Grouped together some questions, mostly suspension

[septicdeath]

Hey guys, great board, lots of information, I have been trying to read what I can while at work (everyone else is watching the March Madness anyways, did I mention I work at CBS College Sports, so everyone watching College Sports is nothing new, but I digress). Anyways, I have a bunch of questions that I have been unable to find full info about, I don't think I have the search thing down, as 50% of the time it tells me that I can only do 1 search in a 20 sec interval, and dumps out (even though Im only trying 1 search). ANYWAYS.

I just bought a Gen 3 Camry Wagon, 1993 v6 (3vzfe) Automatic, 127k on it, and looks like the old owner (only 1) took it in for its scheduled maintenance, the engine compartment is full of Toyota dealership service stickers, like Timing Belt replacement, and tranny flush, etc, etc. The next thing I want to do is fix the boat like worn strut issues, and get in a double din dvd system with a og Rockford 800.4 amp and some factory location mounted speakers (okay, I might build out door panels and go with components).

Here come the questions.

#1. By using Kragen and other online auto parts, I have been able to make the assumption that the Wagon/Sedan/Coupe makes no difference on the Front Struts, Upper Strut mounts, Strut bearings, and spring bumpers (the 4cyl or 6cyl is the only differentiation). Is this correct? The Official toyota gen3 parts list has sedan/coupe/wagon versions? I am trying to locate through ebay, new strut assemblies, upper mount and bearings, bumper stops and insulators.

The online parts list shows (and for a 93 wagon, I can specifically ask for 94 sedan to get same part)

14. Strut
92-93 Wagon R- 48510-33040 (same as a 94 Sedan)
L- 48520-33040 (same as a 94 Sedan)

94-96 Sedan R-48510-33040
L-48520-33040
Wagon R-48510-06050
L-48520-06050

15. Spring, Coil (sedan/wagon versions, but I'll be re-using)
16. Bumper, Spring
17. Insulator, Spring Upper (92-94 all the same)
Insulator, Spring Lower "
18. Support, Suspension
(SE model)
(DX,LE,ELE Model) BUT NO WAGON difference.


Before I go on, can someone confirm that for the front that as long as I'm looking at the right year, and going for the v6 version, that I dont need to locate a specific wagon/sedan/coupe version? I'm making this assumption basically because the 93 wagon is the same as the 94 sedan, and with monroe all gen 3 are the same part number, I know its a run around, but makes sense to me.

Why your at it, what about the rear.

Specific parts that are wagon specific, and this is where I have gotten even more confused, in the Toyota Parts pages, they call the front struts "struts" as defined above, but in the rear listings, I have ->

8. Absorber, shock (looks like a strut in the picture)
92-93 Wagon R- 48530-0640
L- 48540-0640
9. Spring, Coil (obviously I plan on using the old one here, but another sedan (US/Japan) / wagon specific part.
10. Insulator upper
11. Insulator lower
12. Bumper, Spring (sedan or wagon)
13. Support, Rear Suspension (looks like a upper mount, Im sure it is, no bearings listed)


You know what, Im not even going to get into the Car Audio stuff, I'll address this at another post.

Basically, I know I need struts all the way around, And I've learned that with a car 17 years old, if the struts are going to get replaced, do your self a favor and do the strut mounts, bumpers, and boots while you took the time to do the replace. I'm looking at Monroe Sensa-tracs all the way around, and rolling into my generic Kragen for off the shelf 91-97 Camry v6 units. I'm going to ebay to get the front strut mounts and bearings, 91-96 Camry/Lexus ES300.

Can someone interject and let me know something that they have learned that I need to know or is this okay, based on the logic above? And why doesnt Toyota call the rear part that looks like a strut, a strut in the rear?

Thanks man,

[septicdeath]

No responses?

I'm starting to go with this logic on this, since all the after market strut manufactures create only 1 strut for all 92-96 Gen 3 Camry's, and I know already that the 93 v6 wagon has a different part # than and 93 v6 sedan at Toyota, but I also know that the 93 v6 Wagon uses the same part # as the 94 v6 sedan, I can make some assumptions here that (at toyota 93=94, and monroe 92-96 all are the same) the monroe sensa struts for 92-96 for both front and rear can be used?

Anyone?


Thanks people...

[EvoFire]

I skimmed through most of what you said... I'm honestly not sure how different the wagon is compared to the sedans, but I believe should be similar enough....

General consensus is... KYB GR-2's(struts), Tokico Blues(struts), or K-sport coilovers.
KYB's are OEM replacements, stock like. Keep the OE spring or swap out for lowering springs
Tokico's are stiffer than stock. Generally for a little bit more spirit, generally better for lowering.
K-Sport Coilovers are, coilovers, stiff, bouncey, unnerving for your average driver.

No one seems to use Monroe here.

I had KYB replacements on my Camry sedan...

[septicdeath]

Originally Posted by EvoFire

I skimmed through most of what you said... I'm honestly not sure how different the wagon is compared to the sedans, but I believe should be similar enough....

General consensus is... KYB GR-2's(struts), Tokico Blues(struts), or K-sport coilovers.


No one seems to use Monroe here.

Thanks, I took a look at some of the online parts houses for the Tokico Blues, if I'm going through the trouble of replacing all 4 struts, as well as all 4 upper mounts, I might as well go with something that will make the ride a little better. I'm not ready to drop it, but maybe someday, I really do think the wagons can look SWEET.

Anyways, on the T.Blues, they dont seem to be more expensive than the KYB's except that what I'm finding online are actually like shocks (struts missing the lower spring retainer), I remember once I had KYB's like these, and they needed the lower spring mount purchased (again, I'm going from the picture at nolimitmotorsports, which shows what looks more like a shock than a strut).

I guess its time to go out at check to see if I have sealed or non sealed. This will be the first time I've had to worry about it, so I've never taken the time understand the difference? I did some searching here while making this post, and see that others have gotten inserts for the serviceable struts. Time to read the forums to try to figure that one out.

While I'm asking dumb questions, when I'm looking up the "Tokico HP Gas Shock Front for 92-94 Toyota Camry" in the notes they say "Excludes SEALED Strut; Fits models from 1992 - August of 1994", I'm making assumptions here, but that would lead me to believe I found the correct part for the non sealed struts, and what Im looking at are cartridges for the serviceable units?

Thanks man..

[EvoFire]

I'm not too sure about the seal and unsealed stuff about the T.blues. That generally only comes up when people inquire about Koni Reds. You can hack up the strut and install Koni Red strut cartridges on the unsealed struts. I've never heard of anyone ask about sealed vs. unsealed for T.blues.

I think it would be better for the more exp. gurus to chime in on this.