How to remove rear struts from a avalon toyota 1996 will the rear seat have to be remove or can it be done with out removing the rear seat, can I get instruction on line

You might have to remove rear seat and rear speaker cover...or from inside trunk

You do need to have a spring compressor. Get the McPherson spring compressor. It is a must. You can rent them at O'reillys auto parts, Kragen, maybe Auto Zone. To get a better understanding on how to change it out, I recommend a chilton 95-97 Camary Manual. Now I can't remember the exact tools you need but the ones I can remember are 22mm socket, 14mm socket, 12mm socket, for the 2 large stubborn bolts I had to impact drill them, and with that 12mm socket don't forget to take the brake line off the strut. When you jack up the car try using its stock jack stand if you dont want to bend the running bars underneath where you jack it up as the car is a unibody jacking it up too high will lift the cars whole side and you only need to jack it enough to take the tire off. The back struts require you to take out your back seat which are also easy to take out.

To remove the rear seat here a link, its on a 2000 but should be generally the same. I learn better with pictures anyway, hope this helps!
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2924042

Hello, and welcome to FixYa. Please let us assist you.

To remove the rear seat back, you first have to remove the rear seat bottom cushion. There are two clips on the front edge of the cushion, and they need to be disengaged; pull up with some force on the front edge of the cushion, where it meets the floor. Once the clips are disengaged, you can take the bottom cushion out of the car. Next, you will see the bolts that holds the rear seat backs onto the rear metal pane; all you now need to do is remove the bolts, and slide the seat backs up and out.

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remove tires and remove the cap over the tower in the trunk the bolts are accessible from this point on

remove the rear seat.
(pull up on the front of the rear seat to remove)

Check all your fuses in the fuse box. A fuse must have cut off.

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.

"ABS light came on and Track-off light started blinking"
This happened after I replaced the rear struts (shock absorbers") It turned out to be the left rear wheel sensor ($156.75). I must have damaged it when I replaced the strut. The way to check the 'rear' sensors is to remove the back seat to gain access to each sensor plug (2 prongs). Unplug it and check for continuity. If there is no continuity then you have a bad sensor, or an unlikely break in one of the wires. I checked for a break in each wire but they were fine.

You need to remove the rear seat bottoma and the rear seat backs. Then, remove the inner panels that are on either side of the rear of the car. Then you will see the top bolts.

Pull up on the lower front edge to dislodge the seat from the clamps that holds the seat to the floor. Pull hard, if the seat has never been removed. the clamps will be tight. Once the seat bottom is out, you will be able to see the bolts that holds the rear seat backs onto the body.