Comments on: Installing Rear Struts in a Lexus ES300

By: Austin

Austin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:25:11 +0000

Thanks for a great description on how to replace the rear struts on the ES300. It took me the better part of a day to do this job because I had problems with the 19mm bolts on the passenger side braking loose even with an impact gun. Best advice is to liquid wrench or WD40 the nuts and let them sit for an hour. They came right off after that. Use a medium extension to get around the brake assembly. Not sure why they put the nuts on that side. I installed them on the opposite side during installation.

I started to follow your directions on #3 back panel removal and realized the 3 nuts at the top of the struts are only hidden behind a foam block by the seat belt. Remove the foam and you can easily use a 1/4 drive deep-well socket to remove them. I added a swivel for the back nuts. Much easier than climbing in the trunk with a pair of pliers to get at the clips and then hope you don’t break the panel getting it out. I didn’t have to remove the side panels either.

This job shouldn’t take more than a day even with hand tools.

Now to start on the front struts. I hope it goes as smooth as the back ones did.

By: Blake Neal

Blake Neal — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 21:21:01 +0000

This was exactly right, even for a 1996 Lexus ES300. It took a while because I didn’t know exactly what I was doing, but thanks to this walkthrough, I didn’t spend a whole day on it!

THANKS!

By: Anthony Blando

Anthony Blando — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:03:38 +0000

I have two bent rear struts and I am thinking about doing this my self… Great information. I would have never know to take out the back seat… Thanks.

By: jr

jr — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:03:58 +0000

I have a 1992 lexus es300 and I was wonddering how to rplace the whole interior on it ? theses directions on your post should help with the back but whta about door panels and dashboard?