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How to change front suspension strut on Toyota RAV4 II – replacement guide

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Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
TOYOTA RAV 4 II (CLA2_, XA2_, ZCA2_, ACA2_) 2.4 4WD (ACA23), TOYOTA RAV 4 II (CLA2_, XA2_, ZCA2_, ACA2_) 2.4 4WD (ACA23, ACA22), TOYOTA RAV 4 II (CLA2_, XA2_, ZCA2_, ACA2_) 2.4 4WD (ACA23, ACA22), TOYOTA RAV 4 II (CLA2_, XA2_, ZCA2_, ACA2_) 2.0 D 4WD (CLA20_, CLA21_), TOYOTA RAV 4 II (CLA2_, XA2_, ZCA2_, ACA2_) 1.8 (ZCA25_, ZCA26_) … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change a front shock strut on TOYOTA RAV4 II [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

Alternative products

Shock absorber

Replacement: suspension strut – Toyota RAV4 II. List of the tools you'll need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner 
                    
                      Ceramic grease
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Combination spanner #19
                    
                      Drive socket # 12
                    
                      Drive socket # 14
                    
                      Drive socket # 19
                    
                      Drive socket # 22
                    
                      19-mm strut nut socket
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #19
                    
                      HEX bit no.H6.
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – Toyota RAV4 II. Tip from AUTODOC experts:

Both shock struts of the front suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right shock struts of the front suspension.
Please note: all work on the car – Toyota RAV4 II – should be done with the engine switched off.

Carry out replacement in the following order:

Step 1

Open the bonnet.
Step 2

Use a fender protection cover to prevent damaging paintwork and plastic parts of the car.
Step 3

Remove the cap from the suspension strut mount. Use a crowbar.
Step 4

Clean the strut piston rod. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 5

Loosen the suspension strut rod nut. Don't unscrew it completely. Use a drive socket #22. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 6

Clean the fasteners of the shock strut upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 7

Loosen the upper fasteners of the suspension strut. Use a drive socket #14. Use a ratchet wrench.

Replacement: suspension strut – Toyota RAV4 II. Tip from AUTODOC:
Do not completely unscrew the upper fasteners as they may hold also other suspension components.
Step 8

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 9

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #19.
Step 10

Raise the car.

Replacement: suspension strut – Toyota RAV4 II. AUTODOC experts recommend:
If you are using a jack, make sure it rests on a flat surface without any unevenness.Be sure to additionally secure the car with jack stands.
Step 11

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while unscrewing the fastening bolts. Toyota RAV4 II
Step 12

Remove the wheel.
Step 13

Clean the sway bar link fastener. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 14

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #14. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 15

Remove the stabilizer rod. Use a crowbar.

AUTODOC recommends:
Examine stabiliser bushes. Replace them if needed.
Step 16

Clean the fastener that connects the brake hose bracket to the suspension strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 17

Unscrew the fastener that connects the brake hose bracket to the suspension strut. Use a drive socket #12. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 18

Remove the brake hose bracket.
Step 19

Clean the fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 20

Unscrew the fasteners connecting the suspension strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a drive socket #19. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 21

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 22

Remove the fastening bolts.
Step 23

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut.
Step 24

Unscrew the upper fasteners of the shock strut.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while unscrewing the fastening bolts. Toyota RAV4 II
Step 25

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 26

Set the suspension strut on the spring compressor tool.

AUTODOC recommends:
Note that when using a spring compressor, spring coils need to be securely gripped, compressing the spring on the opposite sides.Ensure the correct position of the spring in the retainer.Make sure that the spring coils tightly entered the lock handles.
Step 27

Compress the spring.
Step 28

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #22. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 29

Remove the top strut mount.
Step 30

Remove the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Toyota RAV4 II. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 31

Release the coil spring.
Step 32

Remove the spring.
Step 33

Remove the old shock absorber from the hydraulic coil spring compressor.

Replacement: suspension strut – Toyota RAV4 II. Professionals recommend:
Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 34

Install the new shock absorber on the hydraulic coil spring compressor.
Step 35

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 36

Compress the spring.
Step 37

Install the dust sleeve and the bump stop on the new shock absorber.
Step 38

Install the upper strut mount and the strut mount bearing.
Step 39

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use a 19-mm strut nut socket. Use HEX No.H6. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 47 nm torque.

AUTODOC recommends:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 40

Decompress the spring.
Step 41

Treat the shock strut rod. Use copper grease.
Step 42

Install the cap on the suspension strut mount.
Step 43

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 44

Clean the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 45

Clean the sway bar link fastener. Use a wire brush.
Step 46

Treat the fastener that connects the sway bar link to the suspension strut. Use copper grease.

Step 47

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 48

Secure the upper fasteners of the shock strut. Do not tighten it.

AUTODOC recommends:
Toyota RAV4 II – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 49

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 50

Install the fastening bolts.
Step 51

Tighten the lower suspension strut fasteners. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a drive socket #19. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 52

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Toyota RAV4 II. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 53

Install the brake hose bracket.
Step 54

Tighten the fastener that connects the brake hose bracket to the suspension strut. Use a drive socket #12. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 10 Nm torque.
Step 55

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link. Use a crowbar.
Step 56

Screw in the fastener connecting the sway bar link to the suspension strut. Use a drive socket #14. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 57

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 58

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #14. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 44 Nm torque.
Step 59

Tighten the lower fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a drive socket #19. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 143 Nm torque.
Step 60

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Lower the hydraulic transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging assemblies and mechanisms.
Step 61

Treat the fastener that connects the sway bar link to the suspension strut. Use copper grease.

Step 62

Treat the lower fasteners that connect the suspension strut to the steering knuckle. Use copper grease.

Step 63

Treat the fastener that connects the brake hose bracket to the suspension strut. Use copper grease.

Step 64

Clean the wheel rim mounting seat. Use a wire brush.
Step 65

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use ceramic grease.
Step 66

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Toyota RAV4 II. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 67

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts. Toyota RAV4 II
Step 68

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #19.
Step 69

Lower the car and working in a cross order, tighten the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #19. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 103 Nm torque.
Step 70

Remove the jacks and chocks.

Step 71

Tighten the upper fasteners of the shock strut. Use a drive socket #54. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 50 Nm torque.
Step 72

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.

Step 73

Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 74

Close the hood.

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