Tech Tip: Curing Front Suspension Tapping Noise on Toyota Corolla and Matrix

Applicable Vehicles:

2. Disconnect the front stabilizer link assembly by removing the nut and disconnecting the front stabilizer link assembly from the front shock absorber assembly. See Fig. 1.

3. Disconnect the front flexible hose. For vehicles with ABS, remove the bolt, disconnect the brake flexible hose and front speed sensor. For vehicles without ABS, remove the bolt and disconnect the brake flexible hose.

4. Remove the front shock absorber with coil spring.

Figure 1

a. Remove the two bolts and nuts on the lower side of the front shock absorber assembly.
Note: When removing the bolt, stop the bolt from rotating and loosen the nut.

b. Remove the three nuts on the upper side of the front shock absorber assembly.

c. Remove the front shock absorber with the coil spring.

5. Prepare the insulating material.
a. Locate the 2 mm EPT Sealer in the Wind Noise kit (P/N 08231-00810).
b. Cut three pieces of EPT Sealer per side of vehicle (6 pieces total) to the following dimensions:

EPT Dimensions:
L: 100 mm (4 in.)
W: 13 mm (0.5 in.)
T: 2 mm (0.08 in.)

6. Apply EPT Sealer to the upper suspension mount.

Note: Avoid applying EPT Sealer within 15 mm (0.6 in.) from the edge of the upper suspension mount bolts.

7. Install the front shock absorber with the coil spring.

a. Install the shock absorber with the two bolts.

b. Install the three nuts to the upper side of the front shock absorber with coil spring.

Torque: 39 Nm (398 kgf.cm, 29 ft.-lbf.)

c. Install the two bolts and nuts to the lower side of the front shock absorber with the coil spring.
Corolla Torque: 153 Nm (1,560 kgf.cm, 113 ft.-lbf.)
Matrix Torque: 220 Nm (2,243 kgf.cm, 162 ft.-lbf.)
Note: When installing the bolt, stop the bolt from rotating and torque the nut.

8. Install the front flexible hose.

a. For vehicles with ABS, install the brake flexible hose and front speed sensor with the bolt.
Torque: 29 Nm (296 kgf.cm, 21 ft.-lbf.)

b. For vehicles without ABS, install the brake hose with the bolt.

Torque: 29 Nm (296 kgf.cm, 21 ft.-lbf.)

9. Install the front stabilizer link assembly with the nut.

Torque: 74 Nm (755 kgf.cm, 55 ft.-lbf.)

Note: If the ball joint turns together with the nut, use a hexagon wrench (6 mm) to hold the stud.

10. Install the front wheel.
Torque: 103 Nm (1,050 kgf.cm, 76 ft.-lbf.)

11. Inspect and adjust the front wheel alignment.

Courtesy of IDENTIFIX.