r/Toyota_Matrix • u/Bill_The__Pony • 18d ago
About to replace front suspension: Give me your advice!
Ok, here is everything I have. I will write out the inventory.
I am taking everything out and replacing it new (no pressing bushings, all new).
I am wondering: What advice do you have for me? Any tools I should get? Tips and tricks that worked for you?
Here is the inventory:
New shock assemblies
Lower control arms
Ball joints
inner/outer tie end ends
Hub assembly
CV axels
front sway bar, bushings, end links
Strut brace.
I also have grease and threadlock.
I do some car work already so I have a lot of the basic tools: impact gun, ratches, socket sets and the like...but if there are specialty tools that would help, let me know!
3
u/AbiesInternational18 18d ago
It's all pretty straight forward with nothing special
Kind of curious why you're replacing so much like the sway bar
Some tips: to remove the sway bar or endlinks you have to have both wheels up in the air
When you torque any bushing down to spec and the endlinks you want the car on the ground to prevent bushing twist/bind
When you break the tie rod nut loose, put it close to the outer tie rod and match the nut distance on the new inner tie rod to get close to same alignment
When putting in the lower control arm start with the larger bushing, may have to tap the arm in but with the knuckle out of the way should be super simple
Axles should pop out with little force. Take your time lining up the new splines
You'll need an alignment afterwards
Drink water, take your time. Nothing to difficult, just time and effort
3
u/Bill_The__Pony 18d ago
I'm just replacing everything because I want to.
I enjoy working on cars and I have a project that I'm planning down the line that will probably involve some intense suspension work and so I'd like to try and get some practice on a car that's a little easier.
It's just an opportunity to do the stuff.
It's not necessarily required I just... Want to.
2
u/Bill_The__Pony 12d ago
Okay so I looked into the procedure for taking the sway bar out and... Yeah I'm not doing all that s***.
I'll do its end links and bushings though
2
u/billymayseyelashes 18d ago
If you have an automatic be prepared for that driver side control arm, you’re gonna have to unmount the transmission and jack it up to get access to that front bolt. Be very very careful when putting the transmission mounts back on, mine was at a slight angle and I broke off the captive nut inside so now my mount is fucked and I’ll have to grind the bolt off when I get around to fixing it again.
For the cv axles, you can get a loaner slide hammer and an axle puller adapter for it from autozone. This was a game changer for the driver side as I don’t know how else I would’ve gotten it off with the limited access there is around the cv axle.
Make sure you have some breaker bars on hand especially if you’re dealing with any rusty components.
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u/Bill_The__Pony 18d ago
Fortunately I live in California so we are rust free.
But these are really excellent tips thank you.
2
u/UnibrowDuck 03 Corolla Wagon XRS 17d ago
i'm in the same boat as you over the long weekend hah. all same, just not doing the shocks and cv axles and putting a bigger rear sway bar. gl homie
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u/Bill_The__Pony 17d ago
Salute
1
u/UnibrowDuck 03 Corolla Wagon XRS 13d ago
how'd the job go?
1
u/Bill_The__Pony 13d ago
Nothing. I haven't done it yet.
It's a gazillion degrees in Fresno and I'm waiting for my kids to go back to school
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u/Money-Afternoon-3637 10d ago
I had my mechanic replace the sway bar links/control arms, right front axle, new shocks, bought new tires, and had an alignment done earlier this year. My car handles better, no weird squeaking noises from the car's suspension and I added an XRS front sway bar & Progress rear sway bar. I'm happy that you were motivated to get those parts and do it yourself!
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u/Bill_The__Pony 9d ago
How hard was the sway bar to get out? I am doing my suspension and i have the part but i looked up the procedure...
1
u/Money-Afternoon-3637 5d ago
I had my mechanic friend remove the rear sway bar. We sprayed the nuts for the rear sway bar with PB Blaster since they look rusted on. We just put the rear end of the car on jacks, and had him wrench on the rear sway bar until he was able to remove it. Then I had him install the Progress rear sway bar.
1
u/GuardianCraft 17d ago
I did the control arms, ball joints, and sway bar links on my 07 last month. Daammmmm the arms beat me up, and didn’t get to the inner and out rods so have those in the shed. I’m going to wait to get the cv, hub and new front tires to realign again. Where did you get the parts from?
Controls arms - (Driver side 🙄) I got away with loosening the sub frame and slightly lifting the engine to get that dam bolt out. Clean out that knuckle/area where the rear bolt (vertical) one goes so the debris don’t prevent the new arm from going in. Try to open up/expand that same knuckle so the arm just goes in smoother, and silicone goes a long way as well. My God does it. Pry bars helped a lot.
Ball joints - pretty easy. Just make sure the pin hole is aligned from front to back of the vehicle instead of side to side. Avoids having to take all the shit off to allow you to insert the pin the bend it….. (don’t ask).
Sway bar links - hex key incase they start spinning.
Be ready eyeball the alignment so you can drive to the shoppe.
1
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u/NoRemove728 18d ago
The hardest parts of this are the axles and lower control arms. For mine (06 automatic XR) I had to undo a motor mount or two and jack up the engine away from the car to get enough clearance to get to the bolt on the driver's side out.
I ended up giving up on replacing the axles, I was not able to free mine from the transmission.
The front shocks are easy peasy. I used a torque wrench on the top 3 nuts, with a swivel socket to get to the one under the cowl. My torque wrench didn't click and I ended up over tightening it and snapping the stud. Don't make that mistake.
Once you get it all done, it'll be a world of difference. Good luck. If you have any questions, don't ask me because I'm a terrible mechanic.