How to Replace 2003 Avalon Shocks

The 2003 Toyota Avalon shares a platform with the Toyota Camry, Solara, Lexus ES 300 and ES 330. The Avalon is equipped with a 3.0-liter V-6 engine. Suspension is provided by MacPherson struts at all four wheels for fully independent front and rear suspension. A MacPherson strut combines the shock absorber and coil spring into one unit. It attaches to the body at the top of the vehicle, eliminating the need for an upper control arm.

Instructions

Front Removal

1

Park the Avalon on a level, paved surface and set the parking brake. Loosen the lug nuts with a ratchet and socket. Raise the front of the Avalon with a jack and support with jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and wheels. Support the lower control arm with a jack.

2

Disconnect the sway bar link where it attaches to the strut with a ratchet and socket.

3

Unbolt the brake hose bracket and ABS sensor bracket from the strut with a ratchet and socket.

4

Move to the engine compartment and remove the three nuts from the strut tower with a ratchet and socket. Note the position of the strut support that fits over two of the studs. Remove the support.

5

Move to the bottom of the strut and remove the two nuts that attach the strut to the steering knuckle with a ratchet and socket. Tap out the bolts with a hammer and punch. Push the strut off of the steering knuckle. Lower the strut and remove it from the fender well. Tie the steering knuckle to the sway bar link with a piece of wire so the knuckle does not fall forward and stress the CV-joint.

6

Attach a coil spring compressor to the coil spring. Tighten the compressor with a ratchet and socket until pressure is taken off of the upper spring seat.

7

Remove the nut from the strut shaft. Remove the suspension support, upper spring seat, upper insulator, rubber bumper, coil spring, spring bumper and lower insulator.

Front Installation

8

Turn the suspension support over. You will see there is bearing in it. Pack this area with multipurpose grease.

9

Set the lower insulator onto the lower spring seat and slide the spring bumper down the piston shaft of the new strut. Guide the spring on the new strut, making sure the end of the spring is resting against the stop in the lower spring seat. Install the upper insulator and upper spring seat.

10

Install the suspension support, making sure the flat sides of the hole in the support slide over the flat sides on the strut shaft. Install the nut and use a torque wrench to torque it to 36 foot-pounds. Make sure the two little arrows on the top edge of the support are pointing toward the wheel.

11

Release the spring compressor. Slide the strut into the fender well, guiding the three mounting studs in to strut tower. Install the support plate, washers and nuts finger tight. Remove the wire from the steering knuckle. Slide the strut bracket onto the knuckle and install the bolts. Use a hammer to tap in the bolts. Use a torque wrench to torque the nuts onto the bolts to 156 foot-pounds. Torque the three nuts to 59 foot-pounds.

12

Reattach brake hose and ABS sensor harness to the strut. Torque the bolt to 22 foot-pounds. Mount the sway bar link to the strut install the nut and torque it to 29 foot-pounds.

13

Mount the wheels and lug nuts. Lower the Avalon to the ground and torque the lug nuts, in a crisscross pattern, to 76 foot-pounds.

Rear Removal

14

Press inward on the two tabs under the front of the rear seat cushion to unlatch the cushion. Lift upward on the front of the cushion and remove the cushion from the vehicle.

15

Remove the bolts along the bottom of the seat back with a ratchet and socket. Remove the seat back. Pull the seat belt receptacles from the floorboard.

16

Remove the dust cap from the top of the strut. Remove the three nuts from the top of the strut with a ratchet and socket.

17

Place wheel chocks in front of the front wheels. Loosen the lug nuts on the rear wheels with a ratchet and socket. Raise the rear of the Avalon and support with jack stands. Remove the wheels. Remove the bolts that attach the brake hose and ABS wire to the strut. Remove the nut from the sway bar link at the strut.

18

Remove the two nuts from the bottom of the strut. Use a jack and a block of 2-by-4-inch wood to support the axle carrier. Tap out the bolts. Lower the jack far enough so the studs on top of the strut clear the holes in the strut tower. Remove the strut.

19

Compress the coil spring with a spring compressor. Remove the nut and collar from the strut shaft. Remove the support, spring, bumper and lower insulator from the strut.

Rear Installation

20

Mount the lower insulator, bumper, spring, and support on the new strut. Make sure the bottom end of the spring is fitted against the stop in the lower insulator. Install the collar and a new nut and torque it to 36 foot-pounds.

21

Look at the studs on the suspension support. Two studs are close together. Align the support so the other stud is lined up with the lower strut bracket and faces the wheel.

22

Guide the strut into the tower. Install the lower bolts and nuts. Install the three upper nuts and torque them to 29 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket. Install the dust cap. Torque the lower nuts to 145 foot pounds. Attach the brake line to the strut and torque the bolt to 22 foot-pounds. Attach the ABS harness to the strut and torque the bolt to 48 inch-pounds with an inch-pound torque wrench and socket. Attach the sway bar link to the strut and torque the nut to 29 foot-pounds.

23

Mount the wheels and lug nuts. Lower the Avalon to the ground and torque the lug nuts, in a crisscross pattern, to 76 foot-pounds.

24

Reinstall the seat belt receptacles on the floorboard and mount the seat back on the body. Install and torque the middle bolts -- the ones that hold the seat back and seat belt receptacles -- to 30 foot-pounds. Install and torque the outer seat back bolts to 13 foot-pounds. Press the rear of the seat cushion under the seat back, making certain the seat belt receptacles are accessible, and press the front of the seat cushion downward to lock it into place, .