I need to replace the rear struts on my 2000 toyota avalon. How to get to top strut mount?

You might have to remove rear seat and rear speaker cover...or from inside trunk

Sounds like the strut mount has let go. Your best bet is to find what is called a quick struts. This will be a complete strut assembly with spring and munt completely assembled. They will run you a couple hundeed a piece. Simply unbolt the old strut and bolt in the new strut and you should be good to go. A strut mounting kit is also available. To replace this the strut will need to be removed. The. The spring will need to be compressed. The strut can then be removed. Then the spring will be uncompressed. The parts replaced. The spring compressed and the strut reinstalled, You will need to bring the strut to a shop to have the spring compressed. Quick struts are way easier and more DIY friendly.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

Hello. Welcome to FIxYa.

Your noise is most likely worn out 'rear strut support mounts'.

On top of the rear struts, there is a metal plate that locates the top of the strut to the body, Inside this plate is a centering device that holds the top of the strut vertically secure. As the mount wears, the strut is no longer vertically secure, and allow the tip if the strut to hit the inside edge of the metal plate.

We change these parts quite often, this is a very common occurance, and is easily rectified.

What you will need to do: Have a qualified technican remove the rear strut assemblies, disassemble them, and replace the top support mounts.

We do not recommend that you try this yourself, if you do not have the required experience, and the necessary tool (a strut coil-spring compresser). If you try to remove the coil spring from the strut assembly without the proper tools, you could very well injure yourself. The coil spring is under a significent amount of tension.

This is a job best left to a professional machanic who has the proper tools.

Thanks for choosing FixYa today.

The struts model (MacPherson Strut),are both in front and back of this car.
2000 - 2006 Hyundai Elantra Shock Absorber and Strut Assembly - Rear, Driver Side, KYB GR-2/EXCEL-G, Twin tube, Strut Assembly. $72
2000 - 2006 Hyundai Elantra Shock Absorber and Strut Assembly - Rear, Passenger Side, KYB GR-2/EXCEL-G, Twin tube, Strut Assembly $68
1996 - 2006 Hyundai Elantra Shock Absorber and Strut Assembly - Front, Driver Side, KYB GR-2/EXCEL-G, Twin tube, Strut Assembly $67
1996 - 2006 Hyundai Elantra Shock Absorber and Strut Assembly - Front, Passenger Side, KYB GR-2/EXCEL-G, Twin tube, Strut Assembly $63
Of course this is only the cartridge, you have to transfer the spring, and the top mount of the existing strut. You need a pair of coil spring compressor to do the job. The basic procedure to replace a strut is:
Remove the top nuts that secure the strut assembly to the frame mount inside the engine compartment. Do not remove the center nut.
Mark the lower strut mounting location on the hub for installation reference. The alignment will be close if the new strut is installed in the same position.
Remove the bolts that hold the strut assembly to the hub.
Remove the strut assembly from the vehicle.
Mark the top mount for installation reference. Using a side mounted spring compressor, compress the spring and remove the top nut and retaining washer. Pull strut assembly out from the bottom of spring.
Slide the new strut assembly up into the spring and reposition the top mount onto the spring in the same position that it was removed. Install the retaining washer and top nut.
Tighten the top nut to the manufacturer's specifications and carefully remove the spring compressor.
Place the strut assembly back into the vehicle.

REMOVE**** FRONT SHOCKS, FIRST OF ALL.SUPPORT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WITH A JACK,REMOVE FRONT WHEEL, REMOVE BRAKE HOSE AND ABS SENSOR HARNESS TO THE STRUT BOLTS OR CLIPS,REMOVE ACTUATOR FROM TOP OF THE STRUT,IF EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC ADJUSTING SUSPENSION. PAINT ALIGNMENT MARKS ON THE UPPER STRUT MOUNTING BLOCK AND STRUT TOWER AND ON THE LOWER STRUT MOUNT TO STEERING KNUCKLE SO THAT CAN BE REINSTALLED IN THE SAME POSITION. REMOVE UPPER STRUT MOUNTING NUTS, REMOVE THE STRUT TO KNUCKLE BOLTS,REMOVE STRUT ASSEMBLY.TO INSTALL ***** INSTALL STRUT INTO THE STRUT TOWER ALIGNING THE PAINT MARKS MADE DURING REMOVAL.INSTALL UPPER MOUNTING NUTS AND TIGHTEN TO 34 - 46 FT LBS. INSTALL STRUT TO KNUCKLE BOLTS TIGHTEN TO 55 - 61 FT LBS. INSTALL ACTUATOR AND ENGAGE THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR IF EQUIPPED WITH AAS. INSTALL BRAKE HOSE AND ABS SENSOR HARNESS CLIPS OR BOLTS.INSTALL WHEEL AND CHECK ADJUST THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT. TO ( REPLACE REAR SHOCKS ) REMOVE REAR WHEELS, REMOVE REAR PACKAGE TRIM. REMOVE SPEED SENSOR HARNESS, REMOVE TOP STRUT NUTS,THE SUSPENSION WILL DROP WHEN THE WEIGHT LIFTS OFF THE WHEELS. REMOVE BOTTOM STRUT BOLTS.REMOVE STRUT ASSEMBLY.TO INSTALL ***** INSTALL STRUT ASSEMBLY, INSTALL BOTTOM STRUT MOUNT BOLTS AND TIGHTEN TO 55 - 61 FT LBS.INSTALL UPPER MOUNTING NUTS AND TIGHTEN TO 33 - 46 FT LBS. INSTALL SPEED SENSOR HARNESS.INSTALL REAR PACKAGE TRIM. INSTALL REAR WHEELS.

upper nuts 36 lbs and the bottom two big ones are 145 lbs and the upper mount to body are 29 lbs. good luck man

remove tires and remove the cap over the tower in the trunk the bolts are accessible from this point on

strut top mounts bad or rear sway bar bushings. always one or the other.

No Ya dont

II have found over the years that a company called MONROE makes a very high quality strut (around $50 each) and have never had a problem with them, they come in a gas charged strut cartriage and this is what u want, there are others out there but many like BILSTIEN that ride really rough and cost around $100 each