Citroen C3 Front Suspension Strut: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults
A genuine safety recall covers front springs capable of breaking — plus a real, specific admission from Citroën's own parts department about a "bad batch" of struts.
Illustration for editorial purposes
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OEM Part Number: confirm via VIN — front struts (aftermarket) KYB 3338060 / Sachs 350 097
| Front strut / shock absorber (aftermarket) | KYB 3338060 (Excel-G, gas twin-tube, 22 mm rod, 51 mm OD, right) and 3338061 (left); KYB 3348098 (right) and 3348099 (left) (Excel-G, 20 mm rod, 47 mm OD); Sachs 350 097 / 350 096 (ST30/20X147A, gas twin-tube, sold in pairs); Monroe 742265SP / 742266SP (51 mm housing) and 742267SP / 742268SP (47 mm housing) |
|---|---|
| Front lower arm / wishbone (aftermarket) | LH Delphi TC1897 (with ball joint), febi 37470 (with ball joint, rubber mounts), Ridex 273C1204 (with ball joint); RH Delphi TC1898, febi 37471, Ridex 273C1213; TRW JTC1234 (LH) / JTC1235 (RH) (sheet steel) |
| Top mount / strut bearing (aftermarket) | Meyle 40-14 412 0002 (front axle); Sachs 801 010 (2 per axle, left and right); SNR KB659.22 (repair kit); febi 10091 (metal, left and right); Gates SUS1674; SKF VKD 35002 (bearing, 2 per axle) |
| Genuine (OE) numbers quoted | SASIC 0355275 mount: 7700777654, 503563; Kamoka 209190 kit: 546122C000; Sachs 801 010: 3637192, 5035 19, 5035 23, 5035 27, 5035 58, 5035 63, 54612-1G010, 54612-2C000, 91510633 |
| Fitment notes | Standard-fit twin-tube gas struts in two rod/housing sizes (20 or 22 mm rod, 47 or 51 mm OD), so check the size before ordering; no sport or adaptive variants listed |
Confirmed: A Genuine Recall for Front Springs Capable of Breaking — Citroen C3 Front Suspension
This is genuinely worth checking against your VIN before anything else: Citroën confirmed a recall covering certain C3 models (and related Berlingo/Partner models) for front coil springs capable of breaking, with the fix being a steel protective shield fitted underneath each front spring — specifically to catch and contain a broken spring end before it can puncture a tyre. This is a genuine safety recall rather than a routine reliability fix, and confirming this shield has been fitted is a real priority if you're looking at a used C3 from the relevant build years.
Also genuinely worth checking first, given how consistently it's reported as the most common cause: anti-roll bar drop links wear commonly on this platform, producing exactly the kind of clonk or bang heard over bumps and manhole covers — one documented repair (drop link plus full inclusive labour) came to £186 at a Citroën dealer, with the part itself costing around £29.
Citroen C3 Front Suspension Strut: The System That Quietly Does All the Work
On the Citroen C3, these components absorb every pothole, bump and cornering force before any of it reaches the cabin, which is why deterioration here rarely announces itself with one obvious symptom. Working through it methodically finds the actual cause faster than guessing ever will.
Citroen C3 Front Suspension Strut: Watch: Replacing It
Generation not stated in title (3rd gen 2016- unverified)
Citroen C3 Front Suspension Strut: What It Does
The Citroen C3's front strut does two jobs in one unit — damping the suspension's movement and providing the coil spring's mounting point. Wear here shows up as excessive bounce after bumps rather than a quick settle, and left long enough, uneven tyre wear tends to follow.
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Citroen C3 Front Suspension Strut: Warning Signs, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice
These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Front Suspension Strut Guide for symptoms of worn bushings and ball joints, confirming fitment against your VIN, and rubber vs polyurethane guidance.
More Citroen Front Suspension Strut
The same part, covered across other Citroen models.