Honda CR-V Front Suspension Strut: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

On the CR-V, Honda's own price list genuinely has specific line items for front drop links, a signal these are known weak points.

Illustration of a suspension strut and coil spring

Illustration for editorial purposes

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OEM Part Number: 51605SWWE03 (front strut, as quoted in catalogue listings — confirm via VIN) — aftermarket struts Bilstein 22-214089 / KYB 339262

Accuracy note: Covers the Honda CR-V (2012-2018) 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 339262 (LH) and 339261 (RH) (Excel-G, twin-tube gas); Bilstein 22-214089 (LH) and 22-214096 (RH) (B4); Sachs 316 879 (RH, SFE32/22X172A, pair 316 878); Ashika MA-40039 (LH) and MA-40040 (RH)
Front lower arm / wishbone (aftermarket)	LH Delphi TC2871 (with ball joint), Kamoka 9050446, Japanparts BS-471L, Ashika 72-04-471L; RH Delphi TC2872, Kamoka 9050447, Japko 72471R, Ashika 72-04-471R
Top mount / strut bearing (aftermarket)	SNR KB674.06 (with ball bearing, L/R); Febi 109684 (elastomer, no bearing, L/R); Japanparts SM0016 (with rolling bearing); Original Imperium 70528 (kit with ball bearing); Ridex 1180S0314
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	Ashika MA-40040 (RH strut) 51605SWWE03; Ashika MA-40039 (LH strut) 51606SWWE03; Original Imperium 70528 (top mount kit) 51726STKA01.
Fitment notes	Standard struts only

A Genuinely Honest, Official Acknowledgment Worth Knowing About — Honda CR-V Front Suspension

This is genuinely worth knowing: Honda's own official servicing and repair price list includes specific separate line items for front wheel bearings and front drop links, distinct from normal consumables. This is a genuinely honest signal that these are recognised as items needing more regular replacement than a driver might otherwise expect.

A genuinely honest, real warning worth knowing: even professionals can miss it. One documented case on a related model saw three separate technicians all inspect the front suspension on a ramp and declare it fine, despite a genuine fault existing that was eventually confirmed elsewhere.

It's also genuinely worth knowing that a noise that sounds like it's coming from the front can sometimes actually originate in the rear suspension instead — worth having the rear checked too if front suspension work hasn't resolved a persistent clunk.

Honda CR-V Front Suspension Strut: The System That Quietly Does All the Work

Before you feel a single bump or pothole in the Honda CR-V's cabin, it's already passed through these parts — which is exactly why wear tends to present as several vague, overlapping symptoms rather than one clear-cut fault. A methodical check outperforms guesswork here.

Honda CR-V Front Suspension Strut: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: How to Replace Front Strut Assemblies 2012-2016 Honda CR-V

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CR-V 4th generation front strut assemblies.

Honda CR-V Front Suspension reference plate

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.

Honda CR-V Front Suspension Strut: What It Does

The Honda CR-V's front suspension combines the shock absorber and spring mount into a single strut assembly, which is what governs how the car settles after a bump. A worn one lets that bounce continue longer than it should, and it can wear tyres unevenly if ignored.

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Honda CR-V 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 Honda Front Suspension Strut

The same part, covered across other Honda models.