🔧 Corolla - Strut Replacement

On your Corolla, the front suspension uses MacPherson struts (a shock + spring as one unit). The rear typically uses separate shocks and coil springs, but many people still call them “rear struts.”

Difficulty Level: Advanced | Estimated Time: 3-6 hours (front pair) / 1.5-3 hours (rear pair)

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Never loosen the large center nut on the strut top unless the spring is safely compressed.
• ⚠️ Use jack stands under solid lift points; never work under a car supported only by a jack.
• ⚠️ A coil spring compressor stores a lot of energy—use it slowly and evenly. (It’s a tool that squeezes the spring shorter so it can’t “release” suddenly.)
• ⚠️ After front strut work, you should get a 4-wheel alignment as soon as possible.
• ⚠️ Keep the brake hose and ABS wire (wheel-speed sensor wire) from being stretched or twisted.

---

🔧 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")
• Torque wrench (20-200 ft-lb range)
• Socket set (8mm-22mm, 1/2" drive)
• Wrench set (10mm-19mm)
• 21mm socket
• 19mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 14mm socket
• 12mm socket
• Flat trim tool
• Pry bar
• Needle-nose pliers
• Paint marker
• Penetrating oil
• Coil spring compressor (specialty)
• Strut nut pass-through socket set (specialty)
• Rubber mallet

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front strut assemblies (quick struts) - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Front strut mount/bearing kit - If not included with quick struts - Qty: 2
• Front sway bar end links - Recommended if worn/noisy - Qty: 2
• Rear shock absorbers - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear upper shock mounts/bushings - If worn/cracked - Qty: 2
• Rear coil springs - Only if sagging/broken - Qty: 2
• Replacement self-locking nuts/bolts for strut mounting - As needed - Qty: 1 set

---

📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear tires (for front work) or in front of the front tires (for rear work).
• 🔩 Break the wheel lug nuts loose with a 21mm socket and breaker bar before lifting (do not remove yet).
• 🧴 Spray penetrating oil on the large strut-to-knuckle bolts (front) or shock bolts (rear) and let it soak for 5–10 minutes.
• 🖊️ Use a paint marker to mark the strut-to-knuckle area (front). This helps you reassemble close to where it was, but it does not replace an alignment.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

FRONT STRUTS (left and right) — Recommended method: “quick strut” assemblies

Step 1: Lift and remove the front wheel

• Use a floor jack to lift the front and support the car on jack stands.
• Remove the wheel using a 21mm socket.

Step 2: Disconnect brackets and the sway bar end link

• Remove the brake hose/ABS wire brackets from the strut using a 10mm/12mm socket (varies by bracket).
• Remove the sway bar end link nut from the strut using a 17mm wrench and 6mm Allen key (if the stud spins).
• Tip: Hold the link stud so it doesn’t spin.

Step 3: Remove the strut from the steering knuckle

• Support the steering knuckle lightly with the floor jack so it doesn’t drop and pull on the axle/brake hose.
• Remove the two large strut-to-knuckle bolts/nuts using a 19mm socket and breaker bar.
• If needed, tap the bolts out using a rubber mallet and use a pry bar to separate the strut from the knuckle.
• When reinstalling these bolts later: Torque to 156 Nm (115 ft-lbs).

Step 4: Remove the strut top nuts and take the strut out

• Open the hood.
• Hold the strut with one hand and remove the three top mount nuts using a 14mm socket.
• Remove the strut assembly from the wheel well.
• When reinstalling these nuts later: Torque to 39 Nm (29 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Install the new front strut assembly

• Position the new strut in the tower and hand-start the three top nuts using a 14mm socket.
• Align the bottom of the strut to the steering knuckle and install the two large bolts/nuts using a 19mm socket.
• Torque fasteners:
  • Top mount nuts: Torque to 39 Nm (29 ft-lbs)
  • Strut-to-knuckle bolts/nuts: Torque to 156 Nm (115 ft-lbs)

Step 6: Reinstall end link and brackets

• Reinstall the sway bar end link nut using a 17mm wrench and 6mm Allen key (if needed). Torque to 55 Nm (41 ft-lbs).
• Reinstall the brake hose/ABS wire brackets using a 10mm/12mm socket. Tighten securely (do not over-tighten small bolts).

Step 7: Reinstall the wheel and lower the car

• Install the wheel and snug lug nuts with a 21mm socket.
• Lower the car and torque lug nuts in a star pattern: Torque to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs).
• Repeat Steps 1–7 on the other front side.

REAR SHOCKS (what most people call “rear struts” on this Corolla)

Step 8: Lift and remove the rear wheel

• Use a floor jack to lift the rear and support the car on jack stands.
• Remove the wheel using a 21mm socket.

Step 9: Remove the rear shock lower bolt

• Support the rear axle beam slightly with the floor jack.
• Remove the lower shock bolt using a 17mm socket and 17mm wrench.
• When reinstalling later: Torque to 74 Nm (55 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Remove the rear shock upper nut(s) and remove the shock

• Access the top of the shock from inside the trunk (you may need the flat trim tool to pop clips/trim panels).
• Remove the upper nut(s) using a 14mm socket (hold the shock rod if it spins using the strut nut pass-through socket set (specialty)).
• Remove the shock from the wheel well.
• When reinstalling later: Torque the upper nut(s) to 19 Nm (14 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Install the new rear shock

• Install the shock into position and start the upper nut(s) by hand using a 14mm socket.
• Install the lower bolt using a 17mm socket and 17mm wrench.
• Torque fasteners:
  • Upper nut(s): Torque to 19 Nm (14 ft-lbs)
  • Lower bolt: Torque to 74 Nm (55 ft-lbs)
• Reinstall trunk trim using the flat trim tool.
• Repeat Steps 8–11 on the other rear side.

Step 12: Reinstall rear wheels and final torque

• Install the wheel and snug lug nuts with a 21mm socket.
• Lower the car and torque lug nuts in a star pattern: Torque to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs).

---

✅ After Repair

• 🛞 Get a 4-wheel alignment (especially after front struts) to prevent tire wear and pulling.
• 🔍 Test drive at low speed first. Listen for clunks over bumps and recheck all visible fasteners.
• 🧰 After 25–50 miles, recheck lug nut torque with a torque wrench: 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs).
• 🛠️ If you reused springs/mounts and hear popping, the mount/bearing may be worn.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $900-$1,800 (front + rear, parts + labor + alignment)

DIY Cost: $250-$800 (parts only, depends on quick struts vs reuse)

You Save: $650-$1,000 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 3-6 hours.

---

🎯 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.