🔧 Camry - Shock Absorber Replacement

On your Camry, the “shocks” are part of the suspension units (front and rear are strut assemblies). Replacement involves safely lifting the car, removing the suspension unit, and reinstalling with correct torque so the ride height and handling stay safe.

Difficulty Level: Advanced | Estimated Time: 3-6 hours (per axle)

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Never work under a car supported only by a jack; use jack stands.
• ⚠️ Coil springs store huge energy; only compress springs with a proper spring compressor.
• ⚠️ After front strut work, you need an alignment; driving without it can be unsafe.
• ⚠️ Keep hands clear of pinch points at the knuckle and control arm.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves
• Breaker bar (1/2-inch drive)
• Torque wrench (10-200 ft-lbs range)
• Socket set (8mm-22mm, 1/2-inch drive)
• Wrench set (10mm-22mm)
• Allen key set (metric)
• Pry bar (18-inch)
• Needle-nose pliers
• Flathead screwdriver
• Penetrating oil
• Paint marker
• Spring compressor (external hook type) (specialty)
• Impact wrench (optional)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front strut assemblies - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear strut assemblies - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Front strut mount kit - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear strut mount kit - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Sway bar link (if worn) - Qty: 2 (per axle)
• Anti-seize compound - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park on level ground, put the transmission in 1st gear, and set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks on the opposite end you’re lifting.
• Loosen lug nuts 1/2 turn using the breaker bar before lifting.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Before I give the exact steps and torque specs, I need 2 quick details so I don’t steer you wrong:

• Are you replacing the front struts, the rear struts, or all four?
• Are you installing complete strut assemblies (pre-assembled with spring/top mount) or bare struts (reusing your spring/top mount)?

Tip: Complete assemblies avoid spring-compressor risk.

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✅ After Repair

• 🧪 Road test at low speed first; listen for clunks over bumps.
• Recheck lug nut torque after 25-50 miles.
• Get a 4-wheel alignment after any front strut replacement.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $600-$1,400 (parts + labor, per axle varies by parts quality)

DIY Cost: $180-$700 (parts only, per axle varies by parts quality)

You Save: $300-$900 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-4 hours per axle.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.