How do you remove rear struts in a 2004 Toyota Matrix AWD? It seems very tight/ no room removing it even disconnecting sway bar links and upper lateral control arm. Thanks

You didn't mention year make or model. If this is for a Dodge caravan the following instructions apply. You will need a floor jack, jack stand, bungee cord, 3/8" & 1/2" torque wrench, mallet, 6" 1/2" extension, set of 3/8" and 1/2" metric wrenches and shallow sockets, 3/8 torx bit sockets, large pair of vice grips, 3" or 4" electric cut off saw and penetrating oil. NOTE: Use the penetrating oil on all nuts and bolts before they are removed. The vice grips and cut off saw is to help remove the anti sway bar link if the nut seizes or strips. You may not be able to reuse the existing anti sway bar link. Loosen the lug nuts, raise the wheel off the ground, place the jack stand underneath the subframe or pinch weld where the emergency roadside jack would go, remove the wheel, remove the lower anti sway bar nut, position the bungee cord from the subframe to the brake rotor (This will support the brake assembly so you don't over extent the CV joint), remove the wheel speed sensor cord (if applicable) from the strut mounting bracket, remove both large bolts from the lower strut mount, remove the three nuts from the upper strut mount (support the strut before you remove the last nut) and lastly remove the upper anti sway bar nut. Reassemble in the opposite order. Torque specs- (3) Top mount nuts: 21-25 ft lbs. (2) Anti sway bar link nuts: 65 ft lbs. (2) Lower strut mount nuts and bolts: 65 ft. lbs. Plus 1/4" (90 deg.) Additional Turn and (5) wheel lug nuts: 100 ft lbs. Any questions please feel free to write back.

From previous repairs at work for similar complaints, I believe the noise is comming from your strut mounts. These are the plates that mount on the top of the struts. It is a metal plate with a rubber insulator, the rubber tends to weaken over time and allows excesive movement.

Check the sway bar links, sway bar installed correctly, and wheel bearing

Is the UPPER part of the Sway bar connected to the Chassis

Hello Tompwestme.

While it is possible the struts or the upper strut mounts are causing the noise, the far more common, and much cheaper problem, is the sway bar links.
To check them properly a drive on hoist is best as it keeps the sway links at the cars normal ride height.
If you lift the car any other way it puts the links into a different position and may be harder to verify the wear.

The links are like small tie rod ends (a ball inside a socket) and when they wear they become loose and cause an awful racket on bumps.

Also where the sway bar is attached to the body there are rubber bushings that wear and allow the bar to wiggle inside and clunk there too, especially in cooler weather when the rubber gets hard.

Sway bar and bushing noise will be evident on the smallest of bumps whereas the strut mounts will need a little more of a bump to create the noise.
If the upper mounts are the problem your struts at 75k will likely be OK, but to change the mounts they have to come out anyway. So you may need to make a decision at that point if mounts needed.

There are a couple of possible common problems for you.
If you need more help with this problem, please ask me.
Thank you for using FixYa.

KL

Cheap and easy fix, just replace the rubber bushings under the back where the sway bar is held to the chassis. The rubber gets worn and hard and allows the bar to rattle when going over bumps.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

The rear suspension on LH platform vehicles is a fully independent suspension. A stabilizer bar (also called a sway bar) is mounted in rubber isolator bushings and connects the rear struts through links. Note that the fuel tank must be removed to remove the stabilizer bar.

CAUTION OFF. The fuel system pressure must be relieved before disconnecting any fuel lines. Failure to do so may result in fire and/or personal injury.

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable. Relieve the fuel system pressure.
2. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
3. Remove both rear wheels.

1. Position a transmission jack under the fuel tank just forward of the crossmember to help support the fuel tank when crossmember is removed.
2. Remove the four crossmember to frame rail attaching bolts. Remove the fuel tank.
3. Remove the stabilizer bar to link assembly attaching nuts and remove the bar and isolator bushings as an assembly from the vehicle. Inspect the isolator bushings for damage or excessive wear and replace, if necessary.

To install:

1. Inspect for broken or distorted retainers and bushings. If bushing replacement is required, replacement bushings can be installed by locating the split in the bushing, prying open and removing the defective bushing from around the stabilizer bar.
2. Install the stabilizer bar and isolator bushings back into the vehicle as an assembly making sure bar is centered in vehicle so it doesn't contact other suspension components.
3. Install stabilizer bar attaching link onto stabilizer bar. Install new link to bar attaching nuts and tighten to 70 ft. lbs. (95 Nm).

Replace the sway bar bracket bolt with new after loosening or removing them. Only use original equipment bolts as replacements.

1. Install the fuel tank back onto the vehicle.
2. Position the crossmember on frame rails and install four mounting bolts. Tighten attaching bolts to 70 ft. lbs. (95 Nm).
3. Remove transmission jack from under the fuel tank.
4. Install the rear wheels and lug nuts. Tighten the lug nuts, in a star pattern sequence, to 95-100 ft. lbs. (129-135 Nm).
5. Lower the vehicle. Reconnect the negative battery cable.
6. Pressurize the fuel system and check for leaks.
7. Check and reset the rear wheel toe to specifications as required.

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

Did they replace the upper strut bushings.
I can't recall doesn't this vehicle have strut rods and naturally strut rod bushings.

no..but you will need to remove the strut from the vehicle which requires removing both large bolt connectors from the upper mounting arm of the knuckle for the strut...also remove the 3 upper mounting nuts in the engine compartment tower. Strut assembly then will so into a special press that compresses the spring in order to dis-assemble.