Here's how to replace the front struts on a Toyota or Lexus with double wishbone front suspension.
Struts or shock absorbers become worn over time, causing a ride that is bouncy, sloppy handling and tire wear. A shock absorber or strut is responsible for controlling the rebounding action of the spring after a vehicle's wheel has taken the impact of a road imperfection.
To learn more about what's inside a strut/shock absorber, check out this video:
In this video, front struts are replaced on a Lexus GS. The procedure should be the same for the Lexus IS, GS and LS series of sedans, and similar for many other vehicles with double wishbone front suspension. The vehicle in this video exhibited a lot of bounce on the highway, and after replacing the struts the car feels more taught.
The strut is the assembly of the spring and shock absorber, and must be removed from the vehicle before replacement. The strut is held in by three bolts under the hood, and one bolt at the lower control arm. However, the ABS sensor and upper control arm have to be unbolted in order to get enough room to get the strut out.
Once removed, the springs are compressed and the strut mount nut removed. This releases the preload on the strut, allowing you to change it. Take caution when using spring compressors since they are dangerous - it is highly recommended to use a vice and compressors that have a locking safety pin.
Replacement is the reverse of disassembly. Comparing the old strut vs new strut upon rebound reveals that the old strut was slightly worn (still rebounded, although slowly), though the improvement in ride quality increased significantly.
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