How to Replace the Shocks and Struts in a Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla is a sleek sedan designed for great handling and a smooth and comfortable ride. To keep it handling as it should, and to keep the ride as comfortable as possible, you need to replace your shocks and struts at least every 60,000 miles.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Floor jack
• Jack stands
• Tire iron
• Ratchet set
• Adjustable wrench
• Spring compressor
• Replacements for worn parts
• Torque wrench

1. Replace the Front Struts in a Corolla

   • 1

     Lift the front end of the Corolla with a floor jack and support it by the frame with jack stands. Loosen and remove the nuts on the front wheels with a tire iron and set the wheels aside. Find the struts under the front of the car. They are coiled springs with hardware running through them and onto both ends.

   • 2

     Locate the stabilizer bar link nut midway down the strut and disconnect it. Remove any brackets holding hoses or wires from the strut assembly. Remove the two bolts on the lower end of the strut. Disconnect the three nuts holding the top of the strut to the body. Pull the strut out and repeat this step on the other side of the Corolla.

   • 3

     Compress the spring, and remove the center nut from the top of the strut. Remove the mounting bracket, dust cover, upper spring seat, upper spring insulator, coil spring, bumper and lower spring insulator. Replace any worn parts, and reassemble the strut. Set the dial on the torque wrench to 35 foot lb. and tighten the center nut until the wrench slips. Decompress the spring and repeat this step on the other strut.

   • 4

     Position the strut in the suspension and install the upper nuts. Torque them to 29 foot lb. Install the lower bolts and torque them to 113 foot lb. Position the brake hose and anti-lock brake brackets back on the strut and torque their connections to 21 foot lb. Install the stabilizer bar link and torque it to 55 foot lb. Repeat this step on the other side of the Corolla.

   • 5

     Mount the front wheels and lower the front end of the car. Have a professional align the front wheels.

   Replace the Rear Shocks in a Corolla

   • 1

     Lift the rear end of the Corolla and support it by the frame with jack stands. Remove the rear wheels and set them aside. Pop the trunk and remove the spare wheel cover. Pop out the access panel in the trunk for the shocks and support the rear axle with a jack stand.

   • 2

     Locate the shocks directly behind the wheel hub and remove the nuts connecting the shock to the frame and the one attaching it to the control arm. Repeat this step on the other side of the Corolla.

   • 3

     Position the new shock, bolt it in and torque the bolts to 56 foot lb. Repeat this step on the other side of the Corolla.

   • 4

     Pop the access panels in the trunk back in and put the spare wheel cover back. Close the trunk. Mount the rear wheels and lower the rear end of the car.

Tips & Warnings

• Auto parts stores often rent specialty tools, like the spring compressor, and can give you explicit instructions for using them.