Parts for your 2003 Ford Falcon-Struts

2003 Ford Falcon struts: what’s actually fitted and what to service

On a 2003 Ford Falcon (BA series), “struts” aren’t actually used. Up front it runs a short/long arm (SLA) double-wishbone setup with a coil-over shock absorber, and down the back it’s either a Control Blade independent rear suspension (IRS) or a coil-sprung live axle depending on the variant. None of these use a MacPherson strut. This layout is confirmed in the Ford Australia BA Series Workshop Manual (2002–2005), Ford’s BA engineering overview, and period technical write-ups in Wheels magazine. Ellery’s and Gregory’s workshop manuals for BA/BF models also list front and rear shock absorbers rather than struts.

Why no struts? Ford engineered the BA’s front end as a virtual-pivot double wishbone to sharpen camber control and steering feel, and to suit the packaging of the long inline-six. A wishbone layout separates the structural location of the hub from the damper, so the damper doesn’t act as a load-bearing strut. At the rear, both the Control Blade IRS and the live axle configurations use conventional shocks. In short, people sometimes call them “struts” out of habit, but the Falcon’s dampers don’t carry the duties a true MacPherson strut does.

What should owners service instead? Focus on shock absorbers, springs, and the usual wear items:

• Front and rear shocks (look for oil weep, bounce, poor body control).
• Upper/lower control arm bushes and ball joints up front, blade/trailing arm bushes and links at the rear.
• Top mounts/insulators, sway bar links and bushes, and coil springs.
• Wheel alignment after suspension work to keep tyre wear even.

Typical replacement intervals vary with use, but many BA Falcons benefit from fresh shocks around 120,000–160,000 km, sooner if they’ve copped rough roads or taxi duty. Signs it’s time include floaty ride, nose-diving under brakes, rear-end hop over bumps, clunks, cupped tyre wear, or steering that won’t settle. When changing shocks, it’s smart to renew mounts and bushings together so the new dampers aren’t fighting tired rubber. Quality brands matched to factory ride height keep the BA’s balanced feel, performance options can tighten body control without making it crashy if chosen well. A quick eyeball of the shocks for leaks at each service, plus a road test over speed humps, will usually reveal what needs attention.

FAQs

Does a 2003 Ford Falcon have struts?
Technically, no. The BA Falcon uses a double-wishbone front end with a coil-over shock and either Control Blade IRS or a live axle at the rear. The dampers aren’t structural members of the steering knuckle like a MacPherson strut.

What should be replaced instead of struts on a 2003 Falcon?
Look at front and rear shock absorbers, upper and lower control arm bushes and ball joints, sway bar links/bushes, rear trailing/control blade bushes, top mounts, and coil springs. An alignment finishes the job.

How often should the shocks be replaced on a BA Falcon?
There’s no fixed kilometre rule, but many need attention around 120,000–160,000 km. Replace sooner if there’s oil weep, poor body control, clunks, or uneven tyre wear. Hard use or rough roads shorten the timeline.