buy KYB GR-2 front struts

[1996camry]

Car info.
1996 Toyota Camry LE 5SFE 4 Cylinder
at 132K miles

I plan to replace both front struts for myself...and any hints for installation KYB GR-2 front struts. I know I need the new alignment and buy the tool to hold the spring.. Any hints that keep installation trouble free.

I appreciate all suggestions and hints...

Hi,

I finally pick KYB GR-2 to replace both front suspensions.

I plan to buy

1) KYB GR-2 struts, Suspension Strut Mounting Kit,

but I plan to reuse

2) Coil Spring, Upper Insulator, Spring Upper seat, lower insulator, spring bumper.

What else do I need to replace beside "KYB GR-2 both front struts" and "suspension strut mounting kit"?

Would there be any problem if I re-use # 2?

thanks

[N35QU!K]

You should pretty much be OK, from my experience, anyways.

I pretty much did the same thing you did, only with Tokico HPs and I made the jump to Intrax springs, but like you plan to do, I kept the upper and lower insulators, the upper seat, and the insulator.

Just make sure the springs are properly seated in the bottom mount of the strut, otherwise you might get a thudding sound when you turn the wheel more than 90 deg.

I had that thudding sound for about 2 weeks, but at this point, the springs are pretty much settled in and the sound is gone.

Everyone else, feel free to add on your own tips and experiences

[kmr16442]

I did the same swap last year. Not too hard. You'll need the spring compressor tool and everything else was basic tools. My car is a 1999 and the book said to remove the rear decklid but I was able to reach the bolts by just unbolting part of the upper rear seat.

[1996camry]

my rear shocks still good, the only thing that I saw...upper insulation (rubber) was broken. I wait until the rear shocks go bad, then I start to invest $ on two new rear shocks... Don't want to invest $ if they're still good.

My question...If I change just the front struts suspension with BYD-GR2... Would you see a big different on smooth drive/soft drive?

can someone tell me...It's normal for the front struts..if you pressed down, it goes up 1-3 and stop.. While you performed pressed down, I heard a squeeze noise on both front struts when it goes up 1-3. Is this NORMAL squeeze NOISE?

I bought both front struts from AutoZone, so Now I wonder if I get both front struts with quality parts from AutoZone? HAS any has the same problem? I paid both front struts from AutoZone around $110...

Also, I know if I turn a sharp 360 degrees turn left.. I heard a (clunking noise) come from the passanger struts? NOT SURE if the mounts go bad or the bad struts that I bought?

Please share your experience with struts you bought from AutoZone? OR I need buy both new GR-2 struts and replaced both?

Please advice me what best way to go...

[N35QU!K]

Originally Posted by 1996camry

Also, I know if I turn a sharp 360 degrees turn left.. I heard a (clunking noise) come from the passanger struts? NOT SURE if the mounts go bad or the bad struts that I bought?

Does the clunking sound sound like this?
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=CIMG4446.flv

[1996camry]

the noise more like squeeze noise come from the passenser strut... If i made left turn < 180, I don't heard the noise squeeze or I turn left >=360 degrees..The noise appears. The noise appears ONLY turn left.


N35QU!K,

THE CLIP...The noise on the CLIP does appear to be the same noise that my car when TURN LEFT >=360 degrees. THe NOISE ONLY TURN LEFT NOT TURN RIGHT..


HOPE SOMEONE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM and KEEP forward your suggestions.

thank you!

[N35QU!K]

Originally Posted by 1996camry

N35QU!K,

THE CLIP...The noise on the CLIP does appear to be the same noise that my car when TURN LEFT >=360 degrees. THe NOISE ONLY TURN LEFT NOT TURN RIGHT..

The common response I received when I reported on the noise was that the springs are not properly seated in the bottom seat of the strut. I had the same problem for a while, but after about 2 weeks the sound went away. Check if the spring is properly seated, and if not, go ahead and fix it.

Or you can just do what I did and wait it out for a bit, in my case, the sound eventually went away.

[xylium]

N35QU!K, I see you have a 92-94. Unless you used the inserts, I hope you changed your mounts otherwise you have no front bearings right now. Which means your springs are twisting every time you turn the wheel.