Rear Strut Mount Job

[Kyle Hamelin]

So I have the 2001 LE model. I have some questions about the strut mounts on the rear of the car. I have a slight rattle/nosie over speed bumps and crazy bumpy roads from the top rear of my car so I'm guessing this is the problem. All the other suspension parts have under 5000km on them.

Is this the part I am looking for? http://www.racepages.com/parts/strut...a/corolla.html

Also is their any bearings in the rear strut mount of the car? I know the front has them but I've been told the back of the car shouldn't have them. The reason I ask is this mechanic is telling me I need to buy the whole sturt mount asembley not just the strut mount probably. Whats the difference between the two anyways? I can't find a "Complete Strut Mount Asemlbey" anywhere on the internet. I type that in and it brings me to the link I provided in this post.

As for doing the job myself. I would like to do it myself haha. Is it an easy job? Do I need to compress the spring at all?

Just let me know if I'm on the right track please.
-Un bolt the top of the strut mount located behind the back seats
-un bolt the bottom of the strut/spring asembley located at the bottom where it connects to the links
-Slide the assembley out
-Replace the strut mounts
-Slide it back in and bolt it up
-Enjoy a beer while sitting in a lawn car

Is it this simple? Any help is great.

Cheers.

[1.8litrebeater]

No bearings in the rear. You will need a spring compressor and rockauto.com has the mounts cheaper. That mechanic is probably thinking of the preassembled shock/spring/mount combo sometime called quick struts.

[Kyle Hamelin]

Okay so what does the upper mount sit above then? Does it connect to the top of the strut?

I didn't think I would need a spring compressor. Is that not just for when you want to switch your spring or strut?

I thought the upper strut mount just sits on top of the strut. I wish I could find a picture of this online... Make it so much easier

[Kyle Hamelin]

Ohhhhhhh. I see why you need the compressor. I found a video on that website you posted. Nice website.

So basicly if you take the mount off without it compressed then the spring will just spring off i guess haha. Hm I hate going to garages. Do you think mechanics would let me take off the entire assembly myself then walk them over to their garage. Just ask them to put on my new mounts that I have and give them 20$ and walk away? Every heard of that being done before?

[Kyle Hamelin]

Also for the rear of the car do I have to dissconect my break line? I saw somewhere that you had too. I thought it would just be taking off the upper strut mount bolts, and also the lower bolts connected to the links.

[Crowbar911]

The brake line does run though the rear struts. Its a HORRIBLE degisn. all they needed todo is provide a U instead of a O as a flange to the brake line can be slipped out like the front struts.

You will need to bleed the brake lines after you bust them open.

[Crowbar911]

I did the job myself, and did all 4 struts.

They can be a pain, but make sur eyou have somebody around that has done it before.

As far as taking it somewhere, call ahead and ask now before you have them off

[Clayton1984]

Kyle has new struts so his brake line is no longer a issue.

Kyle - a local autoparts store, like autozone, will lend you a spring compressor for free.

[Crowbar911]

It should be. To take out the old strut, you need to disconnect the brake line, Then to install the new strut, you need to feed it back though the strut to it doesnt rub against anything.

[Kyle Hamelin]

I was worried about that break line. That is a slip up in the design for sure. More hassel then is needed. Okay. I think I got all the information I need then. Thanks for the help guys. Wish I thought of the damn mount before when I did the springs and struts.... oh well live and learn right?