2014 Acura MDX Front Struts, Lower Control Arms, Stabilizer Links, Tie Rod End Replacement How-To 

Just got all my parts, complete set of lower control arm, sway bar, tie rods, and all the extras, including the complete strut. Me and my father about to work on this tomorrow, gonna reference this video back again. Thank you for making this video, showing the angles, and step by step direction, thank you! Very useful and appreciated! Thank you so much!

Been watching RU-vid for years, but this is actually the third time I am leaving comment, thank you so much for making this video, it helps a lot of our MDX DIYers here. I got the exact same car like you, but I don’t really like the suspension in this car, it’s like I can feel every little bumps I ran over, but last time i was only replacing the strut only, if I due for the replacement again, I will def replace the top Mount also the rubber bushing, again, love your video, clean and no BGM, hope to see your MDX videos again. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

I don't plan to try this myself, but your video is the best I've seen so far. You describe what you're doing and your camera angles don't block any of your work. Thanks!

I accidently clicked the thumbs down button but then quickly changed it to thumbs up. However, it made me think "Why would anyone give this video a thumbs down?" I rarely rarely rarely write comments on videos but from watching hundreds if not thousands of them I know they can help with "The YT algorithm". So, I am doing my little part for this outstanding video. Nothing to complain about because it was all great down to the torque specs. Fantastic. I will offer one suggestion. Before I do I will add that I do not make YT content so I may be wrong here but.... I would suggest breaking this long video up into shorter videos on each part. It does not seem like it would take much more editing to break the video up. That would let people get the exact content that they are looking for. You would get more views/likes across more videos. Even better do both. Keep the full version up. Then also upload the individual videos and have messages/links letting the viewer know that there is a full version as well as other individual videos. I have also seen other creators who have mentioned that "The YT algorithm" like shorter videos. I could be off base on this. However, I think the effort would be worth it. I type all of this because I think your video was great and you should have way more subs and views. Thank you.

Damn, it looks like I have to set at least a day or two to do this in the future for my 2020 MDX.

What an awesome video. After watching thousands of yt videos, this might be the only time if felt compelled to comment. Thanks to you, I tackled this myself with almost no mechanical experience. I just finished the job tonight and I got stuck on a few things. I couldn't get the lower control arm ball joint to separate on the passenger side, after whacking the knuckle with mini sledge and jumping on a pickle fork. I removed the knuckle and the control arm together which allows the use of a ball joint puller tool as the axle is no longer in the way. Additionally, my abs speed sensors were beyond seized... I think if anyone else were to tackle this with stuck sensors, I'd try to unplug the sensor and leave it bolted into the hub. Thanks for the outstanding video... Definitely subscribed...

WOW 👌 EXCELENTE!!! I know I'm not going to do all that job, because I have no power tools and no ability to do all that. But for some reason I watched everything. You are a professional 👏 and you should be a teacher. Thank you so much for your help and you have a new subscriber!!!

I've been watching this video back and forth several times, great video, I'm about to start my project on this. I think I will take off the rotor to make the knuckle a little bit lighter to handle.

Bought a 2014 Acura MDX for my son with high mileage. Needed the struts and control arm replaced. Luckily found your video. Absolutely outstanding down to the torque specs. Made the job so much easier. Thanks for doing such a great job on the video!

Awesome video.. so well done! I purchased my front struts and paid $250 to a shop to install them as those are just a bit past what I'm willing to do but now I'm confident to replace the lower control arms myself because of your video. I've already done inner and outer tie rods but will do the sway bar end links as well after watching this. Much appreciated!

Partial Timeline to the best video on struts for this MDX. Thank you BlueCollarGarage 2:20 Axle nut remove 2:50 Outer Tie Rod remove (lift and hit with hammer) 17mm 4:20 Brake line bracket remove (connected to strut) 4:53 Remove Brake Caliper bracket - - rest caliper on bucket 5:32 - ABS Line out of strut, 5:40 squeeze bracket off the other side 6:09 Remove Sway Bar End links bottom, Spins - 17mm wrench+ allen socket to hold 7:24 - Lower Ball Joint Removal (LBJ), 9:30 pry bar to verify separation 9:35 Lower Control Arm - Center Bolt Remove (22mm) 10:00 Lower control arm Rear 3 bolts , 19mm socket, -and another in hole for sway bar bushing bracket 10:50 Sway Bar Bushing pry off 10:59 - separate Lower control arm and Lower ball joint - Move knuckle out of way and slide out LCA 11:23 Remove ABS sensor Bolt 11:55 remove CV axle from Hub, was seized for Bluecollargarage - used tool from autozone (57037) 14:40 - Remove pinch bolt for strut - - knuckle and rotor are heavy, - **DONT PULL out axle** careful, maybe pad the CV Boot with towel or something 16:55 tail end of this part 17:15 - Remove top 3 strut bolts near windshield STRUT part 20:20 - strut spring compression - 23:05 - remove rubber from strut? 23:55 - pull mount off 24:10 - whole assembly off - 24:44 new strut in vice 25:35 new bearing and put rubber boot in 26:10 orienting spring correctly to bottom (2 landmarks to use) had to further compress spring to start thread 29:30 correct alignment to indentation) 30:35 - put cap back on strut 32:00 - get strut back in - top 3 screws, hold from bottom Strut compression part - ended 32:35 - clean cv axle with wire brush and grease 33:10 clean knuckle hole and wire brush - 34:00 slight pry on knuckle where strut mounts are 34:55 - notch on strut fits right into knuckle 35:45 - Pinch bolt ready, has jack ready to help support weight of knuckle 36:10 -knuckle and strut joining - looks heavy 37:00 wiggle and align CV axle into hub - slide up onto strut 38:35 - uses jack to help slide up knuckle onto strut LCA 42:00 42:31 - 1st middle nut then back end, WATCH the LBJ can easily tear it here - steering knuckle, Turns knuckle to side 45:00 3 bolts in 45:55 LBJ into steering Knuckle - large pry bar down, cotter pin *will add notes later *

I just bought complete pair of strut from Detroit axle. My previous OEM replacement wasn’t good. Seems dealers were selling old stock of strut that wasn’t good. Your video will help. However, hate this type of strut to remove axle.

Most excellent video on struts and steps and videos each part of the way I thought I could do this but I’m about to get worried lol Might be over my head

awesome vid with all torque spec and part numbers! you da man!

Great video!! Thanks so much definitely got my subscription and like

Very detailed video. I’m doing the same thing tomorrow.

Great camera angles and very detailed information. I will be doing this work next week only because of your video. This is a lot of work (compiling video) so really appreciate you doing this video.

Great video. I really appreciate the editing for time, thank you.

Very detailed great camera and microphone…I’m gonna take this on

Great video I did my passenger side today. Thank you for being through and official

Great job. Gotta do mine soon just waiting on the parts back orders

Hey man. When I remove the steering rods. The nut was super crazy to remove. But also I could not get it to move that easily like yours.

I need to find you to fix mines lol

In your opinion, should I go with an auto market shock (what brand?), or go with oem? Great video, thanks!

Great video

Hey I just wanted to one one of the problems of my replacing

If I have to force the axle out like that should I plan on replacing the wheel bearing?

I watched this video a few times, but I didn't get why you need to hull out the hub. I don't think it's needed to replace the struts, lower control arm and stabilizer links, even the tie rod. Please educate me coz I'm a noob.

Do you have a video on replacing swaybar links for a 2017 RDX?

HOW MANY MILES DID YOU HAVE WHEN YOU REPLACED ALL THESE COMPONENTS? I HAVE 60K AND BOTH OF MY FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE TORN AND I KNOW MY STRUT ARE BAD AS WELL.

Bro - I found the SIMPLEST way if you are really DIY person. 1) remove wheel. 2) remove brake line and brake sensor also. 3) Remove bolt of top end sway bar link. 4) Remove strut bolt at knuckl. 5) no need to remove anything else 5) spray wd40 around knuckle strut joint. 6). Place manual wheel jack between knuckle and top bottom end of strut. Facing sideway. Start screw in to expand jack which will compress and push strut upward and knuckle towards floor. 7) when you see strut almost out at knuckle, slightly careful to push away using pry bar. Knuckle will bounce up slightly and quickly due to control arm pressure upward. 8)removal 3 bolts under the hood and remove strut. 1) slide new strut in place at top end and loosely secure 3 bolts to have some free movement 10) next use long wood 6x2 piece to push/compress strut. This time Place jack on floor and wood between knuckle and tie rod. Place Wood upper end to securely at bottom end where spring end. Wood bottom end on the jack. Start compressing strut expanding jack. After enough compress smoothly slide/position strut into knuckle. Let the jack go. That is it. Finish rest. This is simplest so far without removing any joints that I found, but tricky to compress and need good hand skills. GOOD LUCK. You may Alternatively use strut compression tool instead of wood and jack for removal. Buy Complete strut on eBay.

27:00 does it matter how the strut mount is oriented? Because mine is backwards when I put mine back into the car and I’m really screwed for Time right now.

I think you put the left with the right side. There is an "L" punched on the part. And the grease nipple it's on the other side

After a year how are all the suspension parts holding up ,

nice video but why didnt you change the inner tie rod

Any idea how to get the LCA off without doinking up the ball joint? My Ball joints are in great shape.

Hi great tutorial. I did replace the strut but i hear a noise when turning the steering wheel as if the spring was not spining freely on the upper mount. Did i overtighten the upper nut that holds the spring?

What causes actions to stick into the hub

Hello sir how are you can you teach me how i take off my control arm stuck i cant take off thank you

Hey how are the control arms and sway bar links holding up since they’re after market I’m really concerned if I should go with Acura genuine or the link that you provided in the description

Awesome Video - just everything I needed to DIY this - wondering what is the mileage on this vehicle? , and would you estimate when these should be changed? thank you!. I have almost 120K miles.

How do you know how many pounds is required per each bolt

I hear a noise while the vehicle moves through a bump and descends through the bumps. Lower arm has been changed, front sway bar bushings, linkages, front strut , complete tierod . What’s the diameter of the front and rear stabilizer bushings

Was this a base model or SH-AWD model MDX?

Question for whoever can help. I’m trying to find a part (TZ5R) which, at min 18:13, is the only part that’s visible still attached to the car. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I found most simplest way of replacing without removing any of the lower ball joint or tie rod or control arm. Just use compression method. See my next comment

How much you charge to change the struts?

The oem control arms are better