How to Replace the Struts on a 2003 Tundra

The front struts on your Toyota Tundra are essential to stabilizing the truck's suspension, and you need to replace them if you can feel the banging of the road. It is possible to disassemble and replace certain components of the strut, but it may be easier to replace the entire assembly. Changing a strut on the 2003 Tundra is simpler than on most other vehicles due to the setup of the truck's suspension, but it should still require at least two people. You need to change the struts on both wheels.

Instructions

1

Raise the front end of the Tundra and support it on jack stands. Remove the front wheels.

2

Unscrew and remove the strut's lower fastener nut using a wrench and remove the bolt. On a four-wheel drive truck, you must push the bolt through the strut and bracket as far as possible and pry down the lower control arm to remove the bolt.

3

Remove the three upper nuts at the top of the strut -- don't touch the nut in the center, as it keeps the strut assembly together.

4

Lower and carry the strut assembly out of the fender well.

5

Insert the replacement strut into the fender well, making sure the strut's mounting studs fit through the holes in the frame bracket. Thread and connect the upper mounting nuts while a second person supports the strut.

6

Connect the strut to the axle using its lower bolt and nut, tightening the nut to 64 foot pounds.

7

Reconnect the wheels and lower the Tundra off the jack stands after changing both struts. Tighten the struts' upper mounting nuts to 15 foot pounds.