2003 Corolla: The Rear Struts Installation Guide

The 2003 Toyota Corolla does include rear shock absorbers and coil springs that are much like struts on the front wheels. These struts are essential to a smooth, safe ride, and you need to install new ones if the car bangs around excessively. Installing new rear struts will involve removing the old ones, and you need to install new struts for both rear wheels to maintain balance. You may need the assistance of a second person.

Instructions

1

Park the car and shut off the engine. Remove the spare tire from inside the trunk and then remove the trunk's inner trim panels at both the right and left sides.

2

Raise the car's rear end and support it on jack stands. Raise the floor jack under the axle beam to support it.

3

Remove the strut's two upper mounting nuts from within the trunk with your wrench, then remove the upper bolt from underneath. Remove the strut's lower mounting nut with the washer.

4

Lower and remove the old strut assembly out of the fender.

5

Insert the strut assembly into the fender well, guiding the upper studs into the holes within the car body and connecting the strut's lower mount onto the stud.

6

Connect the upper mounting bolt with its nuts, then connect the lower mounting nut. Tighten all fasteners to 59 foot-pounds with a torque wrench.

7

Raise the car with the jack and remove the jack stands after installing both struts, then reinstall the trunk trim panels and spare tire.