Shock and strut replacement might be risky if you don’t know what you’re doing. Before attempting to disassemble your car, please read these guidelines to ensure the project’s efficiency and safety.
In This Article...
Spring Compressor
Many automobiles have integrated springs inside the shocks and struts, which, if removed improperly, could cause you harm or damage your car. In these situations, you’ll need a spring compressor to safely disassemble everything.
Your neighborhood auto parts store may rent out spring compressors, but it’s crucial to know how to operate them. You must exercise caution because this step is crucial to changing shocks and struts. If you’re unsure about removing the springs, you might want to think about taking your car to a repair.
Raise the Vehicle
When all of your components and tools are prepared, you should use a car jack to raise your vehicle one side at a time. To maintain stability once it is upright, put a jackstand behind the front wheel. Otherwise, a lift is available.
Prior to trying to loosen anything or climbing beneath the vehicle, just make sure it is secured.
Remove Old Shocks and Struts
You must first remove the wheels. Next, using your spring compressor, search for the three bolts holding the shock or strut in place at the bottom. These bolts should be loosened, but not yet totally taken out.
Another bolt inside the engine compartment secures the top of the shock or strut. To loosen it, use an impact wrench with a socket extension. Your shock or strut should come free once you’ve managed to get this loose and finished removing the other bolts.
Installing New Shocks and Struts
You can just swap in the new shocks and struts after removing the old ones. Make certain that all of the bolts are tightly tightened. To perform this, you most likely need a torque wrench.
What is the price of replacing the struts in a Toyota Corolla?
Cost estimation for replacing the shock or strut in a Toyota Corolla. The typical price to replace a suspension shock or strut on a Toyota Corolla ranges from $547 to $610. The cost of labor is expected to be between $241 and $304, while the cost of parts is $306.
How long do the struts on a Toyota Corolla last?
Many different things affect this. Shocks or struts can be compared to tennis shoes. They will last a lot longer if you only use them on the weekends to go shopping than if you ride a skateboard, wear them every day, and constantly use the brakes on your shoes!
This means that if you drive less frequently, on smoother roads, don’t drive aggressively, and don’t haul a lot of weight in your car, your shocks or struts will last longer.
If your car has been well-taken care of, you may anticipate that the shocks/struts will survive for roughly 10 years. Five years is probably the maximum you can hope for if you’ve really treated your automobile like a workhorse. This indicates that the typical driver may expect the shocks and struts to last a maximum of 7 or 8 years.
Do you require an alignment after strut replacement?
Here are the responses to the query in brief
After changing shocks and struts, do you require an alignment? Yes, if the automaker advises an alignment following a replacement. Yes, if you made any modifications to your suspension that did not adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions.
How much time is required to replace the rear struts?
Is the stop of your vehicle taking longer than usual? Is it strangely bumpier? The symptoms definitely indicate that your struts have failed, thus I believe it is time to replace them. Fortunately, you can either do it yourself or hire a professional to replace them.
Most professional mechanics agree that changing struts typically takes one to two hours. As long as you have prior mechanical experience and perform the procedure correctly, the expected time is the same even if you choose to replace them on your own.
The ability to manage and control the vehicle may be compromised if struts are not replaced in a timely manner.
How can you tell if your struts need replacement?
Although several factors (hello, potholes) affect the lifespan of your shocks or struts, Reina claims that if you experience any of these seven signs, it’s time for replacements.
- erratic behavior at motorway speeds. On the highway, your car never feels entirely solid and is always going up and down. Despite how little the movement may be, you may feel it.
- Vehicle “In turns, it leans to one side. Your car leans or slides when you exit a ramp or make a sharp turn “It seems unstable and tips to the outside of the turn.
- During forceful braking, the front end drops more than is normal. You might not realize this until you have to use the brakes quickly.
- When accelerating, stoop from the rear. You’ll observe that the front of your car is rising while the back “during rapid acceleration, squats.
- severe bouncing of the tires. You can feel a tire (or tires) reacting or moving after hitting a bump “bouncing briefly. There can also be a clunking sound.
- uncommon tire wear The tread wears unevenly instead of wavy because the tire isn’t being held tightly to the road.
- leakage of fluid from shocks or struts’ outside surfaces. This indicates that the internal fluids necessary for proper operation are escaping because the seals have cracked.
Struts or shocks are present in Toyota Corollas?
However, the Corolla can be vulnerable to premature wear over time and with use. Its struts and shock absorbers are particularly weak. Toyota produces its own original shock absorbers and strut assemblies for the Corolla. Additionally, the carmaker purchases parts from its 200 component suppliers.
Are shock and strut interchangeable terms?
You’ll frequently hear individuals use the terms “shocks” and “struts” interchangeably. Shocks and struts, however, are two separate components with different purposes. Both of these components aim to improve the ride and handling of your car, but they do so in different ways. While struts are a significant structural element of the chassis and suspension system, shocks are discrete parts of the suspension system.
Wondering how to change a shock absorber? Watch this video to see how it’s done
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How to replace a shock:
- Raise the back wheel’s bolts.
- Gear up the vehicle, secure the front wheels with chains, jack up the back, and support it using axle stands.
- Take the wheel out.
- Remove the nut and bolt holding the shock absorber’s top on (s).
- The mounting bolt(s) at the bottom of the shock absorber should be loosened and removed.
- From the wheel arch, remove the shock absorber.
- Make sure to tighten the mounting nut(s) or bolt(s) to the specified torque rating when fitting, which is the opposite of removal.
- It might be necessary for you to compress and remove the coil spring (as shown in this video).
What else has to be done when struts are replaced?
Conduct a complete inspection to boost profitability. Bumper to Bumper and Auto Value are the sponsors of this video.
When changing a strut on a car, you should check the sway bar linkages to see whether there are cam bolts that allow you to modify the camber. After the strut is changed, the sway bar links will ensure that the suspension is silent, and they are likely in need of replacement owing to wear. The knuckle’s cam bolts, which secure it to the strut, may accommodate camber changes for the duration of the vehicle. Bumper to Bumper and Auto Value are the sponsors of this video.
What noise does a broken strut make?
Bad strut noises are sometimes reported as hollow pounding or clunking noises. The noise is often made when a car crosses a rough patch of pavement. The top of the majority of front strut assemblies also houses a bearing.
Struts’ 200 000 mile lifespan
Shock absorbers and struts smooth out road jolts and maintain the vehicle’s stability. The lifespan of these suspension components can be influenced by the condition of the roads you travel on, much like brakes and tires are.
How frequently: Shocks and struts can last up to 80,000 miles, but difficult roads and reckless driving can shorten their lifespan. Where to go: A trusted repair facility. Price range on average: $853 to $928. An excellent advice is that high-quality components will endure longer than cheap ones. Make that the shocks and struts you use adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Affect struts have on steering?
While shocks and struts deteriorate over time, your car might give you some warning indications that anything is wrong with the parts that determine how it rides. Shocks and struts that are worn out can negatively affect your car’s stability, stopping power, and steering.
Will vibration be caused by damaged struts?
Your passengers could complain about the bumpy ride even if you are unaware of it. If the shocks and struts are old, you can also experience odd vibrations in the steering wheel or hear unsettling clanks as you brake or steer.
What is the price of replacing struts?
Depending on the brand and model, struts typically cost $150 to $450. Usually, it is necessary to replace both struts at once. A pair of struts will cost you between $300 and $900 to replace. It can take several hours to replace a strut.
Is it challenging to swap out struts?
Installing the new strut is the opposite of removing it, but getting it in place and keeping it there while you start the nuts is exceedingly difficult and occasionally impossible. So ask a friend to assist you with the installation. After positioning it, tighten the strut mount bolts to specifications. Then, insert a bolt by pressing the steering knuckle into the strut flange and aligning one hole with a pin punch. After that, take out the punch and put the other bolt in. Tighten the nuts just a little bit.
Put your angle gauge back on and adjust the knuckle as necessary to get it as close to the original camber angle as you can. Recheck the camber angle after tightening the bolts to specification. If required, modify.
Reinstall the wheel speed sensor wiring harness, stabilizer bar end link, and any other parts you previously removed.
How much do rear shocks cost to install?
Unfortunately, there isn’t much space for negotiation when it comes to this replacement. While labor for replacing rear shocks normally costs around $200, the parts for doing so cost about $900.
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