The Toyota Camry is a roomy vehicle with good handling. You must perform routine maintenance on the suspension system, especially the shocks and struts, to preserve the comfort and handling. Under normal driving circumstances, the shocks and struts start to show signs of wear after 60,000 miles, at which point you must replace them.
In This Article...
Step 1
With the help of a floor jack and jack stands, the front of the Camry is raised. With a tire iron, loosen and remove the nuts holding the front wheels in place, and then put them aside. Find the strut components underneath the car’s front end. They have hardware that runs through them and joins the ends of what appear to be springs to the suspension and the frame. Directly behind the wheel hubs, they are mounted.
Step 2
Track the brake hose back to the strut by locating it at the wheel hub. Both the anti-lock brake sensor and the mounting bracket should be disconnected. About halfway down the strut assembly, remove the nut from the stabilizer link. Pull off the nuts holding the strut’s upper side to the frame as well as the bolts on the lower side of the strut. On the opposite side of the Camry, pull out the strut and repeat the procedure.
Step 3
Compress the spring after removing the dust cover from the strut assembly. To rebuild the struts, remove the strut nut and arrange the following components in the order they were removed: the mounting bracket, dust seal, upper spring seat, upper insulator, coil spring, spring bumper, and lower insulator. You ought to still be in shock. Reassemble the strut after replacing any worn components. Tighten the strut nut until the torque wrench slips with the dial set to 35 foot lbs. Unwind the spring.
Step 4
Reinstall the dustcover before fastening the strut’s upper bolts to the body. To 29 foot lbs of torque. The bottom bolts should be inserted and torqued to 113 foot lbs. The mounting bracket for the brake hose and anti-lock brake sensor should be installed. To 21 foot lbs of torque. The stabilizer link nut should be tightened and torqued to 55 foot lbs. On the opposite side of the Camry, repeat steps 3 and 4.
Install the front wheels, then lower the car’s front end. the front wheels should be aligned by a professional.
Open the bonnet, then use a wrench to cut the negative battery cable. It is fastened to the battery terminal and either blue, black, or a negative symbol is written on it. Raise the Camry’s back end by removing the backs and cushions from the back seats. However, slide a jack stand under the axle and support it by the frame. Take off the back wheels.
Remove any sensors or brackets from the strut, then take off the stabilizer bar link nut in the middle of the strut. Locate the arm holding up the strut’s bottom end, and then put another jack stand below it. The top strut mounting nuts must be removed along with the lower strut bolts. On the opposite side of the Camry, repeat this action.
Compress the spring while removing the strut. Lay out each piece next to one another so you can see how they are put together after removing the nut in the middle. Remove the bumper, insulator, coil spring, support, and so on. Replace any worn components. Torque the central nut on the strut back together to 36 foot lbs. the spring compressor must be removed.
Install the top mounting nuts after aligning the strut with the frame. To 29 foot lbs of torque. Only hand-tighten the bolt while attaching the strut to the arm. The strut, along with any sensors or brackets that you previously removed, must be connected to the stabilizer link nut. On the opposite side of the Camry, repeat steps 3 and 4.
Install the wheels, then lower the car’s back end. For the suspension to be stabilized, give it a little bounce. On each side of the automobile, tighten the strut-to-arm bolt to 188 foot lbs. Place the back seat cushions in place. Negative battery cable should be reconnected to the terminal.
- The spring compressor is typically available for rent at auto parts stores. They can offer detailed assistance on how to use it properly.
- Ground jack
- Standing Jack
- Iron tire
- Set ratchet
- a flexible wrench
- compressing springs
- worn-out components are replaced
- ratchet wrench
How long do Toyota Camry shocks last?
A shock or strut may need to be replaced after 50 to 100 thousand kilometers. The struts or shocks should always be replaced without delay if they ever leak, break, or suffer other damage.
Can you change your own front shocks?
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.
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.
How can I tell if my shocks are defective?
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.
How can I tell when my shock absorbers need replacing?
Shocks and struts, like the majority of safety-critical chassis parts, deteriorate gradually over the course of regular operation, making the negative effectsreduced steering precision, stopping capability, and/or vehicle stabilitypossibly difficult to notice while driving normally. Numerous factors, including road and environmental conditions, your driving habits, and the weight of the vehicle, affect how quickly something will wear out. Learn how to spot worn shocks and struts by reading on.
Signs of Worn Shocks and Struts
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. Make an appointment with your service provider for a Safety Triangle Inspection of your suspension system if your car is exhibiting any of these symptoms.
- when braking, the nose dives Do you experience a sudden dip in the front of your automobile when you use the brakes? The nose dive motion is a sign of worn shocks and struts. It is risky since it can result in a longer stopping distance.
- Unsteady ride
- If your car bounces a lot when you hit a bump, your shocks and struts may not be functioning properly. When your car hits a bump, it should settle and not bounce again. Shocks and struts that are worn out can’t efficiently absorb hits from the road and smooth out the bump.
- Vehicle sways or rolls during turning.
- It is uncomfortable to feel as though you are not in control of your car when you sense that your car is swaying or rolling when making a turn. A greater amount of steering effort may be required to traverse turns as a result of shocks losing their capacity to control the pace of weight transfer when turning.
- Uneven tire wear – When the shocks and struts in your automobile are worn out, the car can bounce, which lowers the holding force on the road. Additionally, this bouncing may speed up tire degradation, resulting in cupping or scalloping of the tires (when pieces of rubber are gouged out of the tire).
- rear squat when speeding up
- When accelerating, suspension movement is stabilized by properly working shocks and struts. When you press on the gas pedal, a car’s rear end may squat excessively if its shocks and struts are failing. The transfer of the vehicle’s energy to the back leads the front end to rise, which contributes to motion sickness in passengers and an unduly high loading of the rear suspension components.
- the steering wheel vibrates
- When traveling on a bumpy road, it is normal to feel some vibration in your steering wheel. Similar vibrations on flat surfaces could indicate damaged shock absorbers, struts, or steering stabilizers.
- strange noises
- You might hear a clunking or knocking noise when shocks and struts are worn out. Upon the shock or strut bottoms out when encountering a bump, metal-to-metal contact results, which produces this sound. Additionally, worn shock or strut mounting components may be the cause of these noises.
- Fluid seeping from shocks/struts’ exteriorIf you observe a lot of hydraulic fluid dripping from your shocks or struts, it may be a sign that they need to be replaced. The fluid required for your shocks and struts to operate properly is escaping if the seals break.
Should I swap out all four shocks at once?
It’s crucial for driving safety to replace your shocks and struts when they become worn out in order to avoid harming other parts of your car, such as the tires and suspension.
Various safety features are included in today’s cars to help with control, stability, and accident prevention. You are kept safe by a combination of systems including automated braking, anti-lock brakes, stability control, and traction control. In an emergency situation, your shocks and struts may not function effectively if they are in bad condition.
Getting Your Shocks & Struts Replaced
Whether you observe any of the aforementioned symptoms, get your alignment checked, or put on new tires, the best way to know when to repair your shocks and struts is to have a skilled technician check your suspension. Get your car’s suspension inspected at the very least once a year.
Replace front or rear axle shocks and struts in pairs at all times. It is even better to replace the shocks and struts on all four wheels at once. This keeps the vehicle’s handling and responsiveness on both sides uniform and dependable.
We always advise obtaining an alignment as well, following any suspension work. Wheel alignment of your car could also vary if your suspension is altered. Additionally, even little adjustments to wheel alignment can have expensive long-term effects (accelerated tire wear, more suspension problems, difficult handling).
How much time does installing shock absorbers take?
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.
What is the price of replacing the front struts on a Toyota Camry?
Because your suspension system is made up of a number of intricate components, repairs can be quite pricey. Your Toyota Camry’s struts will typically cost between $600 and $700 to replace.
The overall price can be divided into the following groups:
- Parts: In addition to replacing the struts themselves, you’ll probably need to repair the strut bellow, strut bumper, spring insulator, and strut mount. Depending on your issue, the price could easily reach a few hundred dollars.
- Labor costs: Depending on the shop you choose, labor charges might range from $200 to $250 per hour. This task might easily take an hour or longer because you need to lift the car, remove the tire, and replace the struts on all four wheels.
Although changing your struts may not be a simple do-it-yourself project, you can always reduce the cost by working with Jerry to save money on car bills like car insurance.
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