Solara rear struts

[cdwagner@bledsoe.net]

I need some advice on how to get to the rear strut top mounts on a 2000 Solara coupe. They appear to be under the rear package tray, but I don't want to tear up anything trying to get it out. I need some detailed tips on how to remove the package tray or whatever else I have to do to get to the strut mounts. Thanks.

[Akfahad]

dude, i just put in some coilovers on my '99 and there's no easy way around it. pretty much the whole rear will have to come out. the folding down rear seats, rear side panels (both around the window and the rear arm rests), then you can take off the rear speaker tray and that will FINALLY reveal the rear strut mounts.

[00SOLARASE]

Unfortunately it is exactly as Akfahad said, everything has to come out in the rear. And the real bitch of it is that the package tray is only held in place by three fasteners, but you need to remove all that just to get to them. I just installed Eibach springs and KYB struts in my 2000 Solara yesterday. So this is definitely still fresh in my mind. Tomorrow I will putting my interior back together. As long as you take your time everything comes out pretty easily. I just sent you a pdf file with a diagram of the rear interior and strut assemblies. I hope this helps. Dave

[cdwagner@bledsoe.net]

Thanks to both you guys. You were right on the money. I did exactly like you said and got the struts on today. I used Monroe Sensatrac struts which I hope will give good service. This car is my wife's work transportation so highspeed handling is not an issue. Just wanted a good replacement for the worn out Toyota struts. Will reassemble the interior tomorrow. Thank you Dave for the PDF file because it made things a little clearer before I got things apart.

Charlie

[mineralrob]

aNYone have a detailed writeup on this. I'm trying to help a friend switch out the strut mounts??]
thanks