How to Change the Shocks on a 2002 Toyota Corolla

[carsrepair]

The shocks in your 2002 Toyota Corolla keep the coil springs in the suspension system from bouncing as you travel over road imperfections. Depending on your driving habits though, you may notice the shocks wearing after hitting the 40,000-mile mark, impacting your 2002 Toyota Corolla's overall ride quality. Regain the fun of traveling by changing the worn front or rear shocks. It not only will help keep your Toyota from bouncing, but also will improve handling and control.


Removing the Shocks
1.
Step 1

Loosen the front wheels' lug nuts using a lug wrench.
2.
Step 2

Jack up the front or rear wheels and support the vehicle on two jack stands and chock the wheels that remain on the ground.
3.
Step 3

Take out the rear seat cushion and back to gain access to the shock assembly's upper mounting nuts if you are changing the rear shocks.
4.
Step 4

Work on one side at a time and detach the brake hose bracket from the bottom of the shock absorber and the anti-lock brake system speed sensor bracket next to the brake hose bracket using a wrench.
5.
Step 5

Detach the stabilizer bar link from the bottom of the shock using a wrench.
6.
Step 6

Unfasten the two mounting bolts holding the bottom of the shock absorber to the steering knuckle. Hold the bolt's head with a six-point box-end wrench as you unfasten the retaining nut with a socket and ratchet. If you find any of the fasteners rusted and hard to loosen, apply rust penetrant to the threads, following the product instructions.
7.
Step 7

Open the hood and unfasten the three upper nuts holding the shock absorber (strut assembly) to the strut tower using a ratchet, short ratchet extension and socket. Be careful not to unfasten the upper center nut, which may suddenly release the coil spring under pressure and cause severe injury.
8.
Step 8

Take the strut assembly out of the wheel well and set the assembly upright by securing the bottom of the strut on a vise.
9.
Step 9

Install a two-piece coil spring compressor to retract the coil from the upper spring seat. Follow the tool installation instructions and double-check you have it installed properly or the coil will spring out at you with great force once you unfasten the upper center nut.
10.
Step 10

Unfasten the upper center nut from the strut assembly with a ratchet, short ratchet extension and socket and remove the washer, suspension support, spring seat, upper insulator ring and the spring bumper boot. Organize these components on a workbench so that you reassemble them in the same order.
11.
Step 11

Remove the compressed coil spring from the shock and the shock from the vise.
Installing the New Shock
12.
Step 1

Set the new shock upright on the vise and seat the compressed coil spring on the new shock.
13.
Step 2

Assemble the new shock by installing the spring bumper boot, upper insulator ring, spring seat, suspension support and washer. Fasten the upper center nut using the ratchet, short ratchet extension and socket.
14.
Step 3

Release the two-piece coil spring compressor gradually from the assembly and remove the tool.
15.
Step 4

Position the strut assembly into the wheel well and hand-tighten the three upper mounting nuts. Tighten the nuts to 29 foot-pounds (39 Nm) with a torque wrench, short ratchet extension and socket.
16.
Step 5

Secure the bottom of the shock absorber to the steering knuckle. Tighten the bolts to 203 foot-pounds (274 Nm), or 105 foot-pounds (142 Nm) if you are replacing the rear shocks. Use the torque wrench.
17.
Step 6

Install the stabilizer bar link to the shock and tighten the nut to 33 foot-pounds (44 Nm) using the torque wrench if you are replacing the rear shocks.
18.
Step 7

Attach the ABS speed sensor bracket and brake hose bracket to the bottom of the shock absorber using the wrench.
19.
Step 8

Move to the other side to replace the shock. Start at Step 4 in Section 1.
20.
Step 9

Install the front wheels and lug nuts. Lower your Corolla and remove the chocks from the wheels.
21.
Step 10

Replace the rear seat cushion and back if you changed the rear shocks.
22.
Step 11

Take your Corolla to the auto shop for wheel alignment inspection if you changed the front shocks.

[ydb419]

Nice and informative post.

[rainandsun]

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