Parts for your 2000 Ford Falcon-Struts

Are struts used on the 2000 Ford Falcon (AU Series)?

Short answer: no, struts aren’t used on the 2000 Ford Falcon (AU Series). Technical sources including the Ford Falcon AU Series Workshop Manual (1998–2002), Gregory’s Service and Repair Manual for AU Falcon, and Monroe Australia’s application catalogue all show the AU’s front suspension as a short-long arm (SLA) double wishbone design with a separate shock absorber and coil spring, not a MacPherson strut. At the rear, sedans used a live axle with coil springs and a Watts linkage (with optional independent rear suspension on some trims), while wagons retained a live axle with leaf springs. In all these layouts, the car uses shock absorbers rather than structural struts.

Why that matters: a strut is a load-bearing suspension member that replaces the upper control arm and forms part of the steering knuckle assembly. The AU Falcon keeps an upper and lower control arm up front, so the damper doesn’t carry chassis loads in the way a strut does. That’s why parts catalogues and the factory manuals call them shocks, not struts.

Shoppers searching for “2000 Ford Falcon struts” are usually after front or rear shock absorbers and related hardware. For a tidy, confident drive, the usual service focus is:

• Shock absorbers: check for oil misting, dents, or poor rebound, replace in axle pairs.
• Control arm bushes and ball joints: common wear points that affect alignment and steering feel.
• Top mounts/bushes and sway-bar links: perishable rubber that can knock or squeak.
• Alignment: worthwhile after any front-end work, especially arm or bush replacement.

AU Falcons respond well to fresh dampers around the 80,000–120,000 km mark (earlier if towing or on rough roads). If the nose dives under brakes, it floats on country roads, or the rear hops over bumps, the shocks are likely tired. Uneven tyre wear and longer stopping distances are other tell-tales. Choose OE-equivalent gas shocks for daily use, or heavy-duty/towing-spec units if it regularly carries loads. A competent workshop will torque suspension hardware at ride height and road test for knocks, tramlining, and steering return-to-centre.

Technical references: Ford Falcon AU Series Workshop Manual (Suspension & Steering sections, 204-00/204-01), Gregory’s AU Falcon manual (Suspension chapter), Monroe Australia application catalogue listing shock absorbers (not struts) for AU front and rear.

Popular questions about 2000 Ford Falcon “struts”

Does a 2000 Ford Falcon have struts or shocks?
It has shock absorbers, not MacPherson struts. The AU’s front end is a double wishbone (SLA) setup with separate shocks and coils, and the rear is either a live axle (coil or leaf, model dependent) or optional IRS—none of which use a structural strut.

If a parts site lists “struts” for this model, they’re usually referring to front shocks or complete shock assemblies. Check the listing details and go by AU-series compatibility.

What should be replaced instead of struts on a 2000 Falcon?
Look at front and rear shock absorbers, control arm bushes, ball joints, sway-bar links, and upper shock mounts/bushes. These are the bits that restore ride control and steering precision.

When tackling worn bushes or ball joints, plan for a wheel alignment. Replacing shocks alone generally won’t shift alignment much, but it’s smart insurance for even tyre wear.

When should the shocks be replaced on a 2000 Falcon?
Many AU Falcons benefit from new shocks around 80,000–120,000 km, sooner with towing or rough-road use. Signs include excessive bouncing, nose-dive under braking, rear-end hop, oil mist on the shock body, and choppy or uneven tyre wear.

Always replace in axle pairs and choose quality units matched to how the car’s used—touring, urban commuting, or load-carrying.