How can you effectively overhaul the front strut assembly with a focus on the Shock Absorber on the LH side on 2001 Toyota Highlander?

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Start the LH front strut assembly overhaul process by removing the front wheel and taking apart the front stabilizer link assembly through proper removal of the nut and disconnecting it to the shock absorber. Use a hexagon (6 mm) wrench if the ball joint rotates while you remove the nut. After disconnecting the flexible hose and ABS speed sensor wire harness bracket users must loosen the center nut on the shock absorber before they remove the assembly by taking out both lower side nuts and bolts and three upper side nuts. The front shock absorber containing a coil spring must be set in a vise once secured with two bracket nuts and a bracket bolt at its lower position. Install Special Service Tool 09727-30021 to compress the coil spring before you take out the suspension support and ball bearing, spring upper seat and upper insulator, coil spring and spring bumper and lower insulator from shock absorber assembly front LH. Check the shock absorber assembly front LH by applying force on its rod and checking for strange sounds or irregular resistance before replacement in case of any noted problems. Installing the lower insulator onto the shock absorber while the spring bumper should be attached to the piston rod followed by a repeat use of Special Service Tool: 09727-30021 to compress the coil spring. Ensure that an impact wrench is not used for this operation. Begin the coil spring installation process by inserting its lower end into the spring lower seat gap while placing the upper insulator on top followed by the spring upper seat marked side facing outwards, new ball bearing adjacent to the mark followed by the suspension support placed with its mark visible and then secure the new center nut only temporarily. Place the front shock absorber with coil spring and secure it through 2 upper bolts coupled with 3 lower nuts according to torques of 80 Nm (815 kgf-cm, 59 ft. lbs.) and 210 Nm (2,140 kgf-cm, 155 ft. lbs.). Next, tighten the center nut to 49 Nm (500 kgf-cm, 36 ft. lbs.) before installing the flexible hose and ABS speed sensor wire harness bracket with 29.4 Nm (300 kgf-cm, 22 ft. lbs.) torque on its attachment bolt. Complete installation of the front stabilizer link assembly LH involves nut tightening to 74 Nm (755 kgf-cm, 55 ft. lbs.) using a hexagon (6 mm) wrench if needed before reinstalling the front wheel with a torque of 103 Nm (1,050 kgf-cm, 76 ft. lbs.) and performing an inspection followed by alignment adjustment. To dispose of the shock absorber requires drilling a hole in the cylinder while the rod is fully extended and discharging the gas contents with caution against flying chips. The gas substance is both odorless and colorless and completely non-poisonous.

OEM 2001 Toyota Highlander Shock Absorber

6 Shock Absorbers found

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