Removing, checking and installing the shock absorber strut of the Toyota Camry front suspension

Driving in a car with faulty struts can hardly be called comfortable, and handling suffers a lot from this. Therefore, they should be replaced immediately after the first symptoms of a malfunction appear. Replacing struts on a Toyota Camry at 40 and 50 bodywork is carried out similarly, and can easily be carried out by the car owner independently. This does not require specialized tools or complex equipment.

Replacing a strut on a Toyota Camry

Toyota Camry 1994 l. With. — self-repair

Since the main load falls on the front part of the car, replacement of the front struts on a Toyota Camry is most often required. Driving with faulty struts is fraught with negative consequences: The suspension strut consists of several parts: The original springs are able to withstand about thousands of kilometers without complaints. It is worth noting that at the end of their service life they begin to sag, and their untimely replacement will lead to the breakage of the turns, and this makes their further operation impossible.

They are distinguished by gas, oil and gas-oil models, designed to work out suspension shocks that occur when driving over uneven surfaces.

This is interesting: Removing the steering knuckle of the rear wheel hub of Toyota Camry

Try it on!

The simplest, fairly quick and not so expensive way to get general information about the effectiveness of the suspension is to stop by a diagnostic stand, take measurements and listen to the verdict.

Another question is how precisely the verdict will apply directly to shock absorbers. The fact is that in the case of various kinds of “shaking” (of which there are more and more recently), the presence of at least one faulty element (not necessarily a shock absorber) will significantly affect the final results of the efficiency indicator. In addition, the algorithms by which the performance of the suspension are assessed differ, and diagnostics of one car on different stands can lead to the fact that the data obtained on the condition of the suspension may differ.

Rack diagnostics

The most accurate way to diagnose the performance of a rack is a special test stand. Such equipment is expensive and not every service station has it.

You can check the racks yourself by following a few simple steps:

actions:

carry out a visual inspection for mechanical damage to elements and the presence of oil leaks;
evaluate the speed of stabilization of the car when it swings in a vertical plane - serviceable struts do not allow the car to oscillate up and down;
make several turns while driving, a strong roll indicates problems with the elements of the struts;
turn the steering wheel in place, a characteristic crunch in the front of the car may indicate failure of the upper shock absorber mounts.

If malfunctions are detected, it is recommended to eliminate them as quickly as possible. Moving with racks that do not perform their functions is fraught with consequences:

decreased vehicle controllability at medium and high speeds;
loss of directional stability in all travel modes;
reduced load capacity and ground clearance;
increased load on other elements of the chassis;
lack of comfort when driving over uneven surfaces;
increase in braking distance.

The load on the front axle is much greater than on the rear. This is especially noticeable in the Camry with a 3.5 liter engine. For this reason, the front struts will require more frequent replacement.

Components of the rack

The suspension strut includes several elements:

Spring. Untimely replacement leads to subsidence, which means a decrease in load capacity and ground clearance. In rare cases, the spring coils break off and further operation of such a vehicle is impossible. The average replacement interval is about 150 thousand kilometers.
Shock absorber. There are oil and gas-oil types. Designed to stabilize roll and prevent swaying, as well as absorb impacts from uneven surfaces. The average replacement interval for shock absorbers is 60 thousand kilometers.
Upper support. Fastening element. Absorbs shocks from the shock absorber without transferring them to the body. The front supports are equipped with a bearing.
Shock absorber rod boot. Protects against dirt or dust. A torn boot reduces the life of the shock absorber.

Causes of failure

The main reasons for the failure of support bearings are dust and water penetrating inside, lack of lubrication there, and also, not rarely, due to a strong impact on the rack. Read more about these and other causes of support bearing failure:

Natural wear of the part . Unfortunately, the quality of domestic roads leaves much to be desired. Therefore, when operating the machine, be prepared for the fact that the bearings will be subject to more wear than their manufacturer claims.
Sand and dirt getting inside the mechanism . The fact is that a journal bearing is a type of rolling bearing, and it does not structurally provide protection from the mentioned harmful factors.
Abrupt driving style and failure to comply with speed limits. Driving on bad roads at high speed leads to excessive wear not only on the support bearing, but also on other elements of the vehicle’s suspension.
Low quality parts or defects . This is especially true for domestically produced bearings, in particular for VAZ cars.

Front support device

This is interesting: Automatic transmission, manual transmission on UAZ Patriot: fuel consumption, reliability

Which shock absorber to choose

To maintain a smooth ride and high comfort, it is recommended to replace the shock absorber with a part from the manufacturer.

You can purchase a high-quality analogue:

Kayaba;
Tokiko;
BOGE;
Sachs;
Lynx.

The performance characteristics of analogues may differ. After replacement, the car may become more rigid or, conversely, the roll will increase, and a rocking effect will appear on uneven surfaces. To select the correct strut parameters, it is recommended to contact Toyota repair specialists.

Removing the racks and replacing its elements

You can replace struts or any of their elements on a Toyota Camry yourself. This procedure does not require special expensive equipment or special skills.

Removing and installing parts may require a certain set of tools:

open-end wrenches and a set of heads;
device for compressing springs;
adjustable and wheel wrenches.

It is more convenient to dismantle on a lift or inspection pit.

To change the front struts or their elements on a Camry, you must perform the following steps:

tear off the wheel nuts;
lift or jack up the required wheel;
remove the wheel;
unscrew the brake hose and ABS sensor wire from the rack;
unscrew the 2 bolts that secure the strut to the wheel hub;
Under the hood, remove the protective boot and unscrew the 3 nuts securing the upper shock absorber support to the body;
pull out the stand;
install a new one, observing the reverse sequence.

Important! After installing new elements, it is recommended to adjust the wheel alignment angles.

Most often, not the entire strut is replaced, but only its individual elements: support, shock absorber or rod boot. The dismantling algorithm is as follows:

after removing the rack, using special spring ties it is necessary to compress and fix the spring;
Unscrew the nut in the center of the upper support, screwed onto the shock absorber rod. If the rod begins to scroll, it must be held with an adjustable wrench and the nut unscrewed;
remove the upper support from the rod and dismantle the spring;
if necessary, change the rubber linings on the shock absorber bowl;
If there is damage, the shock absorber boot is replaced;
a spring is mounted;
the upper support is screwed on;
spring ties are released;
the stand is mounted and secured in place.

Installation and dismantling of the left and right racks occurs in the same way.

The algorithm for dismantling the rear struts is very similar to dismantling the front axle:

jack up the car or lift it on a lift;
remove the wheel and move the wire from the ABS sensor and the brake line to the side;
unscrew the two bolts that secure the strut to the wheel hub;
remove the upper half of the rear sofa and unscrew the nuts securing the upper shock absorber support;
pull out the rack and disassemble it in the same way as the front one;
assemble and install in place, observing the reverse order of actions.

Rear axle shock absorbers are replaced much less frequently than front axle shock absorbers. Their cost is slightly higher.

The supports of the racks on different axes are fundamentally different. There is a bearing at the front that allows the rack to rotate.

This is interesting: Design features of the Toyota Corolla brake system

Seventh generation

The production of the seventh generation Camry began in 2011, and production of the model ended in 2021. In this generation, the company’s engineers tried to do everything in such a way as to save the future owner of the car from the “whims” of past Camry versions. Thus, the car received a longer wheelbase - 2.775 m, the front track is 1.575 m wide, while the rear one is 1.565 m.

The front axle shaft of the car is a double-wishbone MacPherson strut with a stabilizer bar. The front suspension design is exactly the same as in the previous generation, but the materials of manufacture have become higher quality, the arms are placed at slightly different angles, and the wheels are located even closer to the outer corners, which makes the car more stable on the road.

The suspension became stiffer, which made the car less rolly and more stable when cornering. The stiffness of the suspension has increased due to the use of a more powerful stabilizer at the front and changed settings. It is worth noting that the body has become significantly lighter, which also improves the maneuverability of the car.

The rear suspension design is unchanged - MacPherson struts are used again with two locking arms, an anti-roll bar, and two shock-absorbing struts with coil springs. It is worth noting that the rear shock absorbers are slightly higher in height than the front ones.

In the new generation, the car's chassis began to be equipped with a large number of electronic body stabilization systems, including ABS with brake force distribution (EBD) and emergency brake booster, exchange rate stability system (VSC), and traction control (TRC).

In all the generations described above, the car is as stable as possible on the road, maneuverable and reliable. At the same time, the Camry chassis is often the first cause of car breakdown. So, if there is a knocking sound when driving or the car becomes less able to cope with potholes or uneven roads, the car should be taken to a service station for repairs and diagnostics. You can watch how a particular spare part is replaced in any video on popular video hosting sites. The video describes in some detail the replacement process, which you can repeat according to the proposed plan yourself.

Summarizing all of the above, you can create a visual table of the Camry suspension diagram:

Model	Toyota Camry V(2001-2006)	Toyota Camry VI (2006-2011)	Toyota Camry VII (2011-2017)
Front suspension	Independent spring-lever, 2 levers, anti-roll bar.	Independent spring-lever, 2 levers, anti-roll bar.	Independent spring-lever, 2 levers, anti-roll bar.
Rear suspension	Independent spring-lever, 2 levers, anti-roll bar.	Independent, spring-lever type, 3 locking levers, including two transverse and 1 longitudinal, anti-roll bar	Independent spring-lever, 2 levers, anti-roll bar.

Video on the topic:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=zmYNK5ocsoc

Front shock absorbers for Toyota Camry 40

According to the owners of the Camry 40, the original front shock absorbers tend to stiffen and make unpleasant clicks in severe frosts, but as soon as the oil in the shock absorber reaches operating temperature, the shock absorber’s operation becomes quiet and soft. This does not mean that the original shock absorbers are bad or defective. The ability to harden in the cold is a feature of many shock absorbers. Just as the oil in the engine and gearbox thickens in the cold, the oil in the shock absorber also thickens.

vendor code		Applicability	Rod diameter, mm	Case diameter, mm	Unfolded length, mm	Rod stroke, mm	Price
Left	Right
Original numbers and sizes of front shock absorbers for Camry V40
4852080090	4851080309	for cars with in-line 2.4 engine, 2AZFE	22	51	543	176	8300/8000
4852080093	4851080312	for cars with V6 3.5 engine, 2GRFE					7500

As you can see, the original numbers of the front shock absorbers are for cars with a 2.4 engine (2AZ-FE) and for cars with a 3.5 liter engine. (2GR-FE) - different, but in fact, the shock absorbers are the same.

How to determine if racks are faulty

In addition to checking the performance of the racks at a specialized stand, which not every car repair shop has, you can check them yourself. There are several ways to do this:

Conduct a visual inspection of the rack for deformation, oil leaks, etc.
Rock the car and check how quickly its position stabilizes - if the racks are in working order, it is impossible to rock the car on your own.
If the car feels insecure on the road, the suspension does not respond to unevenness and the body tilts strongly when entering a turn, then this also indicates a malfunction of the struts.

Since the main load falls on the front part of the car, the front struts most often need to be replaced on a Toyota Camry 40 . Driving with faulty racks is fraught with negative consequences:

loss of control over the car at both high and medium speeds;
a significant decrease in exchange rate stability;
reducing the vehicle's carrying capacity;
due to low depreciation, other suspension elements fail;
decreased comfort for the driver and passengers while driving, especially on rough roads;
loss of control during sudden acceleration or braking.

The suspension strut consists of several parts:

Springs. The original springs can last about 100–150 thousand kilometers without any complaints. It is worth noting that at the end of their service life they begin to sag, and their untimely replacement will lead to the breakage of the turns, and this makes their further operation impossible.
Shock absorbers. They are distinguished by gas, oil and gas-oil models, designed to work out suspension shocks that occur when driving over uneven surfaces. Depending on the manufacturer and driving mode, they can last about 30–50 thousand kilometers.
Shock absorber supports. Installed in the upper part of the rack, they are necessary to attach it to the body and hold the spring in the socket.
Shock absorber boot. Designed to protect the shock absorber rod from dirt and dust.

Structure of Camry struts
If the springs are in good condition, then replacing the front strut on a Toyota Camry is somewhat more complicated, since first you will have to replace the faulty shock absorber and supports. But this allows you to significantly save on repairs due to the use of old springs and anthers.

Shockabsorber-replacement-14_

There are known cases when, when diagnosing a car on a “shaky ride” with a working suspension and recently replaced shock absorbers, the data obtained indicated low residual effectiveness of the suspension. But during the “test drive” the car behaved perfectly. The reason is that the stand was not designed for more “hard” settings of the tuning series shock absorbers compared to the characteristics of the original products, as a result – a wrong verdict. Well, that happens.

A very important point! The final indicators may be influenced by such parameters as tire pressure, vehicle loading during diagnostics, small deviations from a straight line when driving to the stand (appearance of a deviation angle from the longitudinal axis), accidental installation of the vehicle on the handbrake, uneven loading of the vehicle during diagnostics, etc. .d. It will be a real pleasure for a careless repairman to “cheat” a client out of the cost of new shock absorbers, so that in the meantime, as if by accident, pump up his flat tire...

Procedure for replacing racks

To carry out the work you will need the following set of tools:

jack;
balloon;
set of keys and sockets;
special ties for springs;
gas key.

Replacing the front struts on Toyota Camry 50 and 40 is performed as follows:

The car is jacked up, then the front wheel is removed.
Unscrew the 2 bolts securing the hub to the bottom of the strut.
The fastenings of the brake hose and ABS wires are unscrewed from the rack.
The hood is opened, then the 3 bolts securing the strut support to the body are unscrewed.
The stand is removed.
Installation of the rack is carried out in the reverse order.

Procedure for replacing racks
Attention! After replacing the struts, it is necessary to adjust the camber/toe.

Along with replacing the strut, it is recommended to replace the stabilizer bar on the Toyota Camry - it also affects the directional stability of the car. The links are attached on both sides of the car to the lever and rod with just two nuts, and replacing them is not difficult.

If the strut is not replaced entirely, but only the failed shock absorber needs to be replaced, then proceed as follows:

On the rack removed from the car, a spring is tightened and fixed using special ties.
Then the central nut in the strut support that secures the shock absorber is unscrewed. Often the strut rod rotates, making it impossible to unscrew the nut. In this case, you need to grab the rod with a gas wrench, after which the nut can be unscrewed.
After this, the strut support is removed and the spring is pulled out.
A rubber gasket is placed on the lower support of the new shock absorber, then the spring is installed.
A rubber boot is installed on the shock absorber rod.
The rack support is installed and tightened with a nut.
The ties are removed from the spring, then the finished rack is installed in place.

Replacing racks

Replacing the rear struts on a Toyota Camry with replacing the shock absorber is carried out in the same way.

Important. If it is necessary to replace the shock absorber, you should also install new rubber gaskets under the spring and upper strut mounts. The supports for the rear and front struts are different - the front ones have support bearings that are responsible for the rotation of the strut when the steering wheel is turned.

The procedure for replacing the rear struts is almost the same as the front struts, with some exceptions:

The car is jacked up, then the wheel is removed.
The bolts securing the strut to the wheel hub are unscrewed, the ABS wire and brake hose are removed.
Then the back of the rear sofa in the car is removed, after which access to the nuts is opened, with the help of which the upper support is attached to the body.
The nuts of the upper support are unscrewed, then the stand is pulled out.
Installation is carried out in reverse order.

When choosing spare parts, it is recommended to pay attention to originals or OEM manufacturers who manufacture spare parts under Toyota license. As a rule, their factories are located directly in Japan, but not in China. It is worth noting that replacing rear struts on Toyota Camry 40 and 50 is performed 2–3 times less often than replacing front struts. But at the same time their cost is 15–20% higher.

Tweet
Share 0
Reddit
+1
Pocket
LinkedIn 0

Installation

Install the lower spring insulator onto the strut.

Install the spring compression stop on the rod.

Rice. 4.28. Compressing the strut spring using a special tool

Using a special tool, compress the spring and install the spring on the strut (Fig. 4.28).

Rice. 4.29. Installation diagram of shock absorber insulator and spring cup

Install the shock absorber insulator and spring cup. Align the “OUT” mark on the upper spring cup with the mark on the shock absorber insulator, as shown in Figure 4.29.

Rice. 4.30. Setting the spring cup to the correct position

Install the upper spring cup with the mark towards the rear of the car (Fig. 4.30).

Rice. 4.31. Installing the Bearing and Upper Strut Mount

Install the bearing and upper strut mount, oriented correctly in relation to the rear of the vehicle. (Fig. 4.31).

Note. Make sure the bearing is installed in the upper strut mount.

Using the special tool, hold the upper spring seat and install the new nut.

Tightening torque: 49 Nm.

Install the remaining parts in the reverse order of removal.

◀ Previous

Camry XV30: Car suspension

Next ▶

Removing the front suspension shock absorber Checking the front suspension components Front suspension components Rear suspension - design description Shock absorber - design description Front and rear suspension - general information

Removing, checking and installing the lower ball joint Removing and installing the anti-roll bar of the front suspension Rear suspension components Removing the shock absorber strut of the rear suspension Checking and installing the shock absorber strut of the rear suspension Possible malfunctions of the rear suspension

Link in different formats to this article

TEXTHTMLBB Code

Sixth generation

The sixth generation Camry was sold from 2006 to 2011. The 2006-2011 Camry received not only a new body, but a completely different chassis design, which began to cope with the road many times better.

The front suspension is an independent MacPherson strut suspension with anti-roll bar, shock absorber struts, coil springs and wishbones. The structure of the axle shaft itself is not very different from the previous generation, but it is worth understanding that the telescopic shock absorber struts have been improved, which makes it possible to better stabilize the car body in a vertical position.

The shock absorber strut, according to the user manual and construction diagrams, now consists of:

shock absorber;
compression buffer;
protective cover;
bottom spring gaskets;
upper spring plate;
support bearing;
top support;
springs and nuts.

Repair and maintenance of the front axle shaft should be carried out every maintenance or every 15-25,000 km, depending on what roads the car is driven on.

At the rear of the car, it was no longer MacPherson strut, as in a generation earlier, but a multi-link axle shaft, consisting of two transverse and one longitudinal locking lever, telescopic shock absorbers, coil springs, a stabilizer bar and a bar.

It is worth noting that in the sixth generation the car received a lot of new electrical equipment, including new body stabilization systems, electro-hydraulic power steering in the most equipped configurations.