery, carefully check the condition of the fasteners and, if necessary, replace them with elements of the same size. When assembling, tighten the fasteners of the suspension and steering components strictly with the required force.

Attention! Do not attempt to straighten deformed suspension and steering components under any circumstances – replace defective parts!

Since suspension component maintenance procedures are performed under the vehicle, care must be taken in advance to ensure that the vehicle can be lifted and secured in the raised position (prepare a reliable jack and supports).

Attention! Never perform any work under a vehicle secured in a raised position only by means of a jack!

Front Suspension Components

Rear Suspension Components

The article was taken from the website HONDABOOK.ru