I'm having my struts replaced. Is it normal for them to remove the back seat? I didn't mind it so much until they put the leather seating surface touching the roof of my car. Luckily, I had just washed and waxed her 2 weeks ago .

 

Yes. removing the seats makes it a lot easier to get to the strut tower.

 

IIRC... all you need to remove is the side panels in the trunk to get to the top of the rear struts.

 

NO.

The tops of the rear struts are accessd from the trunk.

 

You must be kidding me???

From inside the trunk, remove the two tabs that hold the trunk lining to the back seat frame, their located up top twards the center of the back seat just above the pass through. Then pull the lining back to expose the rear shock mounts. Takes about 1 minute to do this.

Why would you remove the back seat, makes no sence?? The rear shock mounts are in the trunk section behind the back seat frame. There only covered up by the trunk lining.

 

I'm saying it's easier to work on the strut towers with the rear seat gone. you can sit and the strut towers are right there. if you go from the trunk you have to bend way over into the trunk. I said it's easier to work on the strut, not easier overall. BTW, i do know what i'm talking about. I changed 3 sets of suspension on a maxima. the first two times was on my car and i just happened to have my rear seats out already cause i had gone to the track the night before. it was a breeze to get to the nuts on the strut tower with the seats (and that metal panel) removed. the 3rd time i worked on my friends car. we were too lazy to take out the seats so we just leaned over the trunk, but it's very uncomfortable.
just my experience.

 

I need to replace mine too. they are shot! is it very hard to do yourself? how long will it take? I will need a spring compressor though correct?