FAQ pictures missing and some questions - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

MIK1989 · 03-29-2009, 02:47 PM

Hello guys, I realized that pictures are missing, for example in these threads:

OFFICIAL Gen. 3 Clear Headlamp DIY Thread
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t92453.html

Authors talk about pictures and I don't see them. Other thread may also be missing pictures, I haven't checked all of them. Is it possible to fix it?

Now my questions. I have a Toyota Camry 93, 4 cyl, it has 358k on it. I am looking for ways to improve it, say performance, handling. I don't have a big budget, just improve it gradually. First I need to replace rear struts, because they are too bumpy and noisy. What else can I do? I thought about putting CAI, may be new exhaust. Does exhaust increases power?

So where should I start, what is more important than other things?

Thank you in advance

***ASG14*** · 03-29-2009, 03:18 PM

Those 2 threads are old, and the peopel that made the threads are probable not here anymore, so they deleted the pictures.

Before we start tellign you what to do, how much $ are you looking to spend? There really isn;t much you can do for power, but there is a lot for handeling. Just need to throw us an amount first.

MIK1989 · 03-29-2009, 03:34 PM

Right now I have around 800 CAN$, but as I mentioned, I am going to do it gradually, more money will come with time. Also I never done anything myself so I probably will do it through a mechanical service, except thanks to FAQ I was able to replace light bulbs on my headlights

. I asked my local shop how much would be to replace struts and they said it's 200$ in parts and about 400$ in labor, is it fair amount? Although I wanna learn to do things myself, so I don't have to pay more money.

***ASG14*** · 03-29-2009, 03:46 PM

How good are you with learning, and do you have a spare car to use in case soemthing happenes and you need another part? Any chance you have some friends that know cars that can help? I have written a DIY fro the struts, and another member here has as well. You just need a car guy there for the 1st time to teach you, and from there you will know for the next time.

For the struts, I was going to say to get lowering springs, but all 4 need to be done at the same time, along with the struts and mounts. Just with the 4 struts and mounts, and the labor at a shop, your looking to blow the entire $800 there.

MIK1989 · 03-29-2009, 06:28 PM

I think I'm pretty good with learning, if I'll do it once I'll probably will be good. Unfortunately I don't have neither spare car nor friends that know cars, all my friends know as much as I do. I have seen your DIY, very good, you said that for the rear "the swap bar links that need to be removed, and you need to take the rear cover off", what is swap bar links? I have read stories that those springs are dangerous to replace, they can harm you pretty bad, is it true or you think I'm able to do it? I have not seen another guys DIY, could you provide the link?

Now for the parts, you're saying to get lowering springs, that means they'll make car lower? How does it improves handling, except making the car look cool? So parts of the suspension are springs, struts, mounts and shock, or mounts and shock are same things?
Where to buy new parts and what brands are good?

Mr.Nutcase · 03-29-2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIK1989

I think I'm pretty good with learning, if I'll do it once I'll probably will be good. Unfortunately I don't have neither spare car nor friends that know cars, all my friends know as much as I do. I have seen your DIY, very good, you said that for the rear "the swap bar links that need to be removed, and you need to take the rear cover off", what is swap bar links? I have read stories that those springs are dangerous to replace, they can harm you pretty bad, is it true or you think I'm able to do it? I have not seen another guys DIY, could you provide the link?

Where to buy new parts and what brands are good?

I use:
TRW
Moog (overbuilt)
OEM parts

Yes the strut coil spring are dangerous to replace IF you dont know what you are doing, plus you need a coil compresser.
Most places can put the coil spring on the strut for a small fee

MIK1989 · 03-29-2009, 07:32 PM

Sorry if the question will sound stupid, but what is TRW, Moog (overbuilt) and OEM? Are those brand names? Where can I buy them and which brand name for which part, for example TRW for spring, Moog for struts etc. ?

***ASG14*** · 03-29-2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIK1989

Sorry if the question will sound stupid, but what is TRW, Moog (overbuilt) and OEM? Are those brand names? Where can I buy them and which brand name for which part, for example TRW for spring, Moog for struts etc. ?

OEM is Original Equipment Manufacture, AKA, the dealership.

As for suspension, I personally recommend 1 of 2 thins for replacement (non performance) parts. OEM (Dealer) or KYB. For you, I'd go with KYB GR2 struts and Sturt Mounts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIK1989

I think I'm pretty good with learning, if I'll do it once I'll probably will be good. Unfortunately I don't have neither spare car nor friends that know cars, all my friends know as much as I do. I have seen your DIY, very good, you said that for the rear "the swap bar links that need to be removed, and you need to take the rear cover off", what is swap bar links? I have read stories that those springs are dangerous to replace, they can harm you pretty bad, is it true or you think I'm able to do it? I have not seen another guys DIY, could you provide the link?

Now for the parts, you're saying to get lowering springs, that means they'll make car lower? How does it improves handling, except making the car look cool? So parts of the suspension are springs, struts, mounts and shock, or mounts and shock are same things?
Where to buy new parts and what brands are good?

If I said Swap bar, thats a mistake. I meant Sway bar. The links connect the sway bar to the struts, and if they are original, there is a 90% chance your going to have to cut them off (dremel works best). As for dangerous, they can be, espetially if you do not know what your doing. You can always do what another person stated above and have a mechanic assemble the struts. Take the ones off your car, bring the new parts to a mechanic, and pay a much smaller fee to have them assemble it.

That will get rid of the worst part of it for for.

Lowering the car does 1 of 2 things, it makes the car look better, but also improves cornering due to less body lean. I only lowered my car 1 inch because of the area I live in. Lot of bad roads.

Struts and Shocks are the same thing basically. The 3 main parts of our suspension is the Strut, Strut Mount, and Spring.

As for where to buy, I;m not sure whats good in Canada for cheap parts. Any chance your near the US boarder?

MIK1989 · 03-29-2009, 09:57 PM

So KYB GR2 struts and strut mounts, they will fit both front and back? what is approximate price for those? What brand of springs it should be?
Also I'm not sure what needs to be cut off, some links to sway bar? And how do I do it? English is not my first language, please bare with me, I might not understand something right away.

The roads here are not the greatest too, so I'm not going to lower it too much, 1 inch you say is good enough.

I live in Regina, Saskatchewan, it's kinda near to the border with Montana and North Dakota. Is it ok if I add you to msn, would be easier to share information?

MIK1989 · 03-30-2009, 06:50 PM

So lets summarize what I need to buy right now:

1. KYB GR2 struts, do I really need to change mounts? same brand or different?

2. Lowering springs that can lower the car for 1 inch, which brand is good? H&R? Eibach?

RU2CHKN · 03-31-2009, 11:20 AM

Either brands are good I believe Eibachs are a little bit cheaper but im not sure. KYBs are slightly stiffer than OEM. If you search around, you can find them for cheap. You can start at rockauto.com their prices are fairly cheap. But if you want to improve handling right away, get an upgraded rear sway bar. They are the best bang for your buck!

MIK1989 · 03-31-2009, 12:08 PM

I went to a store called Parts Source, so the price for 4 KYB struts is 610 $CAN. The price for 4 Eibach lowering springs is around 300$CAN. Are these prices fair? Also I found out that strut and shock are not the same things, do I need to buy them too or they will be included with struts? I'm confused.
What brand of sway bar should it be, and how do I replace it

?

TheKevin · 03-31-2009, 12:18 PM

those prices are too much.

check ebay

MIK1989 · 03-31-2009, 12:39 PM

I found these ones on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.ca/KYB-4-GR-2-STRUTS-SHOCKS-ES300-TOYOTA-CAMRY-92-93-94_W0QQitemZ120390759139QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_ Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item120390759139& _trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1215|66%3A2|65 %3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318
These are the ones I need?
I've read that eibach springs do not give even drop, that if i put them on my car which has 4 cylinder engine the rear will be lower than front. Is that true?
Still not sure about sway bar, help me out please.

RU2CHKN · 03-31-2009, 03:57 PM

I have eibachs on my camry and the drop is pretty even. A rear sway bar is connected by two rear sway bar links that connect to your rear struts. TRD makes a rear sway bar for the 99-03 solaras and the Gen 4 camrys. The rear sway bar can fit on our Gen 3 camrys. The purpose of a rear sway bar is to prevent body roll in sharp corners.