🔧 Highlander - Rear Shock Absorber Replacement

This repair replaces the rear shock absorbers on your Highlander. The rear shocks control bounce and help keep the tires planted, especially over bumps and during braking.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-2.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a flat, solid surface only.
• ⚠️ Never rely on a floor jack alone. Always support your Highlander with jack stands.
• ⚠️ Chock the front wheels so the vehicle cannot roll.
• ⚠️ Do not remove suspension arms or loosen major alignment bolts for this job.
• ⚠️ Replace rear shock absorbers in pairs for balanced handling.
• ⚠️ 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 (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 17mm wrench
• 14mm socket
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive ratchet
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• Torque wrench (10-150 ft-lbs)
• Torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs)
• Penetrating oil
• Rubber mallet
• Needle nose pliers
• Trim clip removal tool
• Paint marker
• Mechanic gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear shock absorbers - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear shock upper mounting nuts - Qty: 4
• Rear shock lower mounting bolts - Qty: 2
• Rear shock lower mounting nuts - Qty: 2

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🚗 Park your Highlander on level ground.
• 🅿️ Shift to Park and set the parking brake.
• 🛞 Place wheel chocks in front of and behind both front tires.
• 🔩 Spray penetrating oil on the lower shock bolts and upper shock nuts. Let it soak for 5-10 minutes.
• 📌 A breaker bar is a long handle used to loosen tight bolts safely.
• 📌 A torque wrench tightens bolts to the correct measured tightness.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts

• Use the 21mm socket and 1/2-inch drive breaker bar to loosen each rear wheel lug nut about half a turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.
• Loosen wheels before lifting.

Step 2: Lift and support the rear of the vehicle

• Use the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) at the rear center jacking point to raise the rear of your Highlander.
• Place jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) under the approved rear side support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands.
• Leave the floor jack lightly touching the rear suspension area as extra support, but do not use it as the main support.

Step 3: Remove the rear wheels

• Use the 21mm socket and 1/2-inch drive ratchet to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them flat under the vehicle edge as an extra safety backup.

Step 4: Support the rear suspension arm

• Use the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) under the rear lower suspension arm near the shock mount.
• Raise the jack just enough to support the arm. Do not lift the vehicle off the jack stand.
• This keeps the suspension from dropping suddenly when the shock is removed.

Step 5: Remove the lower shock mounting bolt

• Use the paint marker to mark the position of the lower shock mount for reference.
• Use the 17mm socket and 1/2-inch drive breaker bar on the lower shock bolt.
• Hold the nut with the 17mm wrench if it turns.
• Remove the lower bolt and nut with the 17mm socket, 17mm wrench, and 1/2-inch drive ratchet.
• If the bolt sticks, tap it gently with the rubber mallet.

Step 6: Access the upper shock mounting nuts

• Use the trim clip removal tool to move any small plastic splash shield or liner clips blocking access to the upper shock mount.
• Use the 14mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to reach the upper shock mounting nuts.
• The upper mount is above the shock body inside the rear wheel well area.

Step 7: Remove the upper shock mounting nuts

• Support the shock with one hand.
• Use the 14mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to remove the upper mounting nuts.
• Use needle nose pliers only if a clip or small retainer blocks the socket path.
• Lower and remove the old shock absorber from the wheel well.

Step 8: Compare the old and new shock

• Use your hands to place the old and new rear shock absorber side by side.
• Confirm the upper mount shape, lower bushing width, and overall length match.
• Slowly compress the new shock by hand once or twice if the manufacturer instructions say to prime it.
• Match parts before installing.

Step 9: Install the new upper shock mount

• Use your hands to position the new shock absorber into the upper mounting location.
• Install the new upper mounting nuts by hand first.
• Use the 14mm socket, 3/8-inch drive ratchet, and torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs) to tighten the upper mounting nuts.
• Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs)

Step 10: Install the lower shock mount

• Use the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to slightly raise or lower the rear suspension arm until the lower shock eye lines up with the bracket.
• Install the new lower shock bolt and nut by hand.
• Use the 17mm socket, 17mm wrench, and 1/2-inch drive ratchet to snug the lower bolt.
• Do not final-torque the lower bolt while the suspension is hanging.

Step 11: Repeat on the other side

• Use the same tools and steps to replace the rear shock absorber on the opposite side.
• Replace both rear shocks even if only one is leaking.

Step 12: Set suspension at normal ride height

• Use the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) under the rear lower suspension arm to raise the arm until it is near normal ride height.
• Normal ride height means the suspension is positioned about where it sits when the vehicle is on the ground.
• This prevents twisting and damaging the rubber shock bushings.

Step 13: Torque the lower shock bolts

• Use the 17mm socket, 17mm wrench, and torque wrench (10-150 ft-lbs) on each lower shock bolt and nut.
• Torque to 90 Nm (66 ft-lbs)

Step 14: Reinstall any removed clips or shields

• Use the trim clip removal tool and your hands to reinstall any splash shield clips removed earlier.
• Make sure nothing touches the shock body or rear tire.

Step 15: Reinstall the rear wheels

• Use your hands to place each wheel back onto the hub.
• Start all lug nuts by hand.
• Use the 21mm socket and 1/2-inch drive ratchet to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 16: Lower the vehicle and torque the lug nuts

• Use the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to raise your Highlander slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Lower the vehicle fully to the ground.
• Use the 21mm socket and torque wrench (10-150 ft-lbs) to tighten the rear wheel lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs)

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Bounce the rear of your Highlander by hand. It should settle quickly without extra bouncing.
• ✅ Drive slowly around the block and listen for clunks or rattles.
• ✅ Recheck the rear shock lower bolts after the test drive if anything sounds loose.
• ✅ Recheck wheel lug nut torque after 25-50 miles.
• ✅ An alignment is not normally required when only the rear shock absorbers are replaced and no alignment bolts were loosened.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $350-$650 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $90-$220 (parts only)

You Save: $260-$430 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.8 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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