How to Replace the Shock Absorbers on a 1997 Toyota Tacoma Xtra Cab 4X4
When the Toyota Tacoma was introduced in 1995, it featured front struts instead of shocks. The front struts are also referred to as coil over shocks because they are not attached to the integral knuckles of the truck. The true shocks on the Tacoma are in the rear, but older Toyota trucks also have shocks in the front. The difference between a shock and a strut is that the shock is a separate component from the coil spring; thus it doesn't require a spring compressor.
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Things You'll Need
- Wheel chocks (2)
- Jack
- Jack stands (2)
- Safety glasses
- Metric wrench set
- 1/2-inch drive ratchet with shallow metric socket set
- Replacement shocks (with bushings)
Instructions
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1
Park your Toyota Tacoma on a flat, paved surface and place two wheel chocks in front of and behind one of the front tires.
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2
Raise the rear of the Tacoma with a jack under the rear differential high enough to support it on jack stands placed under the rear axle, away from the shock bolts, nuts and steel brake lines. Leave the jack in place under the rear differential for added support but have the weight of the truck resting on the stands.
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3
Put on safety glasses before crawling underneath the truck with the metric wrench set,
1/2-inch drive ratchet with shallow metric sockets and the replacement shocks.
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4
Hold one of the lower shock bolt heads with a metric wrench in place and remove the nut with a ratchet and metric socket turned counterclockwise.
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5
Repeat Step 4 for the upper shock and nut. If necessary, replace the nut onto the bolt and strike it with a hammer to loosen the bolts from the upper and lower shock mounts. Remove the nuts and bolts.
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6
Replace the upper shock bolt and nut (with washers) onto the new shock and install it by reversing the removal procedure. Replace the lower next shock. This shock will have to be compressed in order to align the bottom bolthole to the mount so that the bolt can go through the hole correctly. Be sure to replace the washer onto the bolt. Tighten the lower nut with the ratchet and socket while holding the bolt head with a wrench.
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7
Repeat Steps 4 through 6 for the other rear shock. Raise the truck with the jack, remove the jack stands then lower your Tacoma to the ground and remove the wheel chocks.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Replacing the front coil over shocks/struts is similar to the rear but differs in items needed. Once the lower strut support bolt is removed, the three upper strut retaining nuts need to be removed to take out the assembly from the vehicle. In addition, the coil spring needs to be compressed in order to remove and replace the coil over strut cartridge from the coil spring. Reinstallation is simply the reverses of removal. Because the coil over strut is not attached to the integral knuckle of the truck, a front wheel alignment is not required after replacement.
Only remove and then replace one shock at a time because it supports the rear axle to the frame of the truck (along with the leaf springs) and will not add undo stress to the frame or axle during the replacement process. For optimum suspension performance, always replace shocks/struts in pairs on the same axle.
References
- Photo Credit Shock absorber image by Neryman from Fotolia.com
