Pullin my hair out: Parcel tray removal for strut access? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

howpilot · 10-09-2010, 07:17 PM

Been going in complete circles for about 4 hours now. Getting nowhere. Simply put I have a 2003 Camry sel. It has an very very annoying clunk from the rear strut. I know EXACTLY what the problem is. On the Toyotas the strut has flat spots on the top of the shaft. The mount point has groves for the shaft to fall in to. Idiots whom install struts do not align the slot and the shoulders on the strut shaft. After about a year the strut rotates then falls out of the slot and there is now about 1/16 inch play in the combination. KLUNK KLUNK on every tiny bump. I know this scenario because I went through it with a 97 Camry. I now own a 2003 with the same problem.

Ok my problem the rear package shelf has to be removed to access the top of the strut. How on earth do I get the whimpy piece of crap package shelf out of my GD way?????? There seems to be hidden gremlins holding on to the fuzzy piece of 2 bit foam. Grrrrrrrr. Every time I enter 200THREE Camry I get redirected to a very helpful post from some fella with a 2000 or a 91 or a 97. Has no-one ever posted a R&R on a rear strut for a 2003 Camry. Need than package shelf gone in the worst way. And my wife will kill me if I take a knife to it. Can ya tell im at my wits end??????

troidus · 10-09-2010, 08:09 PM

I have an '04 LE, not an '03 SE, and I haven't done this, but I have read about it. You have to take the back seat out to get to the fasteners for the front edge of the parcel shelf. You also have to take the bolts out of the upper child seat anchors.

howpilot · 10-10-2010, 04:15 AM

I can slip my hand under the entire shelf, however I can't manage to get it to slide forward and out. The child anchor bolts dont seem to be the snag. I have the brake light unit out of the way. I read that the plastic side panels must be removed, however they are equipped with side impact airbags. I can just imagine a loud bang followed by a 300 dollar replacement tab! Now whats the trick to removing the panels? I'm guessing the 1st thing would be to disconnect the cars battery so as to not trigger the air bags by accident. Once the panels are gone I bet then if I raise front edge the panel will release and pull out from under the rear window? Now I can get about 3 of the panel anchors to let go but thats where it gets hung up. This is not going well at all!

troidus · 10-10-2010, 04:49 AM

Sorry, my Haynes manual doesn't talk about airbag R&R except to say to disconnect the battery before doing anything to prevent an accidental discharge. I think I've read in some of the speaker replacement threads that the C-pillar trim has to come out, but my manual didn't say anything about that. I take it you have the back seat out?

howpilot · 10-10-2010, 05:03 AM

The bottom of the seat is still in place. But if you use a long extension you can remove the 12mm bolts then the "bolsters" from both left and right. Then the panels can come out. Least thats how I did my 97. I have now read in the Toyota manual that the air bag panel has one bolt under the small removable cover marked SRS airbag. When it gets light today I'll get back at the beast. It happens to be 4 a.m. Thanksgiving Sunday and guess what I can't sleep for thinking about this stupid simple job.
Thanks to all who have been helping esp. the PM

***LynchburgCSI*** · 10-10-2010, 04:51 PM

Edited your title so this thread gets some more attention.

howpilot · 10-11-2010, 07:47 AM

The secret to removing the rear tray is,,,,,Yes, the side trim panels must be removed. This allows the tray to be tilted up. The tabs holding the tray along the rear window have a kink to them. There is no way they will let go, or be re-inserted unless the tray is tilted as high as possible on the front edge. Then the tray almost falls out. On the Camrys with side air bags the small square marked SRS airbag system there is one small 10mm bolt. Gently pry from the front edge and the bolt cover hinges open. Once the bolt is removed there are 5 plastic barbed anchors that pull out fairly easily. After the panels are gone and the tray removed you can now dig in the sound proofing and find the top of the strut or access the speakers if that was your quest. The bottom of the rear seat did not have to come out, but the 2 side bolsters near the doors must be removed. Put together 2, 6inch extensions with a 12mm socket and you can fish in between the seat and sidewall and remove the bolt. Next grab the cushion and ram it upward. It will pop off and come out easily. Now you can get at the strut.

Now for the bad stuff. I removed the anchor nut on top of the strut and slipped on large holed washers. Re tightened the nuts, and went for a test over some bumps. The annoying KLUNK KLUNK is still there. Metallic and nerve annoying. Must be a failed strut. Or else it could be the sway bar or a trailing link arm, or bushing, or ??????? How can Toyota build such a winner of a car, world wide sales only beaten by the highly discounted Ford Tarus, with such a weak flaw. My 97 Camry still has the exact same Klunk. I've had buddies rid in the back of my Camry and comment they would never buy such a noisy piece of #%*^. Maybe the test drive magazine guys should retest drive a new car after it reaches its 7th or 8th birthday. Also this is not a hard driven high mileage car. My wife drives it (I drive the 97) and currently sits at 89,000 Kilos or about 53,000 miles. All miles paved, unless you count looking for bumps. The clunk happens on manholes, pavement repairs, minor road imperfections etc. Maybe we should try a Honda!

mdnelson26 · 11-05-2010, 06:13 PM

I'm trying to remove the rear parcel tray on a 2005 to get access to the seat belt tensioner and speakers. When removing the side trim panels did you break any of the plastic clips? I'm worried about breaking them and then not being able to reinstall the panel.

troidus · 11-06-2010, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdnelson26

I'm trying to remove the rear parcel tray on a 2005 to get access to the seat belt tensioner and speakers. When removing the side trim panels did you break any of the plastic clips? I'm worried about breaking them and then not being able to reinstall the panel.

I popped mine out with steady hand pressure and none of them broke. I had one clip stay in the sail on each side and I used a taped screwdriver to work them free to put them back in the trim panels before reassembly. The harder ones for me were the two holding the center third of the parcel shelf down. I had to pull up a little harder than I would have liked to get them to pop free.

I have an '04 and it has the mounting bosses for the rear SRS bags, but didn't come with them. I've been wondering if that's something that could be added.

mdnelson26 · 11-08-2010, 08:05 AM

I got mine out and in with no problems. I ended up buying an upholstery tool to aid in popping out the clips. It worked very well. It seems my fears were unfounded. I did become very familiar with the seat belt assembly though and got my new speaker grilles installed. It looks and functions much better now.

hariaum · 11-15-2010, 02:44 PM

I agree with you, I'm really upset with the noises this suspension makes. It doesn't feel like a failed strut though. However, maybe I should try new struts.