Cartridge replacement >>>>>help

[wontonjohnny]

hey guys ive ordered tokico inserts for my camry, they should be here soon....

has anyone here tackled this job before??? is it easy???

i changed my own lowering springs so that part needs no help, but should i be prepared for anything tricky when opening and replacing the inserts????

do the inserts usually come with instructions???


thanks

[Phi]

I've never actually done it myself, but from watching my mechanic..if you've taken your struts off in the past, you shouldn't have any problems. The cap was pretty stubborn. Just make sure you've got big enough pliers to unscrew the cap that is securing the cartridge. A table clamp might be handy if you've got one.

[Phi]

.

[wontonjohnny]

yeah mine look like those ... what kinda inserts did you get phi??.... did he do anything else???... i read on on guys how to page and it said you have to add antifreeze in the strut case or sumthing like that, and something about spacers and gaping the bolt thats on the top in that pic you posted

[Phi]

I have Tokico inserts.
The mechanic just ripped out the old cartridge and slapped in the new one. No spacers, no anitfreeze, nothing.

While you've got the struts out, you may wanna consider replacing the strut mounts if they're worn.

[Nick]

strut mounts rear= 216$ 205$ front, i think.

dealer only, go to the scrap yard... strut/spring assembly 60$ each, I <3 my "new" suspension

[wontonjohnny]

strut mounts??? what is that ??? do you mean the spring insulators???? the rubber things that the springs sit on right???

[wontonjohnny]

hey phi how are you liking your tokico's??? is your car lowered??? how long have you had them???

[Phi]

Here are the strut mounts I'm talking about (note: these are for Gen4 just for illustration purposes);
http://www.toyotaparts4u.com/e_catal...ID=1998&ZID=53
and they're only $60 each.

The Tokicos are paired up with H&Rs. They handle great, but you feel every little imperfection on the road. Truthfully, it gets annoying at times. I guess comfort and performance don't go hand in hand.

edit: link fixed

[Nick]

linky not working for me

well for gen 3 those were the prices i researched when i did my rear suspension last month

ok well i found the part, wow, 60$ american, each, so 85ish, so its pretty close to 216$ total for a pair

[88 LE]

Originally posted by wontonjohnny
has anyone here tackled this job before??? is it easy???

Pretty easy.

I've installed Tokico cartridges on my gen 2 and Charlie's (white90dx) gen 2.

i changed my own lowering springs so that part needs no help, but should i be prepared for anything tricky when opening and replacing the inserts????

The nut on the strut housing is screwed on really tight.

I placed the strut into my vise (clamp onto the nut) and shoved a long 3/8" extension bar into the bolt holes on the strut for leverage.

do the inserts usually come with instructions???

Yes.

Heres a scan of the instructions that came with my Tokico's.

http://trd.gotnet.net/struts.jpg

[wontonjohnny]

hey phi what should i look for to tell if my strut mounts are worn or not ... the look fine to me, turning is still smooth.

[wontonjohnny]

thanks for the pics and instuctions ...

i wouldnt mind the touchy performance feel.... just as long as they arent bouncy

[Camry9294]

I replaced the inserts on my 92 a few weeks ago and I'm going to replace the inserts in my 94 tommorrow. When it did the 92, upon removing the nut( real stubborn as noted) a milky oily fluid came out. Boy was it stink. So that makes it a wet setup??(tokico inst.). Anyways, I put kyb insert and mounts $37 each @ tirerack.com. For the 94, I've got a Tokico blue/H&R combo. I saw on this forum a tool made by snap-on to remove the cartridge nut.

[Camry9294]

Originally posted by Camry9294
I replaced the inserts on my 92 a few weeks ago and I'm going to replace the inserts in my 94 tommorrow. When it did the 92, upon removing the nut( real stubborn as noted) a milky oily fluid came out. Boy was it stink. So that makes it a wet setup??(tokico inst.). Anyways, I put kyb insert and mounts $37 each @ tirerack.com. For the 94, I've got a Tokico blue/H&R combo. I saw on this forum a tool made by snap-on to remove the cartridge nut.

Found the link courtesy of Hemi3TC:

http://buy.snapon.com/catalog/search...t&store=canada