Possible to replace struts without removing wheel?

[jtu100]

Is this possible? Probably not but worth asking...

[atobe]

sure if you have a car lift and doesn't mind working with the tire in the way for everything you're about to do..... but then if you have a car lift then it should be no problem taking the tire off

[jtu100]

I dont have a car lift

I just have the jack that came with the car to replace flat tyres.

In which case, presumably there is not the space to get the strut out when the wheel is left on, and the car is on the ground (or just jacked up a few inches)

[nuron]

If you leave the wheel on, you'll spend more time than you need to. Buy some decent jackstands, don't use the widowmaker for repairs other than a flat tire.

[88 LE]

I don't see how you would get to the strut to steering knuckle/spindle bolts with the tire and wheel in the way.

Your welcome to prove me wrong though, but I'm going to need proof (video).

[HomeGrown]

The amount of time that would take, a "video" would be more like a long movie or documentary (rated R for strong language).

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by nuron

If you leave the wheel on, you'll spend more time than you need to. Buy some decent jackstands, don't use the widowmaker for repairs other than a flat tire.

Follow nuron's advice here. Get a floor jack and some jack stands to do this job. Don't even attempt this using the the car's scissor jack. TN needs all the members it can get.

And no, it's not practicle to do this with the wheels on the car.

Mike

[w203]

If you had to ask you shouldn't be installing struts. It may sound harsh but seriously, if you have the know hows and the knowledge then it should be self explanatory.

[TBayToyotaBoy]

I don't even think you could get a power bar in there to unbolt the strut-to-knuckle bolts, with the wheels on. You'd be turning about 1/8 of a turn at a time--ie, it would take two hours instead of 30 minutes to do each strut.

And I gotta agree with these guys, get a hydraulic floor jack and a set of jackstands. Struts aren't worth dying for.

[jtu100]

I don't know why I was trying to avoid taking the wheels off. In my head it seemed like a real big job... I didn't realise how bloody easy it was until I took a wheel off yesterday. Nosing around the suspension was a lot of fun. If I hadn't been a programmer I would have liked to have been a mechanic!

I have also bought some jack stands so I should be safe. As you might be able to tell from all my other posts I'm trying to learn about cars and my Camry specifically. Having been raised by a single mum I didnt get the schooling in car maintainance as a kid!!

The main reason I want to do the work is that I am a cheapskate! My car needs repairs as it failed the road safety test here in oz. The garage quoted me around AU$1800 to fix it up. Hence why I'm determined to do the easy stuff myself, which means shock absorbers and bent control arm. I will save the steering rack for professionals as I think its gonna be a bit hard for me...

[TBayToyotaBoy]

Good to hear you're trying to tech yourself, especially if you want to save money. I learned cars on Toyotas, growing up my Dad had a Corolla (88) and my Mum had a Tercel 4WD wagon (87). They're good cars to work on, as long as the rust isn't too advanced. Best of luck to you.

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by jtu100

I don't know why I was trying to avoid taking the wheels off. In my head it seemed like a real big job... I didn't realise how bloody easy it was until I took a wheel off yesterday. Nosing around the suspension was a lot of fun. If I hadn't been a programmer I would have liked to have been a mechanic!

I have also bought some jack stands so I should be safe. As you might be able to tell from all my other posts I'm trying to learn about cars and my Camry specifically. Having been raised by a single mum I didnt get the schooling in car maintainance as a kid!!

The main reason I want to do the work is that I am a cheapskate! My car needs repairs as it failed the road safety test here in oz. The garage quoted me around AU$1800 to fix it up. Hence why I'm determined to do the easy stuff myself, which means shock absorbers and bent control arm. I will save the steering rack for professionals as I think its gonna be a bit hard for me...

This sounds like an intelligent approach. I can only offer one more bit of advice. For both the strut job and the rear lateral control arm, take off the wheels and use a good penetrating oil on every nut and bolt that you will be removing. Then put the wheels back on and drive the car for a couple of days. This will allow that penetrating oil to really work itself in. I did this twice before starting on the rear struts on my 98 Camry. Believe me, it made the job so much easier.

Mike

[w203]

Get a breaker bar also. Makes the install easier if you run into any stubborn bolts.