The front struts on your Mazda Protege contain the shock absorber and coil spring units. Once they wear out, the piston and cylinder inside the strut may begin to leak, losing the power to absorb wheel shocks over road imperfections. However, the struts on your Mazda may be removed as a single unit for shock absorber or spring replacement. Follow these steps to install the new strut assembly on your Mazda Protege.
Loosen the lugs using a lug wrench on the front wheel assembly with the strut you need to replace.
Raise the front of the vehicle using a floor jack.
Support the vehicle on a jack stand.
Remove the tire.
Support the lower control arm with a floor jack.
Remove the brake hose from the bracket attached to the strut assembly using a wrench or ratchet and socket.
Remove the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) sensor harness from the bracket attached to the strut assembly using a wrench or ratchet and socket.
Open the hood and remove the Automatic Adjusting Suspension (AAS) actuator from the top of the strut, if your particular model is equipped with it. Use a wrench or ratchet and socket.
Paint match-marks on the upper strut mounting block and strut tower using liquid paper correction fluid.
Paint match-marks on the lower strut mount-to-steering knuckle using liquid paper correction fluid.
Remove the upper strut mounting nuts using a wrench or ratchet and socket.
Unscrew the strut-to-knuckle mounting bolts.
Lift the strut assembly off the vehicle.
Set the new strut assembly in place and align the upper strut mounting block to strut tower match-marks.
Start the upper mounting nuts by hand to avoid thread damage, and tighten the nuts.
Align the lower strut mount-to-steering knuckle match-marks.
Install and tighten the strut-to-knuckle mounting bolts.
Install the AAS actuator on the top of the strut, if your particular model is equipped with it.
Attach the ABS sensor harness to the bracket on the strut assembly.
Connect the brake hose to the bracket attached to the strut assembly.
Mount the tire on the wheel assembly.
Remove the floor jack from the lower control arm and lower the vehicle. Finish tightening the wheel lugs and adjust the front end wheel alignment.
