85 suspension replacement

[bds34]

I've noticed the ride on my '85 getting rockier... a couple weeks ago I had two people in the car on I-95 (normally I'm by myself) and it felt like a damn carnival ride. I'm pretty sure all the shocks/struts/springs are original both on the front and the back, so I wouldn't be surprised if they all need to be replaced.

I've never done anything more complex than replacing the front brakes and that wasn't on this car, so I'm looking for advice on how to proceed here, where's a good place to get good parts, what parts I should get, etc. My Haynes manual indicates there's a possiblility of buying completely new strut assembly units that include new springs but so far I can't find any. If there's a way to avoid screwing around with removing springs then I'd do it; however I do have a set of spring compressors that I can use. I've just never done it before and everything I read makes it seem like doing that is like working on a bomb.

Any advice/suggestions/etc. anyone could offer would be appreciated. Thanks!

--Brian

[Ontherdagain]

Brian,

My suggestion if your nervous about changing the struts is just to remove the whole assy. and take it to PEP boys I think they charge around $25 a strut . The whole assembly isn't too difficult to remove, then it's a matter of taking back to PEP boys for your alignment when completed. It sure beats a lot of the labor costs !!

Bill

[AstroVannin]

Front struts are rebuildable......... just buy the inserts. You will have to replace the complete rear though. If you no gots teh air tools take em to pep boys to change the springs.

[bds34]

Thinking of taking this on over the long weekend. I'll probably do the pep boys route just for ease/safety's sake. Does anyone have the torque specs for reinstalling these? They're not in my Haynes manual and I don't have a factory service manual... been meaning to get one.

[Ontherdagain]

Brian,

Can't stress enough the importance of picking up that manual, especially if you have not done a lot of work on these cars. It will give you step by step. you can find them on E-bay on a regular basis. There are several torque specs that are listed , most will be hopefully done when you go back to take it for an alignment.

these are for my 1986 Camry, guessing there the same for 85.

Front strut:
top shock absorber to body 3 nuts 27 ft-lb
bottom shock to steering knuckle 2 nuts 152 ft-lb (should be done when re-aligned)

Rear strut:
top of shock absorber to body 3 nuts 17 ft-lb
bottom shock absorber to axle carrier 2 nuts 119 ft-lb (should be done when re-aligned)

Again I would recommend getting the book then rechecking the other torque's (caliper's , etc.) when you get it.

Bill

[Kingdom934]

This might help.




The toyota OEM manuels are great things to get. I got the '85 Camry repair + wiring AND '87 Cressida repair + wiring for under $35 bucks on ebay. I got a steal since just a SINGLE repair manual is like $40 bucks.