Are you able to compress the shock completely and then spin the shock all the way around on the lower bolt then push it off?

 

Looks like if you were to raise the car and let the suspension drop, that the shock should come out after compressing it.

 

As per Toyota instructions you need to support lower control arm with jack and pice of wood and remove stabilizer link, then disconnect upper control arm from the knuckle.

 

View attachment 463102

For the last diagram posted above: separate the rear upper control arm assembly from the rear axle carrier sub-assembly.
Note from Toyota and it is true: Because the nut has its own stopper, do not turn
the nut. Loosen the bolt with the nut secured.

 

When I replaced the rear left shock not long ago on my HB (non hybrid), I did exactly what you did and didn't hv enough room to pull the old shock out. So I followed the instructions as posted above, then there was Just enough but still very tight space. Jacking up on the lower control arm and vary the height a few times along the way helped. Good luck.

 

I upgraded my rear shock absorbers with TEIN EnduraPro VSTG5-A1MS2 a few years ago... I just can't remember if I used any trick or shortcut.

It's very easy... I just removed one lower control arm bolt per side to remove and reinstall springs. The Tein EnduraPro rear shocks are my setup's absolute favorite improvement. They're the ones you're sitting on, and it's now like riding on a flying carpet as I charge through the most rugged driving conditions. I don't like slowing down for bumps and dips. You will want to slap them on before long.

 

Thank you very much, especially for Toyota's instructions, photos, and video links. Once it stops raining, I will renew my efforts with your guidance.

 

Buy Tein 19+ Toyota Corolla Hatchback (MZEA12L) Rear EnduraPro Shock - VSTG5-A1MS2 for 111.05 at Armageddon Turbo & Performance (goturbo.net)

TEIN.com: EnduraPro / EnduraPro PLUS - PRODUCTS

 

Shocking but true, my original rear shocks are leaking after 15,000 miles.

How does a 4 year old car only have 15,000 miles is what I want to know. Are you the proverbial, little old lady who only drives the car to church on Sundays?

 

A lot of people (including myself) have not had to drive much in the past 4 years (since 2020) thanks to the start of the pandemic/covid. I've had my CT for exactly 4 years and 1 month, and I've driven it only 6,500 miles. 2,500 of those miles were because of a single roadtrip halfway across the country and back. So really, I only drive 1,000 normal miles per year now.