Access to rear struts

[bcsbadboys]

I want to access the top of the rear struts on my '97 Camry to make sure the nuts are torqued properly. I folded down the seats but couldn't figure how to remove the black plastic guard behind the seat. Here's a picture.

How do I access the nuts on top of the rear struts?

[Venom_5]

gotta remove the seat cushions, side cushion pillars, then remove the black plastic covers behind those, then the rear deck lid

there is a DIY in the DIY Sticky

[bcsbadboys]

Originally Posted by Venom_5

gotta remove the seat cushions, side cushion pillars, then remove the black plastic covers behind those, then the rear deck lid

there is a DIY in the DIY Sticky

Thanks! I'll take a look at the DIY. I couldn't figure out how those side cushion pillars come out and how to remove the rear deck lid. I'll look into it more.

[rebel8ball]

pssst DONT listen to the gen 3 guy...

whiel for the most part he is right, you dont have to remove the deck unless you got big hands...lol there is plenty of room once you pull out the the side bolsters on either side of the back seat to get a socket under there, that what we did for mine this weekend...

btw there is a diy on removing the back seat, but not doing the struts... i looked when we got to that point too and a break over bar is a good friend!

[Venom_5]

if youre gonna use deep sockets and ratchets, you might as well remove it all ...

the side cushion pillars should have 1 bolt (mine were 12mm) at the bottom .... they are revealed when you remove the seat bottom cushions .... its probably similar for the Gen 4

[rebel8ball]

gen 4 has 2 bolts on the bottom, 3 shallow nuts on top, was alot easier to not take the dash out... kinda funny to think we were both prolly doing the same mod at the same time this past weekend

[Venom_5]

2 bolts on the bottom for 1 side pillar? ....Toyota's gettin a lil paranoid

[rebel8ball]

sorry misread, thought you meant the struts...lol no one little bolt down in the seat crack, easier to pop the seat bottom out and pull the bolt then 3 small nuts under the back dash and 2 bolt/nut combos on the lower strut mount... i knew i shouldnt post before my morning coffee

[bcsbadboys]

OK, so those pics on the DIY for removing the rear seats were huge! I do understand now how to remove the side cushion pillars.

Does the rear deck lid need to be removed to access the top of the struts?

[rebel8ball]

not necessary, if you look under the dash, right close to the side you will see the three nuts for the strut, if you got big hands like me, and dont got a half pint friend to get his hands in there, you might need to, but for mine we didnt.

[bcsbadboys]

Originally Posted by rebel8ball

not necessary, if you look under the dash, right close to the side you will see the three nuts for the strut, if you got big hands like me, and dont got a half pint friend to get his hands in there, you might need to, but for mine we didnt.

Good to hear! I think I've got everything I need to get in there. Thanks everyone for the good ideas.

[rebel8ball]

what ya installing? i put in h&r sports and kyb struts last weekend

[Venom_5]

i had to use 12mm deep sockets to get to the 3 top nuts for the struts .... just because the bolts that come through the bottom were so long .... so make sure ur tools fit over them (i guess the gen 4 has more space?)

[rebel8ball]

smaller bolts i guess

[bcsbadboys]

Originally Posted by rebel8ball

what ya installing? i put in h&r sports and kyb struts last weekend

Unfortunately, nothing. I'm going to make sure they are torqued properly. I've got that damn strut mount noise. I got the front struts to quit making noise by removing one nut at a time then re-torquing to 59 ft/lb.

Going to make sure the rears are torqued properly. If that doesn't solve it, it may be new strut mount or KYB strut time. Thanks.