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

A knocking noise over bumps is a well-documented Ford complaint — here's the practical, cost-conscious order to check things in.

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) Ridex 854S0091

Accuracy note: Covers the Ford S-Max (2015-) 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)	Ridex 854S0091 (RH, twin-tube gas, 32 mm bore, 22 mm rod); Ridex 854S20428 and 854S20428P (twin-tube gas, front or rear); Febest 21110-007F-KIT (front pair); Magnum AGG176
Front lower arm / wishbone (aftermarket)	LH Sidem 3470, Stark SKCA-0050550, Ridex 273C0552 (with ball joint, 359 mm), Vaico V25-0219; RH Sidem 3471, Stark SKCA-0050549, Ridex 273C0551
Top mount / strut bearing (aftermarket)	Sachs 801 050 and Lemförder 37554 01 (2 per axle, L/R); Topran 306 206 (plastic); Febi 198935 (elastomer); Febi 198961 (elastomer repair kit with ball bearing)
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	Sachs 801 050 and Lemförder 37554 01 top mounts: 1433283, 1441144, 1465258, 1466167, 1510474, 1539863, 1679526, 1801056, 30681642, 30736504, 30794009, 31201027, 31277826, 31681161, 6G91-3K099-AA/ABB/ABC/ACA/ACB/NAB/NBA, DG9C-3K099-BXA. None for struts or arms.
Fitment notes	Only aftermarket standard struts are listed

Front Suspension Knocking: Start With the Cheap Part

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

On the Ford S-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 S-Max Front Suspension Strut: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: Mk5 Ford Mondeo Front Shock Absorber Replacement (sister (Mondeo Mk5))

Watch on YouTube ↗

The 2015 S-Max shares the CD4 platform with the Mondeo Mk5. S-Max videos did turn up (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BiuaTCoTlU drop link, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb0YspYT3LE wishbone), but their generation is unverified and likely the older S-Max.

Ford S-Max Front Suspension reference plate

Ford S-Max Front Suspension Strut: What It Does

The Ford S-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 S-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.