1997 HONDA CIVIC Damper

)
Suspension
Special Tools ............. 18-2
Component Locations
lndex ,,.............. ...... f8-3
Wheel Alignment
Caster .............. ....... 18-4
Camber .................. l8-4
Front Toe Inspection/
Adiustment ........ 18-5
Rear Toe lnspection/
Adiustment ........ 18-5
Turning Angle Inspection ................ 18-6
Wheel/Hub Inspection
Bearing End P|ay .............................. l8-7
Wheel Runout ....... 18-7
Front Suspension
Suspension Arms Replacement
('96 - 99 modelsl .......................... 18-8
Suspension Arms Replacement
('99 2D Si and Si-R models) ........ 18-9
Knuckle/Hub Replacement ............. 18-10
Lower Ball Joint Replacement ....... 18-16
Ball Joint Boot Replacement .......... 18-17
Front Damper
Removal ................. 18-17
Disassembly/1nspection .................. 18-18
Reassembly ........... 18-19
lnstallation ............. 18-19
Rear Suspension
Suspension Arms Replacement
('96 - 99 models) ....................,..... 18-21
Suspension Arms Replacement
('99 2D Si and Si-R models) ........ 1A-22
Hub Bearing Unit Replacement ...... 18-23
Upper Arm Eushing
Replacement .....18-25
Rear Damper
Removal ................. 18-26
Disassembly/|nspection ............. ..... 1A-27
Reassembly ........... 18-28
lnstallation ............. 18-29
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Component Locations
)
lndex
Wheel Alignment, page l8 4
FBONT DAMPER. Removal, page 18-17. Disassembly/lnspection, page 18-18. Reassembly, page 18'19. Installation, page 18-19
KNUCKLE/HUB. Replacement, page 18'10
Front Suspension:
Rear Suspsnsion:
UPPER ARM' Replscement, page 18-8
. Wheel Bearing Replacement, page 18-14. Lower EallJoint Replacement, page 18-16STABILIZER BAR' Replacement, page 18-8
LOWER ARM. Replacement, Page 18-8
UPPER ARM' Replacement, page 18 20
LOWER ARM. Replacement, page 18-20
REAR DAMPEB. Removai. page 18-26. Disassembly/lnspection, page 18-27. Feassembly, page lS-28. Installation, page 18-29
ARMTRAILING ARM' Replacement, page 18-20l-,. Feplacement, page 18 20
18-3

Front Suspension
Suspension Arms Replacement ('96 - 99 models)
CAUTION:
. Replace the selt-locking nuts after removal.
. The vehicle should be on the ground betore any bolts or nuts connected to rubber mounts or bushings are tightened.
NOTE:
. Wipe off any dirt, oil or grease on the threads before tightening the fasteners.. The right and left damper forks are not interchangeable. The left damper fork is marked with "AL" while the rightdamper fork is marked with "AR'
. The right and left upper arms are not interchangeable. The left upper arm is marked with "SO1-L" while the right upperarm is marked with "SOl-R".
. Before tightening the upper and lower mounting nuts on the stabilizer link, adjust the location of the link with the sus-pension under vehicle load.
. When installing the radius arm washers, the "FR" mark faces the front ofthe vehicle.. After installing the suspension arm, ch eck the front wheel alignment, and adjust if necessary (see page 18-4).
FLANGE BOLTS10 x 1.25 mm54 N.m 15.5 kgl.m,40 tbf.ftl
STAEILIZER ENDRUBBER BUSHING
BALL JOINT BOOT. Check for deterioration and damage.. See page 18-16 for boot replacement.
STABILIZER BARCheck for bending and damage.
Check for deterioration - ---\--
and damage, -\
FLANGE BOLT14 x 1.5 mm/)l103 N.m {10.5 kg{.m,. t, ,/4,76lb{.ft) t,,"-iV
v:\FLANGE BOLT-
;iffillr-"- ilHitffi*::,"*"
and damaoe,
o.'-----------14 x 1.5 mmReplace.83 N.m {8.5 kgf.m, 61 lbf.ftl
LOWER ARMCheck for
c
JlTTda
1{ x 1.5 mm89 N.m {9.1 kgt m. 66 lbtft)
-6;SILICONE GREASERUBBER BUSHING
DAMPER FORKCheck for damage.
SELF-LOCKING NUT I x 1.2522 N.m (2.2 kg{.m, 16lbf.ftlReplace.
FLANGE BOLT10 x 1.25 mm€ N.m {4.6 kgt m.32 tbf.ft)
SELF-LOCKING NUT12x 1.25 mmReplace.6it N m {6.5 kgf.m, 47 lbf.ftl
RUEBER BUSHING. Check for deterioration and damage.
.6t",.,"o".c"KeSTAAIL|zER END RUBBER EUSHINGSNote the directionof the bushings.
18-8

I
Suspension Arms Replacement ('99 2D Si and Si-R models)
CAUTION:
. Replace the selt-locking nuts after removal.
. The vehicle should be on the ground belore any bolts or nuts connected to rubber mounts or bushings are tightened.
NOTE:
. Wipe off any dirt, oil or grease on the threads before tightening the fasteners
. The right and ieft damper forks are not interchangeable. The left damper fork is marked with "AL" while the right
damper fork is marked with "AR"
. The right and left upper arms are not interchangeable. The left upper arm is marked with "SOl-L" while the right upper
arm is marked with "SO1-R".
. Before tightening the upper and lower mounting nuts on the stabilizer link, adiust the location of the link with the sus-
pension under vehicle load.
. When installing the radius arm washers, the "FR" mark faces the front of the vehicle.
. After installing the suspension arm, check the front wheel alignment, and adjust if necessary (see page 18-4).
FLANGE BOLTS10 x 1.25 mmsit N.m 15.5 kgf.m,40 tbtftl
UPPER ARM' Check the ball joint boot fordeterioration and damage.. Check the bushing for deteriorationano oamage,. Check the ball ioint fo. faultymovement and clamage.STABILIZER BUSHINGAlign the stabilizer markwith the end of stabilizer bushing
FLANGE BOLT14 x 1.5 mm
l./
103 N.m (10.5 kgf.m,76 tbr.ftl
STABILIZER LINK. Check the ballioint bootfordeterioration and damage.. Checkthe ballioint tor faultymovement and damage.
STABILIZER BARCheck for bending and damage.
FLANGE BOLT 8 x 1.25 mm22 N.m (2.2 kgf.m, 16lbf.ft)
SELF-LOCKING NUT14 x 1.5 mmReplace.83 N.m 18.5 kgf m, 61 lbf.ft)
-.6r srr-,co", hSHrtlrT.[*"u
6g619g Check for deteriorationano oamage.
SELF.LOCKING NUT10 x 1.25 mm 29 N m 13.0 kgf m, 22 lbf ftl
Replace.Hold the ball ioint pin using a hex wrench,
and taghten the self'locking nut.
LOWER ARMCheck fordamage.
FLANGE NUT l0 x 1.25 mm
29 N.m 13.0 kgI m,2.2 lbf ft)
Before tightening the {lange nut,position the ball joint Pinin the middle of its range of travel,
with the suspension under vehicle load
FLANGE BOLT14 x 1.5 mm89 N.m 19.1 kgf.m, 66 lbf.ft)
FLANGE BOLT10 x '1.25 mm43 N.m {4.4 kgf.m,32 tbtft)
DAMP€R FORKCheck lor damage.
DAMPER FORKRU88ER BUSHINGCheck for deterioration and damage.
4@lsrlrcoNE GREASE
SELF.LOCKING NUT12 x 1.25 mmReplace.64 N m 16.5 kgl.m, 47 lblft)
J
RANGE
18-9

Front Damper
!Ball Joint Boot RePlacement
1.Remove the set ring and the boot.
CAUTION: Do not contaminate the boot installa-
tion section with grease.
Pack the interior of the boot and lip with grease
EALL PIN TAPERED SECTION
EOOT INSTALLATION SECTION
Wipe off the grease.BOOT INSTALLATION SECTION
Wipe off the grease.
lJ
3. Wipe the grease off the sliding surface of the ball
pin and pack with fresh grease.
CAUTION:
. Keep grease off the boot installation section and
the tapeled section of the ball pin.
5.
. Do not allow dust, dirt, or other toreign materi-
als to enter the boot.
Install the boot into the groove of the boot installa-
tion section securely, then bleed the atr.
Install the upper and lower ball joint boot set rings
using the special tools as follows:
Lower ball joint: Adiust the special tool with the
adjusting bolt until the end of the tool aligns with
the groove on the boot. Slide the set ring over the
tool and into Position.
BALL JOINTAOJUSTING BOLTAdjust the depth by
turning the bolt.BOOT CLIPGUIDE
4.
UPPER EALLJOINT EOOT:07GAG - SD40700LOWER BALLJOINT BOOT:07974 - SA50700
CAUTION: After installing the boot, check the ball
pin tapsrod section fol grease contamination and
wipe it if necessary.lt
18-17
Removal
l. Remove the front wheels (see page 18-11).
2, Remove the damper pinch bolt trom the top of
damper fork.
DAMPER FORK
OAMPERFORKBOLT
OAMPERPINCHAOLT10 x 1.25 mm
SELF-LOCKING NUT12 x 1.25 mmReplace.
Remove the damper fork bolt and self-locking nut
from the bottom of the damper fork, then remove
damper fork.
Remove the damper by removing the two nuts
DAMPER

Front Damper
Disassembly/lnspection
Disassembly'1. Compress the damper spring with the spring com-pressor according to the manufacturer,s instruc-
tions, then remove the self-lockino nut.
CAUTION: Do not compress the spring more thann€cessary to remove the nut.
10 mm SELF-LOCKING NUTReplace.
STRUT SPRINGCOMPRESSOR:(Commerci.lly availabl.lBRANICKO T/N MST.s8I}A, T/N 7200,or eouivalent
Release the pressure from thg spring compressor,
then disassemble the damper as shown in the next
column.
Inspostion
1. Reassemble all parts, except the spring.
2. Push on th€ damper assembly as shown.
Check for smooth operation through a full stroke,
both compression and extension,
NOTE: The damper should move smoothlv. lf itdoes not (no compression or no extension), the gas
is leaking, and the damper should be replaced.Check for oil leaks, abnormal noises, or binding dur-ing these tests.
18-18
DAMPER UNIT
Replace.
DAMPER MOUNTING WASHER
BASE
DAMPER MOUNTINGBUBBERCheck for deteriorationand damage.
DAMP€R SPf,INGCheck tor weakened compressionand damage.
SPBING MOUNTING RUBBERCheck for deteriorationand damage,
BUMP STOPCheck fordamage.
DUST COVERPLATE
and
BUMP STOP PLATE
OUST COVERCheck for bending and damage.

\Reassembly
2.
't.
lr
Install the damper unit on a spring compressor.
Assemble the damper in reverse order of removal
except the damper mounting washer and self lock-
ing nut.
NOTE: Align the bottom of the damper spring and
spring lower seat as shown.
STRUTSPRING COMPRESSOR:
lcommercially availablelBRANICK@ T/N MST.58OA, T/N 7200,
or 6quival€nt
SPBING LOWER SEAT
Position the damper mounting base onto the
damper unit as shown.
Compress the damPer sPring.
Install the damper mounting rubber, damper mount-
ing washer, and a new 10 mm self-locking nut.
Hold the damper shaft. and tighten the 10 mm self-
locking nut.
SELF-LOCKING NUT10 x 1.25 mm29 N.m 13.0 kgf m, 22 lbf ft)
3.
4.
Replace.
DAMPERMOUNTING WASHER
(l-t
lnstallation
1. Loosely install the damper onto the frame with the
aligning tab facing inside. then loosely install the
two flange nuts.
FLANGE NUTS10 x 1 ,25 mm49 N.m (5.0 kgt'm, 36 lbf'ftl
DAMPER ASSEMBLY
{cont'd)
18-19

Front Damper
Installation (cont'd)
2. Install the damper fork over the driveshaft and onto
the lower arm. Install the front damper into the
damper fork so the aligning tab is aligned with the
slot in the damper fork.
ALIGNING TAB
DAMPERPINCHEOLT10 x 1.25 mm43 N.m 14.4 kgf.m, 32 lbtftl12 x 1.25 mm64 N.m 16.5 kgl.m, 47 lbtftlReplace.
Loosely install the damper pinch bolt into the top ofthe damper fork.
Loosely install the damper fork bolt and a new self-locking nut into the bottom of the damper fork.
Raise the knuckle with a floor jack until the vehiclejust lifts off the safety stand.
@E The ftoor ilck must be sscuroty posi-
lionsd or personal iniury may r€€uh.
Tighten the damper pinch bolt.
Tighten the damper fork bolt and self-locking nut.
Tighten the flange nuts on top of the damper.
Install the brake hose mounts with the brake hose
mounting bolts.
Install the front wheel.
7.
8.
9.
10.
1a-20