Replace the Rear Struts in a Camry
Step 1Pop the hood and disconnect the negative battery cable with a wrench. It's attached to the battery terminal and marked either blue, black or with a negative symbol. Pull out the rear seat cushions and backs and raise the rear end of the Camry. Support it by the frame, but slide a jack stand under the axle. Remove the rear wheels.
Step 2Disconnect any sensors or brackets from the strut and remove the stabilizer bar link nut midway down. Find the arm supporting the lower end of the strut and slide another jack stand underneath it. Disconnect the lower strut bolts and remove the upper strut mounting nuts. Repeat this step on the other side of the Camry.
Step 3Pull the strut out and compress the spring. Remove the nut in the center and lay out each piece next to each other so you know how they're assembled. Remove the support, coil spring, insulator and bumper. Replace any worn parts. Reassemble the strut, and torque the center nut to 36 foot lb. Remove the spring compressor.
Step 4Position the strut to the frame and install the upper mounting nuts. Torque them to 29 foot lb. Attach the strut to the arm, but only hand-tighten the bolt. Connect the stabilizer link nut to the strut and any sensors or brackets that you removed earlier. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 on the other side of the Camry.
Step 5Mount the wheels and lower the rear end of the car. Bounce on it a little bit to stabilize the suspension. Torque the strut-to-arm bolt to 188 foot lb. On each side of the car. Install the rear seat cushions. Reconnect the negative battery cable to the terminal.
Step 1Pop the hood and disconnect the negative battery cable with a wrench. It's attached to the battery terminal and marked either blue, black or with a negative symbol. Pull out the rear seat cushions and backs and raise the rear end of the Camry. Support it by the frame, but slide a jack stand under the axle. Remove the rear wheels.
Step 2Disconnect any sensors or brackets from the strut and remove the stabilizer bar link nut midway down. Find the arm supporting the lower end of the strut and slide another jack stand underneath it. Disconnect the lower strut bolts and remove the upper strut mounting nuts. Repeat this step on the other side of the Camry.
Step 3Pull the strut out and compress the spring. Remove the nut in the center and lay out each piece next to each other so you know how they're assembled. Remove the support, coil spring, insulator and bumper. Replace any worn parts. Reassemble the strut, and torque the center nut to 36 foot lb. Remove the spring compressor.
Step 4Position the strut to the frame and install the upper mounting nuts. Torque them to 29 foot lb. Attach the strut to the arm, but only hand-tighten the bolt. Connect the stabilizer link nut to the strut and any sensors or brackets that you removed earlier. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 on the other side of the Camry.
Step 5Mount the wheels and lower the rear end of the car. Bounce on it a little bit to stabilize the suspension. Torque the strut-to-arm bolt to 188 foot lb. On each side of the car. Install the rear seat cushions. Reconnect the negative battery cable to the terminal.
