Camry wagon rear end

[Doctor J]

As I am not very good suspension expert I need to know if anyone was able to find the answer why some Toyota station wagons are appeared to have "elevated " rear ends. I have seen it on some older Cressida s/w and most 4 cylinder Camry s/w[including mine].
At first I thougt about it as a normal feature for extra stiff rear springs, but I noticed that the 6 cylinder Camry wagons as well as Corolla wagons do not exibit this "feature".
Please share your thoughts and suggestions.

[white90dx]

I remember something about a factory ride height section in the BGB? Maybe that would shed a little light on it?

I don't see why they would be a whole lot different between different models. Maybe the struts on your wagon have been replaced by sedan struts or something? Maybe the spring seat is different on the wagons compared to the sedans (more spring preload)?

-Charlie

edit: Check the Service Specification section of the manual. The wagon is supposed to sit about 1" higher in the rear than the sedan with the V6 .24" lower than the 4-cylinder. (found on page A-33 of the service spec section)

[Doctor J]

Thanks, Charlie,
I was aware of almost 1 inch difference between 88 sedan and wagon.[both 4 cylinders]
The struts are OEM, and they are not in the good condition [21 y.o.].
Kragen is selling struts that is the same p/n for sedan and wagon.
Recently, I saw 4 cyl. wagon which had no "elevated rear end" feature so that is why I asked my question.
If next year we would not retire the car because of the smog, I would plan to change rear struts; at the same time I would like to do something about the rear end.

[oz43]

I have the same issue with my 87 wagon. I believe it is the wimpy front springs. I replaced them a few years ago with OEM and that did nothing. I can still roll over a dime and the front bottoms out!

Fort Worth has a couple custom spring sources. I have be told custom springs would be costly. I just haven't ask yet.

ozzi

[TBayToyotaBoy]

Doctor J, you said that Kragen shows the same p/n for sedan and wagon...do you mean for the front struts? Because the rear struts are definitely different. I put wagon struts on the rear of my V6 sedan to handle all the extra weight of my subs and my tools...and fully-loaded, the rear deck still sat almost one inch higher than with the original sedan struts. Perhaps Kragen was looking-up the front strut assembly?!

[Doctor J]

No, I believe there were rear struts, but I will double check

[Doctor J]

Just berief update; the Autozone is listing different part numbers for sedan and wagon!

[disregard]

Hmm ok so if I understand this correctly, if you put wagon rear springs on a sedan the back will sit higher ?! Like the wagon ? That would be useful for people that carry s very heavy loads more often

Seems like the wagons that do not sit higher in the back has had there springs Replaced.