suspension problem- struts i think - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

WVcamry3sfe · 12-04-2006, 11:56 PM

tonight i went out for a late night snack and i noticed my car had something seriously wrong, whenever i went over the slightest bump on the road, the car made a loud bumping noise. i also felt the bumps really hard in the car... like as if my strut was completely stiff. i noticed that the driverside rear felt like it was high. so i pulled over to the side of the road, and tried to bounce the car up and down, the passenger side rear bounced like normal, but the rear driver side was completely stiff.

when i got back to my apartment, with the passengers out of the back, the driver side rear does bounce, slightly, but it makes sound like its bottoming out or banging.

i think that this strut has had it... does this sound like it would be this? its like the driverside rear is completely stiff.

thanks- AndyC

Kep · 12-05-2006, 12:32 PM

I don't know if this is possible but it almost sounds as if the strut is hyper extending and then the two halves don't line up to allow it to close again.

Jack the car up and see if the wheel drops down lower than it should and check it out visually. Even better, next time you have the problem, check it out then.

I know when my strut mount broke it made the bottoming out / banging sounds. However, it didn't go stiff on me. You may have two issues.

Kep

WVcamry3sfe · 12-05-2006, 11:53 PM

okay, tonight i got to take a closer look at the suspension. After putting the car up on a jack stand I saw what looks like a big ball of some sort of mess around the strut, but inside the spring, I will try to get a picture of this a bit later, but I am not sure exactly what this is. it looks like a torn up bit of metal or something? what do yall think this might be?

Tommy · 12-05-2006, 11:54 PM

blown strut. time for replacements.

fredk · 12-06-2006, 08:02 AM

time for struts

WVcamry3sfe · 12-06-2006, 05:54 PM

WVcamry3sfe · 12-06-2006, 05:55 PM

what the heck is *all that* crap in there? just seals of some sort!?

Tommy · 12-06-2006, 06:13 PM

if they're made of rubber and keep oil in and grim out, then yes, they are seals. replace your struts.

IvanHoe · 12-07-2006, 07:16 PM

time for new struts!

fredk · 12-07-2006, 08:39 PM

that wadded up rubber is what is left of the protective boot over the shiny bar, get new struts, and get new bottom out bumpers and the cover boots too, and check the rubber thing on top for cracking, some parts stores sell a complete strut, spring, boot and all put together, might be a hot ticket for your ride