My Suspension is F#$%ED. Any Help?

[DrunkenPanda]

First I wanna say thanx to everyone who helped me through my other problems, there was a lot of frustration but yall still helped so yeah thx for that or else I wouldve wasted more money that i probably wouldnt have.

My new and old problem is the suspension and the wheel I guess, The cars steering wheel isnt alligned with the front wheels so i took it in to get a $60 alignment. The guy looks at the front left wheel with the bent nail and takes it for a test drive. So then he tells me theres more wrong with the car i need a: New wheel caliper, New struts, and alignment which all came up to be $750 and I was just like alrite no thx bye, theres no way in the world i can afford that, especially on a 20yr old car. So what im planning on doing is goin to a junkyard and taking the parts from a car and all that to replace my parts. I was wondering with those parts I need and what kind of cars can i get them from if there isnt another camry there.

People have told me to sell it, I have a conscious and stuff like that so I could never sell this car to anyone else with the condition that its in, that would be beyond fked up, and its also very hard to find another cheap running car for $500. But yeah I'm broke, got laid due to my job downsizing cuz of the economy and I was gonna spend my last $80 to spend on the car. MONEY IS A REAL BIG ISSUE I'm trying to go the cheapest way possible, imma just use this car to and from work and when/if i start college in Jan. I appreciate all the help, thx in advance

Pic of the left front wheel

[GregElliott]

you don't NEEEED new struts if theyre not like broken half or something.. bad struts will end up placing more stress on the other components though...
you could get a new caliper.. but i'd suggest replacing both on the front at the same time.
then take it somewhere else for the alignment

[atobe]

everytime i went to the junk yard i always see at least 2 camry there. which junk yard do you go to ? if i need something big i usually go on 50% days where admission is 5$ instead of 2$ but you save more $ if you get something big or lots of parts. what's the ride like is it like a boat everytime you go over a bump?? if it's not then i doubt it's the struts..y don't you PM charlie for some parts ?? he does have matt's car at his place

[white90dx]

Unless the car pulls to one side when you brake, your calipers are probably fine. Check the pads and disks to make sure they have good life left.

Like the other have said, unless the car is bouncing, your struts are probably fine.

What makes you think you need an alignment? Unless you have taken the suspension apart, don't spend any money on that until you get a job again...

Try another (better!) shop. Try PM'ing Doctor J on here - he is a mechanic and may also be able to help you out.

-Charlie

[TBayToyotaBoy]

I'm with these guys ^^^ Screw the alignment and struts for now. I drove my Camry for six months with blown rear struts (every bump felt like an RPG had hit the rear bumper) because I was a broke-ass student.

Stop worrying about little stuff until you get another job. And while you're at it, get me a job too, okay? Nah, didn't think so...

[DrunkenPanda]

Thx for the advice every1. I decided im just gonna drive it the way it is until i have the money to fix it or buy another car which will probably be another toyota there some damn good reliable cars, my moms 1990 corolla dx lasted longer than both her brand new crystler/dodge vans put together, now she has an avalon although that has nothing to do with this topic lol.

I go to ecology auto parts in Oceanside.

The car kinda does pull, when im accelerating and get to around 40/50mph i can feel it pulling, sometimes it pulls kinda hard, and when im driving straight, the steering is crooked like if i was taking a turn, thats how i gotta hold it to keep it straight. The left wheel is about 2 fingers off from the right wheel? the guy told me to measure it, 3 fingers fit in the right wheel between the tire and the tire flap thingy? and the left wheel was like 1 but i couldnt fit another finger in almost though. . . i dunno how to explain it lol. then he shook the car and told me i need new struts because the car bounced like 2 more times after he took his hands off, which i really dont care about the car bouncing lol. just the steering.

Funny thing is, when i start college I had planned on taking Auto 151 and auto 152 (theres a lot of ricers around here and i can make easy money by dropping their hondas)

[GregElliott]

you might need tie rods or just the ends..

[Damea]

I owned my car for a year or so now and ive never had power steering....
Im pretty sure my alignment is off (alot)..... so i made this quick vid to show my "bouncing issue".....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1rcXkNh1wc


Tell me what you think...

And yes thats my big ass runnin around the car..... 6'7" 250lbs and still ride comfortably

[white90dx]

It probably needs new front swaybar to control arm bushings. I noticed the front wheel moving a bit front to back in the wheel well.

Does the car steer in opposite directions when you get on the gas vs. let off the gas or hit the brakes?

You can get a set of control arms with new ball joints and bushings for pretty cheap on eBay - though installing them will be a challenge without the right tools. A quick front-end alignment, and you'd have a decent driving car for about $200.

The struts aren't the worst I've seen, so don't worry about them at the moment.

-Charlie

[TBayToyotaBoy]

Originally Posted by Damea

I owned my car for a year or so now and ive never had power steering....
Im pretty sure my alignment is off (alot)..... so i made this quick vid to show my "bouncing issue".....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1rcXkNh1wc


Tell me what you think...

And yes thats my big ass runnin around the car..... 6'7" 250lbs and still ride comfortably

Hahaha, it's always good to have more jokers around this forum, it keeps things lively. Your front springs seem to still be okay, but the rear springs are gonnnnnnne. Judging from the ride height of the rear, though, the struts may still be good (although the longer you drive with bad springs, the higher your chances of blowing the struts--you'll see oily moisture seeping out around where the bottom of the spring seats on the strut).

Replacing the bushings in the front lower control arms (where the stabilizer bar hooks through) isn't possible without a press, but you can remove the lca's and take them to a shop to press the new bushings in. $90 or so for parts, $20 or sofor labour, plus an alignment...not toobad compared to buying another car.

Oh, and I have my suspension nightmares too. The rear driver's side stabilizer link on my Camry has been clunking for two years. I've had it replaced once, and I replaced it myself twice. The bar isn't broken, and I replaced the bar-to-frame bushings with OEM parts myself, but it still clunks. Sometimes you just gotta let it go (as long as it's not actually dangerous)...

[DrunkenPanda]

I got some honda civic struts will those fit?

[atobe]

hell no