Do i need to replace the strut cushion when i replace the strut

If driving an older car I would replace all bushings. If they look worn and cracked yes. I have a 2002 Mustang I just bought and that's what I'm going to do. Do it now while the car is getting the struts done, Instead of down the road and you have stability trouble. But if you can't do it yourself I can see why you ask. Money. Maybe some auto repair shop is telling you so. Get a second opinion.

I just replaced my rear struts on my 2009 Camry Hybrid. This was the second time in my life I ever did this kind of work. The trick is to get access to the top of the strut. You have to fold down the back seat cushions. In my hybrid there are two pull levers in the trunk that release the seats. The levers are at the top of the trunk.

Once you fold down the seats, there will be two side cushions on the side of the seats that did not fold down. At the bottom of that side cushion, between the side cushion and the bottom seat is a bolt holding the side cushion on. It is way in the back so you will need an extension with a 12mm socket to get to the bolt. Dont be afraid to dig into the space between the cushions to find the bolt. Once you unscrew the bolt, you can lift up on the side cushion and it will come out (lift upward). You now have a clear (and easy) access to the top of the strut.

I just replaced my rear struts on my 2009 Camry Hybrid. This was the second time in my life I ever did this kind of work. The trick is to get access to the top of the strut. You have to fold down the back seat cushions. In my hybrid there are two pull levers in the trunk that release the seats. The levers are at the top of the trunk.

Once you fold down the seats, there will be two side cushions on the side of the seats that did not fold down. At the bottom of that side cushion, between the side cushion and the bottom seat is a bolt holding the side cushion on. It is way in the back so you will need an extension with a 12mm socket to get to the bolt. Dont be afraid to dig you had into the space to find the bolt. Once you unscrew the bolt, you can lift up on the side cushion and it will come out (lift upward). You now have a clear (and easy) access to the top of the strut.

YOU HAVE TO REMOVE REAR SEAT CUSHION TO GET TO STRUT TOWERS.

No, it isn't...
You need:
-20" breaker bar
-torque wrench
-Liquid wrench (or WD-40 if you don't have any)
-Jack and stands
-sockets to fit all of the connections

1. Remove the back seat:
Bottom cushion comes out by pushing it rearwards and lifting, undo the 2 seatbelt bolts and 2 push nuts and remove the back cushion

2. Jack and support the frame of the car
3. Remove the wheels
4. Place a jack under the control arm where the spring connects to it and put a little tension on the spring. (this is so that when you unbolt the strut the control arm won't come crashing down)
5. Remove the air tube by rotating the spring clip 90 degrees and pulling on the tube at the connector.
5. Remove the lower strut bolts. (Exprerience shows me that removing the lower one first will save you lots of agony...)
6. Remove the two strut mounting bolts that are behind the back seat cushion.
7. Compress the strut and remove from the vehicle.
8. Installation is opposite of the removal. Remember to use a new mount if the one you are removing is worn. I recommend Quick-strut 171798. Good Luck!

P.S. Torque Specs are:
Lower Strut bolts- 140 ft/lbs
Upper strut bolts- 30 ft/lbs
Mount to strut bolt - 70ft/lbs

Okay....here is the steps first....and then the directions on how to use the tools:

1. Raise and properly support the vehicle.
2. Remove the front wheel.
3. Detach the shock absorber lower mount by removing the two bolts.
4. Remove the retainer nut, retainer, cushion and shock absorber.
5. Detach the cushion retainer from the shock absorber.
6. Compress the coil spring with a commercially available spring compressor.
7. Detach the stabilizer bar.
8. Support the upper suspension arm and steering knuckle securely.
9. Remove the cotter pin.
10. Loosen and remove the nut.
11. Using a ball joint removal tool, detach the lower ball joint from the lower control arm.
12. Loosen the suspension arm set bolt.
13. Remove the suspension arm set bolt nut.
14. Remove the nut from the strut bar front set bolt.
15. Pull out both set bolts.
16. Remove the lower suspension arm and coil spring. To install:
    
17. Installation is the reverse of removal. Note the following torque specifications:
    1. Strut bar front set bolt: 221 ft. lbs. (300 Nm)
    2. Lower suspension arm set bolt: 148 ft. lbs. (200 Nm)
    3. Lower ball joint nut: 80 ft. lbs. (110 Nm)
    4. Lug nuts: 83 ft. lbs. (110 Nm).

The strut could be banging on the strut tower. If the boot is ripped then dirt and moisture will accelerate failure. I would have them both replaced.(struts) Good luck

could be a bad strut or a strut cushion.

Lift up on the front edge of the bottom cushion, to defeat the clips that holds it down. Then lift out the entire bottom cushion. Next, remove the bolts that holds the bottoms of the back seats to the rear metal. Then lift the seat backs up and out. FInally, pull and remove the rear interior trims.

Hi GB52. Just done this myself, should take 15 minutes perside max. 1/ remove rear seat cushion by bumping the centre back and up, lower the back rests down. 2/ Unscrew the striker plate from the seat side bolster and the bolt at the lower edge of the bolster Removing the bolster takes a bit of fiddling. 3/ use a flat-head screwdriver to release the strut spring clips - use the new ones as a guide. 4/ remove the old strut and fit the new one. reinstall the bolster, bolt and strike plate. note; when replacing the rear seat cushion, ensure the seat belts are fed through first and check that the seat retaining clips properly engage the floor panel brackets.

Hope this helps,

Davo