trd strut brace on 99 camry - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Kevs Toy · 05-22-2007, 05:16 PM

A strut tower bar, simple straight forward affair right? Ive installed em on my dsm and crx before. Well I got my TRD bar today and figured Id have it on in a matter of minutes.

However, I notice the kit came with two washers. I look at the directions and they're for a 99 solara but figured same deal for my Camry. Well, the Camry's setup is diff. from the pics on the direction. The directions say to put the washers on the strut studs that dont have a washer. On my car, there are two studs that have a crescent spacer under them but no washers and the stud with nothing is differnet from the one pointed out in the directions.

Now I figured I could just install the bar with the crescent over the brace but that wont fit obviously so I need to know what to do with the crescents and the washer I'm supplied with. Also, I've always installed my strut braces with the front end raised so when the springs compress it enhances the stiffening, or so I've read. Is it ok to at least fit the bar with the car on the ground, then raise it to loose and tightenen the bolts, as it'd sure make installation a bit easier.

***Eye8Pussies*** · 05-23-2007, 12:36 AM

it fits your car fine

and don't use washers unless the brace supports aren't touching your chassis- no need to raise it unless you have to for clearance

and DO NOT have your front wheels off the ground when installing the strut bar or else your front suspension will drop down

Stonegrave · 05-23-2007, 09:02 AM

lol ya if its up in the air when you take the strut mounting bolts off to install your bar the struts will fall down and then you get to have fun fishing them back up. what your probably thinking of is a C pillar bar. if its a good one, you have to jack the ass end up to even get it on, otherwise it wont fit. good luck!

Kevs Toy · 05-23-2007, 05:58 PM

well ya, I realize gravity would let shit drop down, so would undo two nuts at once and get one stud through, but ok, so no washers whatsoever. I was thinking that after talking to my friend about it. Never used any before on any other cars, just the bar came with two and instructions talked about installing them

Kevs Toy · 05-24-2007, 09:20 PM

Went ahead and installed it with no washers and took the crescents off. Talk about a tight fit. Maybe a quarter of an inch from the bar to the intake manifold. And seemed to be no hood clearance issues. I made sure to close it slowly just in case. I could feel a difference immediately when I drove it afterwards. Def. a must have mod. The car feels more solid in all aspects and the steering feel is greatly improved.