Upgrade Your Honda Acty’s Ride: Easy Front Spring Fix for Better Handling

The Honda Acty kei truck is a compact workhorse loved for its reliability, efficiency, and surprisingly nimble performance. Whether you’re using it for work, weekend projects, or just cruising around town, keeping it riding smoothly is key to making the most of your mini truck.

One of the most overlooked—but highly effective—ways to improve ride comfort and handling is upgrading the front coil springs. Whether your Acty is sagging in the front, handling poorly, or just feeling rough over bumps, this small upgrade can completely transform how your truck feels and drives.

In this post, we’ll break down why front spring replacement matters, what options you have, and how to tackle the job—even if you’re new to suspension work.

🚗 Why Your Front Springs Matter

Your Acty’s front suspension plays a critical role in how it handles, how it feels over bumps, and how safe it is to drive. The front coil springs are responsible for supporting the engine’s weight and absorbing impacts from the road. Over time, these springs wear out, causing:

• Sagging ride height, especially in the front
• Bouncy or sloppy ride quality
• Increased body roll in corners
• Nose-diving under braking
• Uneven tire wear from poor alignment angles

If your Acty feels less stable than it used to—or if it bottoms out over speed bumps or driveways—it’s likely time for new front springs.

🧩 Choosing the Right Front Springs

There are a few different types of replacement springs depending on your needs. The right choice depends on whether you want to restore stock ride quality or enhance performance and clearance.

✅ OEM-Style Replacement Springs

These replicate the original ride height and spring rate, making them ideal for:

• Stock restorations
• Smooth on-road driving
• Maintaining factory ride comfort

They’re simple, reliable, and don’t require any other suspension modifications.

⬆️ Lift Springs (1–2 inches)

If you want to add larger tires or take your Acty on trails, a mild lift can give your truck extra clearance and a tougher stance. Lift springs are slightly taller and often stiffer than stock.

Great for:

• Light off-roading
• Rural roads and farms
• Kei truck overlanding builds

Note: Lifting the front can affect camber and toe, so an alignment and camber adjustment may be required.

💪 Heavy-Duty Springs

These are ideal for Acty owners who:

• Regularly carry heavy front-end loads
• Use snowplows, racks, or heavy toolboxes
• Want a firmer, more stable ride

HD springs may ride stiffer when unloaded, but they help prevent sagging under constant load.

🛠 Tools & Parts You’ll Need

Before you start, gather the following:

Tools:

• Floor jack and jack stands
• Spring compressor (essential for safety)
• Socket set (10mm–19mm)
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• Penetrating oil
• Pry bar or rubber mallet (optional)

Parts:

• Replacement front springs
• Optional: new shocks, strut top mounts, camber bolts

🔧 Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Here’s how to tackle the job in your driveway or garage:

1. Lift and Prep the Truck

• Park on a level surface, engage the handbrake, and chock the rear wheels.
• Loosen the front lug nuts slightly.
• Use your floor jack to lift the front of the truck and place it on jack stands.
• Remove the front wheels.

2. Remove the Struts

• Spray the strut bolts with penetrating oil to make removal easier.
• Unbolt the three top strut mount nuts inside the engine bay.
• Disconnect the bottom bolts where the strut meets the steering knuckle.
• Carefully remove the entire strut assembly.

3. Compress and Replace the Spring

• Secure the strut in a vise if possible.
• Use a spring compressor to safely compress the old spring.
• Remove the center nut and top mount.
• Take out the old spring and seat the new one correctly in the perch.
• Reassemble the strut and tighten the top nut.

⚠️ Important: Never attempt to remove a coil spring without a compressor. Springs are under high tension and can cause serious injury if mishandled.

4. Reinstall the Strut

• Insert the assembled strut back into the tower.
• Hand-tighten the top nuts.
• Reconnect the lower bolts to the steering knuckle.
• Torque all bolts to factory specs.

5. Reinstall Wheels and Lower

• Put the wheels back on and snug the lug nuts.
• Lower the truck and torque the wheels properly in a star pattern.

📏 Alignment Is a Must

Even a small change in ride height can throw off your front-end geometry. After a spring swap, get a professional alignment right away. This will ensure:

• Straight steering
• Even tire wear
• Optimal handling

If your new springs are taller, your camber may shift—camber bolts can help bring it back within spec.

🏁 Final Thoughts

Upgrading your Honda Acty’s front springs is a smart and impactful way to improve both ride quality and handling. Whether you’re looking to restore your truck’s original feel or give it a more confident stance and better control, new front springs are an affordable, DIY-friendly solution.

With basic tools, a little patience, and attention to safety, you can complete this project in a few hours—and enjoy the benefits every time you drive.

Got questions about which springs to buy or how to handle alignment issues?
Drop a comment or message—we’re happy to help you get your Acty dialed in and driving better than ever.