Parts for your 2011 Ford Falcon-Struts

2011 Ford Falcon struts — what’s actually fitted

Struts aren’t used on the 2011 Ford Falcon (FG and FG MkII). Up front it runs a short-long-arm (SLA) double‑wishbone suspension with a coil‑over shock absorber and stabiliser bar, the rear is Control Blade independent suspension on sedans and a live axle with leaf springs on utes. That means the car uses conventional shock absorbers and springs rather than MacPherson struts.

This layout is documented in Ford’s FG Falcon Workshop Manual (Section 204‑01 Front Suspension), Ford Australia technical/specification material for FG/FG MkII, and widely reported in independent technical reviews (e.g., Wheels magazine engineering pieces and GoAuto spec sheets). All of these describe a double‑wishbone front end, not a strut front end.

Why no struts? A double‑wishbone design lets engineers dial in camber gain and steering geometry for crisp turn‑in and stable tyre contact, which suits the Falcon’s ride-and-handling brief. In this setup the shock absorber and spring manage damping and ride height, but they don’t locate the wheel. Lateral and longitudinal loads go through the upper and lower control arms, so there’s no strut tower bearing or strut cartridge to service. Some parts catalogues use “strut” as a catch‑all term, which can be confusing, on a 2011 Falcon you’re looking for shocks (dampers) and related bushes/ball joints instead.

• When chasing a “strut” issue on a 2011 Falcon, check:
  • Front and rear shock absorbers for oil weep, fade or knocking
  • Upper and lower control arm bushes and ball joints (front)
  • Sway‑bar links and bushes
  • Rear Control Blade bushes (sedan) or leaf‑spring bushes and shackles (ute)
• Good practice during suspension work:
  • Replace shocks in axle pairs
  • Use a spring compressor when removing front coil‑over shock units
  • Get a wheel alignment after any shock, control arm or bush replacement
  • Monitor tyre wear and road feel every 10,000–20,000 km, many shocks are tired by 100,000–150,000 km depending on use

If the car feels floaty, dives under brakes, crashes over bumps, or shows uneven tyre wear, it’s time to inspect the shocks and bushes. On a Falcon, fixing those items restores the taut, planted feel owners expect—no “strut” replacement needed.

FAQs

Does a 2011 Ford Falcon have struts?

No. The FG/FG MkII Falcon uses a double‑wishbone (SLA) front suspension with a coil‑over shock, and Control Blade IRS (sedan) or a live axle with leaf springs (ute). That means shocks and springs rather than MacPherson struts.

What should be replaced instead of struts on a 2011 Falcon?

Look at front and rear shock absorbers, front upper/lower control arm bushes and ball joints, sway‑bar links/bushes, and rear Control Blade or leaf‑spring bushes. These are the wear items that cause the “needs new struts” symptoms on other cars.

Can coilovers or “strut” kits be fitted to a 2011 Falcon?

Aftermarket adjustable coil‑over shock assemblies exist for the Falcon’s double‑wishbone front end, but they’re still shocks, not MacPherson struts. If changing ride height or geometry, check local compliance rules—some AU states require an engineering sign‑off, and NZ may need LVV certification.