Ford B-Max Front Suspension Strut: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

A knocking noise over bumps is a well-documented Ford complaint — and the cheapest likely cause is worth checking before the pricier ones.

Illustration of a suspension strut and coil spring

Illustration for editorial purposes

Find Ford B-Max Front Suspension Strut Here!

Opens live listings in a new tab.

OEM Part Number: confirm via VIN — front struts (aftermarket) Bilstein 22-256188 / KYB 3348033

Accuracy note: Covers the Ford B-Max (2012-2017) as listed in the UK aftermarket catalogues. Front struts, lower arms and top mounts are sold by side and by suspension spec — standard, sport / lowered (S line, M Sport, R-Line, ST-Line etc.), heavy-duty and adaptive / electronic damping all use different part numbers, and some makers split by engine or front axle load. The references below are UK aftermarket catalogue listings for this generation, labelled by brand; genuine numbers are shown only where a listing quotes one. Confirm the fit against your VIN, and replace struts and top mounts in pairs.

Front strut / shock absorber (aftermarket)	Sachs 315 866 (left) / 315 867 (right) (SFE30/20X156, gas twin-tube, top pin); KYB 3348033 (left) / 3348032 (right) (Excel-G); Bilstein 22-256188 (left) / 22-256195 (right) (B6 Performance); Fast FT11177 (left) / FT11176 (right) (standard suspension); Meyle 726 623 0052 / 0053
Front lower arm / wishbone (aftermarket)	LH Fast FT14377 (with ball joint, 336 mm), Vaico V25-1117, Delphi TC3465 (sheet steel, with ball joint), febi 175399, Ridex 273C2329; RH Fast FT14378, Vaico V25-1118, Delphi TC3466, febi 175398, Ridex 273C2330
Top mount / strut bearing (aftermarket)	Sachs 801 046 (2 per axle, left and right); Sachs 803 288 (without ball bearing); febi 39491 (plastic, 32 mm ID, 110 mm OD); Metzger 6490074 and 6490063; Vaico V25-0683; SNR KB652.37 (repair kit)
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	Sachs 801 046 mount: 1514857, 1547323, 1742604, 1845562, 1902873, 8V51-3K099-AC/AD/AE/AF/B2A, D651-34-38XA/XB; Sachs 803 288 mount: 1811428, C1BC-3K155-A2B; Monroe MK364: 1535299 (position not stated)
Fitment notes	Standard Excel-G and Sachs struts plus a Bilstein B6 performance option; no OE numbers on struts or arms.

Before You Chase an Expensive Fix, Check the Cheap Part First

A knocking or clunking noise from the front suspension over bumps and speed humps is one of the most consistently discussed complaints across Ford owner forums, and it's worth knowing upfront that this can be a genuinely frustrating, multi-visit diagnosis even for experienced technicians. Owners have reported chasing this exact noise through strut top mounts, sway bar (anti-roll bar) end links, control arm bushings, and even subframe bolts, sometimes replacing several of these in sequence before the noise finally stops.

A genuinely useful diagnostic priority order: sway bar end links (drop links) are consistently the most commonly reported actual cause, and they're relatively cheap to replace — checking these first, before assuming the more expensive strut mounts or bearings are at fault, is the approach most experienced independent mechanics take. With the car safely jacked up, rocking the road wheel top and bottom checks for wheel bearing or ball joint play, while pushing directly on the sway bar end link itself can often reproduce the exact knock if that's the actual cause.

Ford B-Max Front Suspension Strut: The System That Quietly Does All the Work

On the Ford B-Max, 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.

Before you buy: suspension components vary by trim, engine weight and whether your car has the standard or sport-tuned setup. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

Ford B-Max Front Suspension Strut: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: How to Replace Front Shocks Struts on Ford Fiesta MK7 ST 2010-2017 (sister (Fiesta Mk7))

Watch on YouTube ↗

No B-Max video found; B-Max is on Fiesta Mk7 platform

Ford B-Max Front Suspension reference plate

Ford B-Max Front Suspension Strut: What It Does

The Ford B-Max'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.

Find Ford B-Max Front Suspension Strut Here!

Opens live listings in a new tab.

Ford B-Max 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 Ford Front Suspension Strut

The same part, covered across other Ford models.