Ford Ka+ 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 on the Ka+.

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) KYB 3348042 / Sachs 560 092

Accuracy note: Covers the Ford Ka+ (2016-2019) 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)	KYB 3348042 (LH) and 3348041 (RH) (Excel-G, twin-tube gas, top pin); Sachs 560 092/560 093/560 125/560 126 (twin-tube gas strut, side not stated); Monroe G8288 and G8289 (340/509 mm); Ridex 854S20272 (340 mm, sold as a set)
Front lower arm / wishbone (aftermarket)	LH Delphi TC2184 (with ball joint, 440 mm), Optimal G6-1361 (with ball joint and rubber mount), BGA TRC2395; RH Delphi TC2185, Optimal G6-1362, Topran 304 186 (with ball joint and rubber mount)
Top mount / strut bearing (aftermarket)	Sachs 801 046 (2 per axle); Lemförder 35477 01 (2 per axle); Sachs 803 288 and Lemförder 42185 01 (no bearing, 2 per axle); Maxgear 72-2484
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	Sachs 801 046 and Lemförder 35477 01: 1514857, 1547323, 1742604, 1845562, 1902873, 8V51-3K099-AC/AD/AE/AF, 8V51-3K099-B2A, D651-34-38XA, D651-34-38XB. Sachs 803 288 and Lemförder 42185 01: 1811428, C1BC-3K155-A2B. None quoted for struts or arms.
Fitment notes	Standard gas struts; no sport or lowered units.

A Genuinely Tricky Diagnosis Worth Approaching in the Right Order — Ford Ka+ 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 Ka+ Front Suspension Strut: The System That Quietly Does All the Work

Everything the road throws at the Ford Ka+ — bumps, potholes, cornering loads — passes through these components before it reaches the cabin, so wear here tends to show up as vague symptoms rather than one clear failure point. A systematic check beats guesswork every time.

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 Ka+ Front Suspension Strut: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: Ford fiesta mk7 front top strut mount, coil spring and anti roll bar linkage replacement (sister (Fiesta Mk7))

Watch on YouTube ↗

The Ka+ 2016 sits on the Fiesta Mk7 B-car platform. Found no Ka+ front suspension video; the Ka results were Ka Mk1 or Mk2.

Ford Ka+ Front Suspension reference plate

Ford Ka+ Front Suspension Strut: What It Does

On the Ford Ka+, the front suspension strut combines a shock absorber and the coil spring's mounting point into a single assembly, controlling how the suspension compresses and rebounds. Once it wears, the car keeps bouncing after a bump instead of settling quickly, and tyre wear often becomes uneven if it's left unresolved.

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Ford Ka+ 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.