2004 Toyota Camry Rear Strut Replacement

Rear strut replacement on a 2004 Toyota Camry. No talking, only clips and subtitles.
Procedure should be the same for 2002-2006 models (from what I read, these years cover one generation). Torque specs in video were as I recall (IIRC = If I Recall Correctly). Struts are Monroe Quick-Struts, which come with the spring installed. Purchased from RockAuto for about $125 each.

[@fertilturtle]

Thank you for a very clear, clean video. Big thank you for no loud, annoying music; just the sound of tools and good workmanship.

[@ILLIEWHEELIE]

Dude you're AWESOME!!! 🤙🏿🤙🏿Straight to it! Plain an simple!

[@raybutlerjr8190]

Great vid. No chit chat. We're here to learn and observe, not hear about your dog or how you cousin in St. Louis is doing. One thing though, list tools and accessories that you used. Keep up the good work.

[@mackbass5002]

The best video I've ever seen on KZbin. No unnecessary talking, just got straight to business. Love It!! Awesome Informative Video!!✊🏿

[@rayambriz9498]

thank you ....................you save me $$$$$$450 dollars i will buy you drinks later

[@hobodriver]

Great quiet video and almost spot on! However, would just like to add that if your vehicle has rear disc brakes you must remove the caliper from rotor as the bottom 19mm bolt must be push out to the rear and there is no room with caliper in place.

[@kryptorich4286]

Correct me if I'm wrong bro but when he took that tire off look like disc brakes to me 🤷‍♂️. I bought my struts for my 2005 Camry Le just bought from some dude that drove it from cali. Cosmetically clean in and out struts done. Hope I got the balls to do it 😂😂🤦‍♂️

[@stevematda976]

Mine has disc brakes and I didn't have any issues, but that bolt on mine was very close I will admit. Putting it back together I had to have a perfect alignment with the strut and suspension before it would clear the caliper.

[@johnbreitmeier3268]

@@kryptorich4286 No, look again, it is a drum brake

[@rjwilliams3846]

A few time savers to consider. 1. Someone already mentioned in the comments that you can get to the side seat panel screw with just a long extension on a 12mm socket pushed between the gap between the cushions. If you choose to remove the bench seat, you don't need to fully remove it. Just pull it back 4 inches which will leave the seat belt buckles in place and easier to reinstall the bench cushion. 2. Invest in a set of ratcheting closed end metric wrenches (like he uses in the video)(includes 12-14mm) to access the narrow working room you'll have to remove and replace the tops strut bolts. 3. Save the 12 mm bolts holding the struts up top. As long as the threads are the same on your new quick struts, reuse them. They're taller and easier to bolt down than the shallow new bolts included with Monroe quick struts. 4. Put jack stands under both sides of the car to make it horizontal side to side (front to back doesn't matter). If you don't, it will be next to impossible to line up the bolts holes to the knuckle because the sway bar is pulling it out of alignment when not horizontal. 5. I've replaced all 4 struts on my Camry and only 1 of 8 sway bar link hex screw holes didn't disintegrate when trying to remove (stupid design!). I used an oscillating saw with a metal cutting blade to cut off the lower bolt and then was able to remove the strut. Bought new sway bar links for reinstall. They bolt on normally with a socket.

[@Mortarshot]

Thanks for the tip on the anti sway bar. Most excellent!!

[@nicholasbeck7670]

Really great tutorial, thanks. Very helpful. An FYI for those with the 2002 model --- it appears there is much less room to get a torque wrench with 12mm x 1/2" drive socket on those 3 upper strut nuts (the ones you torque to 29 ft lbs). If you follow the official Toyota repair manual, they instruct you to also remove the two roof side garnish panels, center stop lamp assy, package tray trim panel with speakers, and 3-point seat belt assy to access these 3 upper strut nuts. I avoided all that by using a foot-long 12mm offset box wrench to tighten nuts to a close 29 ft lb approximation, and used lok-tite just in case (as it's highly unlikely that I'll ever replace the struts again on this old car with 325k miles.)

[@donavanpelkey5032]

Seriously the best instructional video. I also appreciate the lack of lame music or over explanatory chatter. Great work dude!!

[@kelyariasgarcia7294]

Tremendo video.. Saludo desde República Dominicana.

[@Rubbernecker]

Great video - I agree with the other comments about the lack of silly background music. Clear and concise!

[@Delmar829]

Thank you for taking the time to do this. It was very helpful.

[@lukelewis5648]

great informational video and thanks for including the torque specifications, you're hell of a good guy

[@salba32]

Yes, super helpful video. Encourages me to attempt to do my own. I bought my struts and will attempt in a couple of weeks. Do you think the '07 Camry will be the same procedure?

[@stevematda976]

Great video, very helpful. I had both of mine done in about 2 hours total. About the only thing I needed that I didn't have already was a 19mm 1/2 inch drive socket and 19mm combination wrench to get the two big bolts on the lower strut out.

[@bloneyo1]

Great Video, thank you for sharing. We will be doing this soon to ours

[@tkdboppa7177]

ALL automotive instructional videos should be made this way !! Thank you !

[@jessicapatterson61017]

There’s no way that it’s as easy as you make it seem. I can’t even get my backseat out! Lol

[@lincolntrapper8161]

Blessings to you and yours for a great help

[@zachunderwood]

Thank you very much for posting! very helpful and I was able to do my Camry this morning.

[@loctruong6093]

super helpful video. Thank you so much. And this works for the Camry 2002 too, right?

[@Hubjeep]

+Dung Truong Yes, from what I understand 2002-2006 Camry's are the same.

[@loctruong6093]

+Hubjeep Thank you. This help me save much money for not seeing the mechanics..

[@Amelia-wl4lq]

Excelent.

[@divad08]

Good detail of rear shock replacement and great video.

[@Tammadrummer1337]

Do you have the bolt sizes? Thank you!

[@Hubjeep]

Sorry, I don't recall. All metric for sure though!

[@thelonelywolf88]

Thanks for the video. I have a 2002 Camry with almost 172K miles and I noticed the rear struts popping going over bumps and the ride isn't as smooth. Looks quite simple to do

[@leeham1480]

Excellent video

[@toeman9900]

Great video. Thanks for the tips.

[@dakotaboxell2664]

I believe the sizes are 12, 14, and 19mm, and if yours is like mine and the Allen slot is worn down to a dimple, you can fit a slim 14mm wrench between the tab and the ball to keep the bolt from spinning

[@enterprise0987]

I know this video is 3 years old but wanted to say thanks. The procedure would be similar if not identical for the 2002 to 2006 lexus ES300/330

[@ttt288]

Is the camber bolt adjustable? I was told by wheel Works that my Toyota Camry 2002 is not adjustable and camber spec. was out. In order to make it back to the spec., I need to replace it with a adjustable bolt and it cost almost $200 for them to replace it.

[@guidosartucci3316]

Excellent presentation! Grazie!

[@jaymei1827]

thank you so much, great video, very helpful. only 8 dislikes they cant see your text on the video, bcz they are blind.

[@mob99pk]

Thanks alot!!! I have just changed both rear struts from unity automobile and this video helped me alot. Very precise and step by step process explained

[@walterperleraandana195]

Dios la bendiga bendiciones

[@rkgsd]

I'd suggest replacing the strut mounts too while the car is apart. Genuine Toyota mounts only.

[@RashidKhan-wt2ut]

Excellent video. Thanks for showing it step by step. A very clean and well done video

[@texmetzger]

Noticed you have a separate jack under the suspension; is this just to remove any pressure on the strut? Then u put the jack back when securing the new strut.

[@f-16tigwelder54]

Great video. Very professional. And you never once beat your bolts in with a claw hammer! :)

[@Hephoestus69]

I did mines with out the torque wrench I use a socket wrench, is that ok ?

[@Hubjeep]

I used the torque wrench for those who choose to use one. Tightening everything tight using your best judgement should be fine.

[@Hephoestus69]

Hubjeep ok thanks

[@jerradguillory7909]

Thank you very much!!!

[@ajunino12345]

Thanks for sharing 👍.

[@zcustomcarnesi]

Great video , Will this work for my 2002 Camry v6 thanks !

[@captainstress]

In your picture of the struts at 5:40, why does it look like one of the new struts has a different boot (piston) protector than the other?

[@shannonfosdick4666]

Will this be the same procedure for a 2004 Avalon?

[@MrTmaina]

excellent job

[@davidhuggins3892]

Good video. I was wondering how to access the top part. Thanks

[@bertoclemente5675]

let me tell you how difficult it is to give the front cillons forward.

[@mohammedtuma100]

Thank you 😊

[@roltyd22]

Great video!! Do you have one doing the front also?

[@keyboardtek]

A mobile mechanic replaced both of my 2002 Camry front struts in 30 minutes. He had a battery driven impact wrench. So after viewing this video, I thought it would be fairly easy to replace the rear struts by myself, expecting it to take a bit longer as I only have socket wrenches. Although it is only 7 bolts, and appears simple to do, the fact that the struts weigh abut 30 pounds makes guiding the new strut up into the three top holes a bit of a muscle job and not easy to do when sitting on the ground. With the car up on a lift one can look up under the wheel well and see the holes to guide those bolts into. When doing this yourself with a floor jack, one has to lay on the ground to look up at those holes. Rather tough to lift the strut and carefully guide it into those holes from a laying position. Best to have a second person finger tight the top nuts while you hold the strut in place. Then, to get the old strut out from entanglement in the stabilizer parts, you have to raise the car and drop the wheel down for more clearance. So be prepared with multiple jack stands under the frame of the car, which must be rather high so you can use the hydraulic jack under the wheel to drop the wheel down. As the new strut is about 4 inches taller than the old worn out strut you will find the wheel and stabilizer part do not line up with the strut. You will have to use the jack to raise and lower various parts to get them in position so the bolts go back in their holes. I found I had to lower the wheel to line up the bottom bolt first and get that in place. Then I had to raise the wheel so the top bolt hole would swing up in place. It took me 3 hours to do both sides, which included setting up blocks under the wheels so the car did not shift, lining up the two jack stands to support the cars frame, and manipulating the hydraulic jack through the assembly. Also expect to wait at least one hour if you spray the bolts with penetrating fluid. I found I had to add a pipe over my socket wrench for added leverage to loosen the two large wheel bolts, as I do not own an impact wrench. Having the correct tool for this kind of work would have sped the process along.

[@iluvbogs]

Is it necessary to have wheel alignment done have the strut replacement?

[@picturemetrolling7068]

You should

[@MountainJack28]

Thank you for this video. helped me a lot.

[@patrickcho4954]

thanks a lot very helpful your video

[@zachunderwood]

Did you have to adjust the center nut on the strut?

[@ttt288]

Thanks for the great and clear video!

[@adalbertochapamejiaborja2324]

amazing video, excellent job

[@kevinsawyer9000]

Great video. No real need to remove the rear seat.

[@victoravelino2782]

Does anyone know what tools/sizes are needed for this job? Great video btw.

[@stevematda976]

I used a 19mm 1/2 inch drive socket/ratchet, and 19, 14, 13, 12 and 10mm combination wrenches. (I might be off a millimeter on some of those sizes--I'm doing it by memory but you get the drift). Oh and an Allen wrench (don't know the size).

[@farmer864]

This is great! Thank you

[@Maadanchik]

Good video, thanks a lot

[@joet4806]

Thank you! good video

[@captainstress]

Did you reuse the old upper mounting nuts or the new ones that came with the quick strut?

[@captainstress]

Never mind. Now that I have my quick struts in hand, I can tell from the video that you used the new nuts.

[@marlonrod1974]

I replaced the front ones but I reused the nuts on top because they are way better quality thicker stronger than the ones that came with the new shock strut assembly .

[@michther2011]

super video

[@jeramiahfuchs]

was just wondering about how long it took you to do it

[@mitchellgalloway9345]

Jeramiah Fuchs It depends on if you have automotive experience. First time I did it it was an hour and a half for one side, second time it was 45 minutes. If your bolts are rusted on it can be a bitch.

[@MrKean3691]

GREAT,,,THANK

[@alexandrenazario5796]

thanks.

[@kevinanderson836]

good job

[@cykablyat1466]

THANKS

[@990kim]

good

[@thrsnogoodnames8473]

would i be able ta get those bolts off without an impact drill?

[@Hubjeep]

Yes. Hand tools will work fine.

[@zachunderwood]

yes, it helps to get a breaker bar or have an extension on a box wrench to start. after you hit it with those, you'll be able to finish with just a socket.

[@mitchellgalloway9345]

How is the ride quality on these?

[@Hubjeep]

About same as factory. At first the car is a little higher in the rear, the springs have to settle, there is even a sticker on the spring indicating that.

[@BeltransUTubeShow]

No audio required! great video camera angles and spec torque information. Great job!

[@robrxtrain1]

thank u an the camera man or woman.

[@Hubjeep]

Tripod!

[@tonyfoster7651]

Thank you.Very quick and easy with good video😅

[@castlewhore2007]

Thanks for the video I have to do this to my 2003 2.4L se model Camry