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

A knocking noise over bumps is a well-documented Ford complaint, and checking the cheapest likely cause first can save real money.

Illustration of a suspension strut and coil spring

Illustration for editorial purposes

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OEM Part Number: confirm via VIN — front struts (aftermarket) Bilstein 22-256362 / KYB 3348015

Accuracy note: Covers the Ford C-Max (2010-2019) 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 315 469 (left) / 315 470 (right) (SFE32/22X153A, gas twin-tube, top pin); KYB 3348015 (left) / 3348014 (right) (Excel-G); Bilstein 22-256362 (left) / 22-256379 (right) (B4); Daco 451005L / 451005R (22 mm rod, 287/455 mm); TRW JGM1271T (49 mm, 22 mm rod, qty 1 per axle); Monroe G8171 / G8172 (side not stated)
Front lower arm / wishbone (aftermarket)	LH Delphi TC2674 (sheet steel, with ball joint), Reinhoch RH04-4009 (21 mm cone), febi 105737 (4.92 kg), Lemförder 38552 01, TRW JTC2285, Ridex 273C1140; RH Delphi TC2675, Reinhoch RH04-4010, Lemförder 38553 01, TRW JTC2286, Meyle 716 050 0016 (with ball joint), Ridex 273C1167
Top mount / strut bearing (aftermarket)	Sachs 801 041 (left and right); Meyle 714 641 0011 (ball bearing); febi 30841 (plastic, angular ball bearing, left and right); Ridex 1626F0046; SNR KB652.13 (repair kit); SKF VKD 35035 (bearing)
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	Sachs 801 041 mount: 1223835, 1250820, 1255350, 1508111, 1674672, 1695818, 1787358, 1820399, 1907038, 2084212, 30666530, 31262470, 3M51-3K099-AA/AB/AC/AD, 9M51-3K099-AA/AB, BBM2-34-38X, BP4K-34-38XA/XB, BP4K-34-XB, DV61-3K099-AC/AD/AE/AF; none for struts or arms
Fitment notes	Standard fit only; no sport units listed; the C-Max (non-Grand) 22 mm-rod struts above are the main fitment split to check.

A Genuinely Tricky Diagnosis Worth Approaching in the Right Order — Ford C-Max Front Suspension

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

On the Ford C-Max, every bump, pothole and corner passes through these components before you ever feel it in the cabin, which is exactly why wear here shows up as vague, hard-to-pin-down symptoms rather than one obvious failure. A methodical check usually finds the culprit faster than guesswork.

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 C-Max Front Suspension Strut: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: How to replace Front Shock Absorbers - Ford CMAX

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Generation not stated in title (2010-2019 unverified); alt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWUEnwK3c-M

Ford C-Max Front Suspension reference plate

Ford C-Max Front Suspension Strut: What It Does

The Ford C-Max's front suspension strut combines a shock absorber with the coil spring mounting point in one assembly, controlling how quickly the suspension compresses and rebounds over bumps. A worn strut lets the car bounce excessively after a bump instead of settling quickly, and can accelerate uneven tyre wear if left unaddressed.

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Ford C-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.