🔧 Camry - Front Strut Replacement

This job replaces the front MacPherson strut assemblies on your Camry. On this model, the front strut is part of the suspension that holds the spring and helps control ride and steering stability. Because your car is a hybrid, the work stays on the 12V chassis side and does not involve the high-voltage system.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-4 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Support the car securely with jack stands; never work under a car held up only by a jack.
• Front springs are heavily loaded. A strut spring compressor is a spring-clamping tool that safely squeezes the coil spring during disassembly.
• Do not loosen the center strut shaft nut unless the spring is fully compressed and controlled.
• Mark the position of brackets and links before removal to help keep alignment close.
• After replacement, a wheel alignment is required.
• Battery disconnect is not required for this repair.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (pair)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves
• 21mm lug wrench or impact socket
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 19mm socket
• 21mm socket
• 3/8-inch ratchet
• 1/2-inch breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• Penetrating oil
• Bungee cord or wire
• Spring compressor (specialty)
• Strut nut socket set (specialty)
• Trim clip tool
• Paint marker

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front strut assembly - Qty: 2
• Front strut mount hardware - Qty: 2
• Front stabilizer link nuts - Qty: 2
• Front strut-to-knuckle bolts and nuts - Qty: 4
• Front wheel alignment - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and set the parking brake.
• Chock the rear wheels.
• Loosen the front lug nuts slightly before lifting the car.
• Replace front struts in pairs so the ride height and handling stay balanced.
• Take a quick photo before removing brackets.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and secure the front end

• Use the floor jack to lift the front of the car at the proper lift point.
• Place jack stands under the approved support points.
• Remove the front wheels with the 21mm lug wrench or impact socket.

Step 2: Free the strut connections

• Spray penetrating oil on the strut-to-knuckle bolts and stabilizer link nut.
• Use the 17mm socket and 19mm socket to remove the stabilizer link from the strut.
• Use the 19mm socket and breaker bar to remove the two lower strut-to-knuckle bolts.
• Support the steering knuckle so the brake hose and axle are not strained.

Step 3: Remove the top strut nuts

• Open the hood and locate the two or three upper strut mount nuts.
• Use the 14mm socket to remove the top mount nuts.
• Hold the strut assembly while removing the last nut so it does not drop.
• Remove the complete strut assembly from the wheel well.

Step 4: Transfer the spring and mount

• Install the old strut assembly into the spring compressor (specialty).
• Compress the spring evenly on both sides until it no longer presses on the mount.
• Use the strut nut socket set (specialty) to remove the center shaft nut.
• Move the spring, mount, and insulators to the new strut if you are not installing a complete assembly.
• Keep your body out of the spring’s path.

Step 5: Install the new strut assembly

• Position the strut in the tower and start the upper nuts by hand using the 14mm socket.
• Align the lower strut tabs with the steering knuckle.
• Install the lower bolts with the 19mm socket.
• Reconnect the stabilizer link with the 17mm socket.
• Tighten the upper mount nuts to 47 Nm (35 ft-lbs).
• Tighten the lower strut-to-knuckle bolts to 180 Nm (133 ft-lbs).
• Tighten the stabilizer link nut to 55 Nm (41 ft-lbs).

Step 6: Reassemble and lower the car

• Reinstall the wheel and snug the lug nuts with the 21mm lug wrench or impact socket.
• Lower the car with the floor jack.
• Tighten the lug nuts to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs) in a star pattern using the torque wrench.

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✅ After Repair

• Check that the spring seats correctly and no hoses or wires are pinched.
• Bounce each front corner to confirm normal movement and no clunks.
• Test drive slowly first, then listen for knocking or rattling.
• Schedule a four-wheel alignment as soon as possible.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $700-$1,400 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $240-$560 (parts only)

You Save: $460-$840 by doing it yourself!

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

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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.