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.
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Step 2
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.
Step 3
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.
Step 4
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.
- Standing Jack
- Iron tire
- a flexible wrench
- worn-out components are replaced
- compressing springs
- Set ratchet
- ratchet wrench
- Ground jack
Can I change the shocks and struts on my own?
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.
What is the price of replacing the 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.
The Jerry app, a certified broker, assists users in saving $879 annually on auto insurance on average. Simply download the app, respond to a few questions, and Jerry will get you free quotations from over 50 of the industry’s leading companies, including Nationwide and Travelers.
How long do the struts on a Toyota Camry 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.
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 can I tell if my 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.
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 systems are included in today’s cars to help with handling, 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).
What should the cost of my shocks and struts be?
Between $450 and $1,100 can be spent on parts and labor for a standard shock and strut replacement. The price of a single shock and strut assembly ranges from $150 to $900, while labor costs to replace a shock and strut assembly are expected to cost between $150 and $300 per assembly.
What should the labor cost for struts be?
Although these figures are simply estimates and the actual mileage could be less or more, shocks and struts are typically dependable for 50,000 to 100,000 kilometers.
It is suggested to replace both of them on the same axle when changing shocks or struts.
Shock absorbers are simpler and less expensive to replace than struts because they don’t impact the wheel alignment, steering, camber, or caster angle.
On average, you’ll spend between $250 and $600 on parts and between $150 and $350 on labor to replace the shocks on the same axle.
They cost significantly more when it comes to struts. The entire cost, including wheel alignment, is between $400 and $1000 to replace a set of struts.
The price of a single strut assembly ranges from $150 to $350, while the cost of labor for a pair is between $100 and $300.
To save between $40 and $80, you can decide to merely replace the struts (instead of the entire strut assembly). However, replacing the entire strut assembly when changing struts is likely to provide you with higher value for your money as well as better performance.
You Can Lose Control As You Drive Over Bumps and Dips
Your ability to drive your automobile over bumps and dips can be hampered by defective shocks and struts. They may result in the wheels of your car vibrating, which could result in you losing control of it. Even when you’re traveling at a safe pace, faulty shocks and struts might give your automobile the impression that it is “flying over speed bumps.”
Your Car’s Anti-Lock Braking System Won’t Perform As Expected
The effectiveness of your car’s anti-lock braking system (ABS) and shocks and struts are directly correlated with one another. Your car’s ABS won’t function as well as it once did if your shocks and struts are worn out. Therefore, if you suddenly need to brake while driving on a rough or bumpy road, your car might not stop as quickly as you’d want, which could result in an accident.
You May Struggle to Steer Your Car Around Curves
The shocks and struts of your car assist in keeping it on the road. Shocks and struts that are worn out will make it difficult for your automobile to grip the road, which could result in understeering or oversteering. You run the risk of wrecking your car if you are forced to understeer or oversteer.
Worn-Out Shocks and Struts Can Damage Other Car Components
The shocks and struts are essential for the effective operation of various automotive suspension components. Control arms, ball joints, and other suspension parts may come under more stress if your shocks and struts aren’t working properly. These problems could eventually lead to an automobile accident. Additionally, they can need pricey, time-consuming repairs.
Your Car’s Tires May Wear Down Faster Than Expected
You might observe the tread on your tires beginning to cup or exhibit other symptoms of wear and tear as your car’s shocks and struts deteriorate. Tire wear might make it difficult to control your automobile safely, which could cause an accident. You might need to replace your tires earlier than you anticipated if your shocks and struts are malfunctioning and cause your tires to wear out faster.