I did it, Strut Repl, 99 Corolla CE

[modestobulldog]

I just finished changing the front struts on my 99 Corolla CE. I used the Haynes manual to guide me. Here are some tips not mentioned in the manual:

1. Make sure you have a 6 point 19mm standard socket (203 ft/lbs torque). You don't need a deep socket.
2. Make sure you have the biggest, baddest, meanest breaker bar for #1 above.
3. Make sure your torque wrench reaches 203 ft/lbs (thanks to Garth for loaning me his Snap-On torque wrench).
4. Order new rubber spring insulators (upper & lowers)
5. Order new dust seals.
6. Brake hose bracket used a 14MM (socket or wrench)
7. Top mount nuts are 12MM (preferably socket, but wrench will work)

My car has 215,000 miles and looks / runs like new. The shop quoted me $850 for installing 4 KYB GR2's and new front strut mounts. My car looks and runs like new so I decided to go all out buy new struts, factory springs and the factory mounts for the front only. After replacing fronts, both bearings in the strut mounts were seized, so I decided to replace the rear mounts with factory units (based on the condition of the front mounts). For some reason, both front dust seals failed on the original front mounts which I attribute the seized bearings to. Since I am delayed a week ordering mounts for the rear, I decided to order the dust seals and the rubber spring insulators for the rear as well. Since I didn't have the dust seals for the front, I had to improvise via bathroom rubber gaskets, thanks to home depot.

This was also my first time ordering auto parts online, I rate http://www.1sttoyotaparts.com/disclaimer.html a perfect 10 for price, speed and service. Parts arrived quickly and packaged extremely well.

Bilstein stinks. Based on recommendations on this site, I tried to find some. Why do I have to wait darn near 3 months to receive Bilsteins? Did the shipment go down on the Titanic? Out of frustration trying to aquire Bilstein's, I decided to go with KYB GR2's. Stay away from this vendor: http://www.performancecenter.com/. They lie about availability (told me they had Bilstein's in stock (at least other vendors were honest - not available till Jan 2007). Took three weeks for KYB's to arrive (obviously another lie - they didn't have them in stock as represented). Also, they shipped the struts individually in the KYB box which is fine for shipping and stocking on auto parts store shelves, but not via UPS / Fed Ex. One strut was hanging out of the box, two other boxes were ripped. Two struts were scratched to where I am concerned, but don't have the patience to deal with those azzes again. Two of the nuts for the top of the strut were missing due to ripped boxes (cost $7.50 USD each at the local Toyota stealer). Also, shipped the wrong dust covers for the rear struts. Total incompetence. I still can't beleive they would ship the products in such a lousy way.

Everything else was pretty much by the book. Regardless of whether you change the springs or not, definitely get new Toyota strut mounts, dust seals, and rubber spring insulators (upper and lower).

I will update about my experiences changing the rear struts when done.

[retiredat44]

I found I really didn't need new insulators, dust seals, and new mounts. My Autozone Gabriel struts work just fine (was $160 for all 4) work just fine.

It takes all doing this at home. And yes, the price quoted for labor is about $700.00 plus parts. So one can save about $700.00 by doing this themselves. If you already have the tools it really helps. And get the tools you don't have on loan from Autozone, or another store with loaner tools. (like the spring compressor).

[modestobulldog]

The bearings on one of my mounts was frozen solid, the other nearly frozen. That is why I decided to replace the rear mounts. I don't want to tear the struts down only to find out I have to wait a few days for the new rear mounts.

[jzack]

FYI - some of the strut manufacturers now have preassembled full strut assemblies (ie., spring, strut, mounts, insulators, etc). The idea is making everything plug and play -- no need for spring compressors,etc. Gabriel calls theirs Readymounts and believe Monroes are Quickmounts. For higher mileage cars (like mine at 130k) -- seems like maybe a better way to go in terms of speeding up the replacement work?

I do realize the cost for these units will be more than struts alone...

[retiredat44]

Originally Posted by jzack

FYI - some of the strut manufacturers now have preassembled full strut assemblies (ie., spring, strut, mounts, insulators, etc). The idea is making everything plug and play -- no need for spring compressors,etc. Gabriel calls theirs Readymounts and believe Monroes are Quickmounts. For higher mileage cars (like mine at 130k) -- seems like maybe a better way to go in terms of speeding up the replacement work?

I do realize the cost for these units will be more than struts alone...

I really like that idea.. but, for many people time is money, plus the hassle of r&R of springs...
the Coil springs normally never wear out... but, if they get the price down on the total assemblies, I can see it really being nice for the do-it-your-self-ers. Of course the shops will probably go this method and pass the cost on without the consumer even having a choice..

[jzack]

Yes - springs normally don't need to be replaced but that's one of the big hassles of this job -- compressing them.

I was able to find some pricing for other cars -- just to get an idea. Full assembly for Chevy Cavalier ran around $140 or so (so not real cheap). These were just introduced and they don't have them for many of the models yet - Monroe is suppose to have them for the Corollas in January...

[modestobulldog]

Originally Posted by jzack

I do realize the cost for these units will be more than struts alone...

Online prices $200 each for 99 Corolla vs ~$150 for online KYB GR2's, factory springs & mounts. My perception is KYB's, Bilsteins & Tokiko's are better quality than Monroe's & Gabriels, but I could be wrong. Many posts said to stay away from them. The spring compression is not bad if you are not replacing the springs, in my case, I had to compress & release twice (once for the old, once for the new).

[thrustangle]

It has been my experience over the course of thousands of strut replacements that Monroe and Gabriel struts are noisier and don't fit quite as well as Tokiko.