How to replace the rear shocks 2011-2017 Toyota Camry
To replace the rear shocks on your Camry this tutorial was tailor-made for you. You will need to lift the vehicle, remove the shock absorber, prepare the new shock absorber as well as carry out a few other steps. You can carry out this tutorial of 12 chapters in 80 minutes. Take your 12 mm socket and your torque wrench and let’s get started!
Duration
80 minutes
Number of steps
12
Difficulty out of 5
3
Average savings
$150
Parts You Will Need
Tools You Will Need
Step-by-Step Installation
Chapter 1:
Set up
Step 1/2
Turn your engine off and set the parking brake.
Chapter 1:
Step 2/2
Pull on the seat cushion to unclip the two fasteners from their lockers. Then remove the cushion.
Chapter 2:
Remove several components
Step 1/5
Using a ratchet, an extender and a 12 mm socket, unscrew the two mounting bolts from the fixed parts of the seat backrest.
Chapter 2:
Step 2/5
Be careful not to damage the airbag connector.
Chapter 2:
Step 3/5
In the trunk, pull the lever to fold the backrest, then fold the backrest.
Chapter 2:
Step 4/5
Remove the seatbelt from its guide.
Chapter 2:
Step 5/5
Lift the fixed part of the backrest, then shift it, still without pulling on the airbag connector.
Chapter 3:
Unscrew the strut mount bearing nuts
Step 1/3
You can now access the upper strut mounts.
Chapter 3:
Step 2/3
Using a 12mm offset wrench, unscrew the 3 nuts holding the upper strut mount by a few threads.
Chapter 3:
Step 3/3
Loosen the wheel lug nuts on the rear wheels.
Chapter 4:
Lift the vehicle
Step 1/2
Lift the rear of your vehicle. Place the vehicle on the jack stands.
Chapter 4:
Step 2/2
Don’t forget to put the wheels under the vehicle!
Chapter 5:
Remove various components
Step 1/3
Now you need to remove the upper ball joint of the sway bar end link.
Chapter 5:
Step 2/3
Using a ratchet and a 12 mm socket, unscrew the bolt securing the brake hose clamp.Next, remove the hose.
Chapter 5:
Step 3/3
Using a ratchet and a 10 mm socket, unscrew the bolt securing the ABS sensor cable mounting bracket.Then remove it.
Chapter 6:
Unscrew the shock absorber foot
Step 1/4
Brush the 2 strut foot bolts, then spray them with penetrating oil.
Chapter 6:
Step 2/4
Next, using a ratchet and a 22 mm socket, a breaker bar and a 22 mm socket to prevent the bolt from rotating, unscrew the strut foot nuts.
Chapter 6:
Step 3/4
Then remove the bolts.
Chapter 6:
Step 4/4
Separate the strut foot from the wheel knuckle.
Chapter 7:
Remove the shock absorber
Step 1/2
Hold the strut with one hand and finish unscrewing the retaining nuts with the other.
Chapter 7:
Step 2/2
Remove the strut.
Chapter 8:
Install the new shock absorber
Step 1/5
Take your new strut. Then remove the safety tape.Unscrew the 3 nuts holding the strut mount bearing.
Chapter 8:
Step 2/5
Insert the strut starting from the top part. Then loosely screw the 3 nuts back on so that there is enough slack for the next steps.
Chapter 8:
Step 3/5
Insert the wheel knuckle into the strut foot. Replace the bolts. Then screw the nuts back on, by hand at first.
Chapter 8:
Step 4/5
Screw the strut foot nuts back on until they make contact using a ratchet and a 22 mm socket, and a 22 mm wrench to prevent the bolt from rotating.
Chapter 8:
Step 5/5
Finish tightening using a torque wrench.
Chapter 9:
Put the components back in place
Step 1/5
Put the ABS sensor cable back in place, then screw the mounting bracket back on.
Chapter 9:
Step 2/5
Put the brake hose back in place, then screw the mounting bracket back on.
Chapter 9:
Step 3/5
Using a jack, lift the wheel knuckle in order to put pressure on the strut and make it easier to reinsert the sway bar end link into its slot.
Chapter 9:
Step 4/5
Screw the nut of the upper ball joint of the sway bar end link back on.
Chapter 9:
Step 5/5
Finish tightening using a torque wrench.
Chapter 10:
Put the vehicle back on the ground
Step 1/4
Then, you will be able to put the wheels back on your vehicle.
Chapter 10:
Step 2/4
Put the car back on the ground and block the wheels properly.
Chapter 10:
Step 3/4
Finish tightening the three nuts holding the strut mount bearing once the vehicle is on the ground.
Chapter 10:
Step 4/4
Tighten the nuts with a torque wrench.
Chapter 11:
Reinstall the various parts
Step 1/5
Put the fixed part of the backrest back in place, making sure to insert the mounting brackets correctly into their slots.
Chapter 11:
Step 2/5
Reinsert the belt into its guide.
Chapter 11:
Step 3/5
Put the folding backrest back in place.
Chapter 11:
Step 4/5
Screw the two bolts holding the fixed part back on.
Chapter 11:
Step 5/5
Reinsert the cushion correctly.
Chapter 12:
Passenger side
Step 1/2
You can now repeat the same process on the other side.
Chapter 12:
Step 2/2
Operation complete.