This happens a lot with the "sport and non sport" suspension.

The stabilizer link to the front of the strut is the "sport" suspension, the tab connecting to the rear of the strut is the standard non sport.

There are a few threads on the forum about this
Strut Question 2011 Sonata gls with a feb/2011...

Strut issues

I ordered new monroe struts off ebay for my 2011 sonata by the vin# but when they arrived the bracket where the stabilizer rod attaches, is at 90 degrees and the original one has a flat bracket. This causes the bolt hole to be facing from passenger side to driver side, but the original one is...

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2011 Sonata Limited Struts Help ~ Built after 7-22-2010

Hi Guys, I have a 2011 Sonata Limited that was built after 7/22/2010. Therefore, the front struts have the stabilizer mount different then the 2011 Sonata's built before 7/22/2010. I tried to buy the Monroe struts, but they don't work, as the stabilizer mount doesn't match. Do you know...

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2012 Sonata 2.4L SE - Cannot find correct strut assembly

Hello, first post here. Trying to replace both front strut assemblies and sway bar links on my girlfriend’s Sonata. It’s a 2012 2.4L Special Edition, manufactured in June 2011. Only one parts store had something in stock and had to return twice because both sets were wrong. They don’t line up...

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Thanks for the threads, but unfortunately they didn't' tell me what I didn't already know. I need to find the replacements. I get non-sport tab faces front and opposite for sport. But what about the struts with tabs facing the engine?

 

look for a thread addressing the same issue that i commented on. it has great explanations from alot of people and pictures too. alternatively you can get the correct links and/or struts on partsgeek. their pictures and descriptions are accurate i know this because i (as well as many others) have had the same issues you are facing.

 

I see in RA the end links come in a few lengths. Measure yours. There are links for struts made later and hybrid too.

 

I've compared the end links to the originals, so the struts are incorrect from the previous mechanic. I've ordered another set from parts geeks that come with end links. At this point, if it fits with these links, that's what's going on the vehicle, unless someone would advise otherwise.

 

The strut that is on the car is a replacement strut put on by a mechanic a few months ago. So I bought another set of struts that came with matching end links. The new struts have a forward facing end link tab that is located just above the knuckle mount. The end links are about 1.5" shorter than the originals. The idea was to replace the existing struts with these new ones and just use the links that came with them. If I used the new struts with the end links that came with them, they would have to be almost half their length to fit in a vertical orientation. I put the new end links that onto the existing strut with a rear facing tab, in a diagonal fashion and they fit. But I thought they are supposed to be vertical.

The first image shows the new end links that came with the new struts fitting in a diagonal orientation on the existing replacement strut. The second image shows the replacement end link that matches what originally came off the car. The orientation does not match the replacement strut. Notice the tab is much higher near the spring perch on these. What am I doing wrong?

 

Don't you need to lower the car and prop the knuckle with a jack to compress the spring? I've not worked on mine yet!

 

I'm doing that in the pic. Can anybody confirm or deny the orientation of the end link?