This is the only video on youtube showing how to access the struts without cutting through the plastic covers! Great Job!
@TheJ2342
4 жыл бұрын
I just did this job on my solara and it's a nightmare. If you tackle this be prepared to spend a lot of time on it and get frustrated. You might be better off removing the seats and panels entirely rather than trying to bend them to gain access. The plastic is robust so don't be gentle, but getting everything clipped back in flush is a huge pain. This is a helpful video to get you started, good luck.
@Whelessry
4 жыл бұрын
Couldn't agree more! Pain in the butt!
@MrOtrdriver1999
4 жыл бұрын
Much appreciated on this video, I suspected the bolts was in the back when I didn’t see them in the trunk. I have the exact same color as your solara, mine is a 2001 5 speed, I just did a complete exhaust replacement from the manifold to the muffler. I have a popping noise from the rear passenger side where the top of the shock is bolted in, I don’t ever use my back seats to haul people around lol. I’m going to be driving around with the back seats complete removed. Depending how difficult and how it looks, they may stay removed. I’m a cement mixer driver and I will have more time to complete the repair when things slow down, right now I’m going to access the passenger side and hopefully I can tighten the bolts down and replace all my shocks and struts later on.
@GrizzlyJ44
5 жыл бұрын
Well done. I’m using your video to help me as I plan my suspension work. I’m doing front and rear struts as well as a few other associated bits. Can’t wait for the improved ride quality. Part of me is thinking I should pop some new speakers in back there while everything is opened up.
@Whelessry
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks! Good luck with everything!
@bms560
5 жыл бұрын
Nice video, thanks for posting
@farson69
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks man! Getting ready to do mine.
@RoboLiberty
3 жыл бұрын
Great video! One question... The right rear side, could you have not loosened the lower assembly before loosening the top bolts making the nuts easy for finger loosening? (I hope that made sense).
@Whelessry
3 жыл бұрын
To be totally honest with you, i have no idea i cant remember! I dont see why not though
@rkgsd
5 жыл бұрын
Did you reuse the upper strut mounts? Seems you could since there's no bearings like the fronts.
@reggiejohnson543
3 жыл бұрын
very good video did mine all around last week.very easy just looks hard.
@sdnative2387
5 жыл бұрын
Awesome work. I'm surprised the shop didn't charge more labor to replace mine 15 years ago. Just got another quote. Same price again. The rear end on mine sits 1 inch lower than the front. The front struts are 1 year old KYB's. The rears are 15 year old KYB's. Do you think it's the struts or the springs or both?
@vincebilodeau6183
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this video. What struts did you go with and what do you think of them ? now that you’ve had time to test them
@Whelessry
2 жыл бұрын
Honestly it was whatever I could buy locally for cheap, still passing inspection couple years later though
@richcityrepresentative8805
Жыл бұрын
@@Whelessry TRQ have good quality parts for a good price.. rear struts for my 2000 Solara is $184
@chrisl9162
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the info, needed this!
@Whelessry
5 жыл бұрын
Awesome! Have fun!
@HollywoodCreeper
4 жыл бұрын
Damn. Good video. I have to do this. Thanks for making this video. Did you have to loosen the tie rods and stuff? I am just going to replace the spring, because it broke and punctured the tire. I had a lot of weight in the car for a while and then I took all the weight out of the trunk and this happened. I guess I should have taken the weight off incrementally. Whatever. Do I have to do what you did, or is there a way to sneak the new spring on? Your car is in good shape.
@Whelessry
4 жыл бұрын
Hey thanks for the comment, to be honest I'm not sure, it's been so long since I did the job, you may just have to start on it and see as you go. I don't think I had to loosen tie rods, I followed a video already made on doing struts for a Camry, it's very similar all until you get to the interior bolts, that's where it becomes a pain,but still very possible. Still driving the solara today
@HollywoodCreeper
4 жыл бұрын
@@Whelessry Cool. Thanks.
@Bhaisthenruas
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video I'm thinking about doing my after watching.
@filter4now
3 жыл бұрын
I love my Solara and would never give it up - but I must admit taking the rear speakers / anything with the rear seats is kind of a beyotch. I need to find some clips to replace where these side panels and top panels are. I ripped out the stock antenna cable and replaced with RG-62, FM antenna is actually working so good now, it's starting to get multipath (88.1, 88.3, 88.5... 107.7, 107.9) soldered it just like the OEM one
@siucbset
6 жыл бұрын
Wrench: I think you could have used EZ-Red wrench to get to all those bolts. Cutting the plastic area is not going to decrease your resale value. Great video, keep up the good work.
@Whelessry
6 жыл бұрын
hey thanks for commenting:-) Quite possibly. I like having a lot of room to work. If you dropped a bolt you'd probably end up taking the seats apart anyways
@Dugefrshautomotive
5 жыл бұрын
Shop said $220 for struts and $550 for labor. I can see why. :( Good video. Thanks
@RandyWBrown
4 жыл бұрын
Guess I over did it on mine as I took out the back dash and speakers too. Speakers are glued to the grills which are on top of the back dash what a PITA
@guesswho2237
4 жыл бұрын
We replaced the shocks because of a weird noise like a popping sound while driving and when I pushed down on the trunk u can hear it still with new shocks what can my problem b? I’m lost
@Whelessry
4 жыл бұрын
Thats odd, and you still hear it while droving with new struts? Did you replace the whole strut assembly?
@guesswho2237
4 жыл бұрын
Wheless _ I have to ask my dad but I think they did and it’s worse than the OEM OLD ONES. Do the solaras have strut mount bearing in the REAR?
@Whelessry
4 жыл бұрын
not that I'm aware of, I replaced mine because they were worn out but not making any noise. It's hard to say what it could be
@garylaurieanderson6623
4 жыл бұрын
Are u sure u don't have worn out sway bar bushing? Very common on Toyota, if going over bumps it sounds like a sack of potatoes back there most likely that is your issue. Maybe 100 bucks to have someone do it, less than 50 for yourself.
@HollywoodCreeper
4 жыл бұрын
Haha If mine were worn out in your opinion, I would be pleased.
@imthirstyh2o330
2 жыл бұрын
Huge thanks
@jwes4588
4 жыл бұрын
Hey y’all! So there are some crucial steps missing here that I just had to deal with. First off, the upper panel is anchored into the carpeted area above the seat with a long plastic tab. It is damn near impossible to release this without breaking the particle board surrounding it. It is fortunately covered during reassembly. Second, to release the carpeted section, there are two small push tabs in the trunk under what is the center of the carpeted piece. These can be released easily with your fingers. Thirdly and lastly, the black plastic piece has 3 plastic pins underneath the carpeted section, one on each top corner and one at the center. You can use a sewing needle or hook tool to pull the centers out of these to release them without breaking them. Good luck everyone! I’m actually taking the car to my mechanic to do my struts.. I just did the interior disassembly to save a couple hundred on labor lmao PS - take off the fold down seats, just a few clips to lift the carpeting and reveal the two bolts to remove them. This will let you fully remove the bottom panels and give you more room to work.
@Whelessry
4 жыл бұрын
Sounds like a lot of extra work, good luck with your car though
@jwes4588
4 жыл бұрын
@@Whelessry yeah if I was going with quickstruts I’d just finish the job, but the springs and mounting plates are still good on mine so i purchased just the strut itself.. I don’t want to deal with tensioning those springs hahaha
@XxXButtXNuggetsXxX
4 жыл бұрын
Unricing my solara from the previous owner. God bless this video. Going to stock suspension after he tried lowering it and broke an axle ;/
@arrya5372
5 жыл бұрын
Not looking forward to this lol. But with some patience it seems doable. Thanks for the video. Outstanding young man.
@Whelessry
5 жыл бұрын
haha, looking back it wasn't that bad, compared to a Camry is was defintetly worse, the solara bolts were harder to get to
@KnightWing408
5 жыл бұрын
Either way, still a pain. What a drag man.
@rkgsd
4 жыл бұрын
I was warned by a Toyota specialist not to use aftermarket strut mounts in the rear because they get noisy and can loosen for some reason. Sure enough, the KYB mounts I got because noisy after a few months.
@Whelessry
4 жыл бұрын
Interesting, I didn't know that
@rkgsd
4 жыл бұрын
@@Whelessry OK hold the phone. Turns out the KYB rear mounts were fine. The 3 nuts on top needed to be re-tightened which is one thing I was suspicious of. Luckily I have an honest repair shop. No additional labor charge. I almost spent $200 to buy new Toyota mounts to have installed before the problem was even diagnosed. The mechanic wanted to check things first.
@Whelessry
4 жыл бұрын
@@rkgsd glad it worked out, did that repair shop install them originally for you?
@rkgsd
4 жыл бұрын
@@Whelessry Yes and I remember after they installed them, the manager said I got lucky and that he should've charged twice the labor. They used Camry labor hours for that job when they gave me the quote. Took 3 hours. I went on KZitem to find out what's so time consuming about changing rear struts on a Solara.
@homeservicecarrepairvideos2406
3 жыл бұрын
Me, I cut it and then I made a small door with hinges for future work...easy...! 30 minutes done...I used a stubby electric ratchet very easy...
@Whelessry
3 жыл бұрын
Good idea haha
@Maliekdaddie2022
4 жыл бұрын
Yeah I’m still cutting it 🤷🏾♂️
@Whelessry
4 жыл бұрын
Good luck! If you cut it make sure the hole or square you cut is pretty big, you will need to stick a wrench through the hole, then pull out the bolts, and put new ones in to thread. Take a close look that the end of my video where I talk about how little room you have to work even with all the covers removed
@WhiteWakedNProud
3 жыл бұрын
nice video a ratchet wrench would help out
@eegee2442
2 жыл бұрын
Dear lord 😭 I just bought a solara and am really not looking forward to this . Might just take it to a mechanic for the rear struts as long as the price isn’t crazy . Because this is
@Whelessry
2 жыл бұрын
Haha I know I complained a lot in the video but it wasn't the end of the world, you can do it, and get through it, Good luck
@filter4now
3 жыл бұрын
BTW you're 1 or 2 bolts / clips away from taking out every interior panel. Why not clean them up real good... or at least keep your interior panels from being damaged... thats what I did
@notasolution
4 жыл бұрын
I shoulda just bought a freakin Camry..... I have a 5 speed though so maybe it’s worth the extra fuss
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