How do you replace front struts on a 2000 Toyota Corolla?

Answer 1

Pretty easy actually... First you need to loosen the lug nuts on the wheel, jack up the car and put it on stands, and finish removing the wheel. Mark exactly where the strut connects with the wheel assembly so that you can maintain the same camber when you put in the new one. Next you want to remove the two nuts that connect the strut to the wheel assembly, you'll need to push the bolts out with something, another smaller bolt will do... There should be a small bolt or clip that holds the brake line in place so remove that too. Lower the wheel assembly down and place something beneath it so that the brake line isn't stretched. While you are holding on to the strut (slightly easier with a friend holding on to the strut) remove the three nuts on the top of the strut. These are actually in the engine bay. Make sure your friend is holding on to the strut as it will fall once the three nuts are un-done. Pull it out and that's step 1 done! Next you are going to remove the spring from the strut so you need to rent or buy a spring compressor. I used the small ones that are actually just two hooks on a giant bolt, you'll see what I mean when you get it. Compress the spring and remove the nut on the top of the strut. This will let you take the top off and remove the spring. Your new strut should have the bottom bracket already on it but if not you will need to remove that from the old strut and put it on your new one. Extend the center pole of the strut out and put the spring back in there making sure that the end of the spring is sitting in the little in indent in the base and put the top on doing the same thing. Put the nut back on and decompress the spring. Go slow with this as you don't want the spring to take your finger off... Once you have removed the compressor, head back over to the car and put it back in. So slide it into place, replace the three nuts on the top first, then move the wheel assembly up into place and put the two bolts back. Make sure everything lines up with your original marks and tighten it all up. Bob's your uncle! Honestly, should take about an hour per side, not such a difficult job. It's like a 4/10 difficulty. Back is pretty much the same but the top nuts are under the back seat cushion and there is an extra bolt that holds a control bar you'll need to take off. Have fun and good luck! Dave