Recommendation for new struts/shocks for 97 camry

[tuomas]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KYB-4...Q5fAccessories

Does this seems like a relatively good deal? Is the quality as cheap as the price? Any pointers on new shocks/struts? I am not looking for racing quality, just durability and performance for a daily commuter.

If you have any recommendations or links please give me a pointer. Thank you in advance

[JCamry94]

Originally Posted by tuomas

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KYB-4-GR2-STRUTS-ES300-TOYOTA-CAMRY-SOLARA-97-01_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q 7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a 1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem4 835e2b31eQQitemZ310141694750QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTr uckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Does this seems like a relatively good deal? Is the quality as cheap as the price? Any pointers on new shocks/struts? I am not looking for racing quality, just durability and performance for a daily commuter.

If you have any recommendations or links please give me a pointer. Thank you in advance

If you want a little bit better than stock, get those. If you want performance, get these along with nice springs:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOKIC...1%7C240%3A1318

[tuomas]

Thanks for the reply. Any recommendation on springs?

['_']

Originally Posted by dorifuto.boi

hey venom, i hope you don't mind me stealing ur formatting~~

Strut Options:
+ Factory Replacement (sealed strut)
+ KYB GR-2 (sealed strut)
+ Tokico HP (Tokico Blue) (sealed strut)

Spring Options:
+ Eibach Pro-Kit (1.2/1.2)
+ H&R Sport Spring (1.4/1.3)
+ Intrax (1.6/1.5)
+ Sprint (1.6/1.6)
+ K-Sport GT Lowering (1.8/1.8)
+ Dropzone (1.8/1.8)
+ Tenzo-R (somewhere between 2-2.25)

Coilover Options:
+Ground Control (sleeves only)
+ K-Sport Kontrol Pros
+ D2 RS Coilovers
+TEIN SuperStreet (NO UPPER MOUNT)
+ K-Sport GT Pros
+ JIC
~~~If you do not know what a coilover is, it is basically an adjustable shock absorber with a spring on an adjustable perch. They also usually come with the top mount with an integrated camber adjuster) The adjustable shock lets you adjust compress/rebound and the adjustable spring perch lets you adjust ride height. Coilovers usually come with linear springs and will usually allow you to choose the spring rate. *this excludes the Ground Control Coilover sleeves which is only the spring and the perch that you put on your own shock absorber and use your own mount BUT none of the shock absorbers avaliable for the gen4 camry is valved to SUPPORT such a high spring rate that Ground Control offers. **this description of a coilover unit is only applied to a mcPherson type strut. (what the camry has)

notes:

- For struts, KYB GR-2s are a step above factory replacement. They're cheap and have better performance than stock. The Tokicos offer the most performance gains. They are stiffer and can support lowering springs better.

-(by Venom_5) most (if not all) of these springs are Progressive Rate springs, which means that the harder you push them, the harder they will push back ... which isnt optimal for the track, but its great for a Daily Driver .... this also means that you cannot cut them to achieve more of a drop, because you will be cutting the outer rings, which provide less force and you wont end up any lower

-(by Venom_5) IN ADDITION, lower springs do not always provide the stiffest ride .... I (Venom_5) tried contacting most of those companies to ask for their spring rates (or spring rate functions, since they are progressive), and nobody would give me an ounce of information ... so if you want the stiffest springs, then its going to be a hit-or-miss game .... but keep in mind that most of the ride "stiffness" is provided by the struts (so if you ask another user if their Eibachs were stiff, you may get a different answer depending on whether they have KYB GR-2s, Tokico HPs, or anything else)

There are also the Tein S-Tech's and H-Tech's.

[bigbird]

i have tokico shocks and H&R springs and love em. wish they had more then a drop but they are great for a DD.

[tuomas]

http://toyotapartscenter.net/partloc...layCatalogid=1

or

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Toyot...1%7C240%3A1318

my only concern is that the eibach springs will be too stiff of a ride with tokico struts... I understand that the upside is more control/stability however will it be an uncomfortable drive?

[JCamry94]

Originally Posted by tuomas

http://toyotapartscenter.net/partloc...layCatalogid=1

or

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Toyota-Camry-Eibach-Pro-Kit_W0QQitemZ110387871492QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors _Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item19b3a13f04&_ trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7 C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

my only concern is that the eibach springs will be too stiff of a ride with tokico struts... I understand that the upside is more control/stability however will it be an uncomfortable drive?

Not even: (from eibach website) Every Eibach Pro-Kit is designed and tested by our suspension engineers and performance driving professionals, to deliver aggressive good looks and high performance handling, without ever compromising safety or ride quality.

& that's true, i've never heard of anyone saying otherwise. Coilovers and coil sleeves will effect the comfort a lot more.

And as a side note the seller will refund you $15 of that shipping charge for being in CA, just ask him about it

[eddie926]

Depends on what you want to do. If you want to A) maintain factory look and ride and just get new struts, or if you B) want to lower your car for a better look and get improved performance/handling.

If A, then I'd just get the KBYs and use 'em with your factory springs.

If B, then I second the H&R Sports with Tokicos. I have that setup on my '95 V6 XLE and love it.

If you decide to get the Tokicos, I bought mine from this guy and had a VERY GOOD ebay transaction. Several other members have said the same.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOKIC...Q5fAccessories

I got my H&R Sports from www.tirerack.com

I'm not gonna lie. There is a noticeable trade off in ride quality IMO. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret the change at all because handling is awesome, and it looks great. It is a noticeably stiffer ride though. Not "uncomfortable", but definitely stiffer. Oh, I also have the TRD RSB, so that's a factor in my setup as well. I never had the H&Rs and Tokicos without the RSB, so I can't say what the ride would be like without it in the mix.

Last note: If you go with the KYBs, I'd check tirerack.com for their price. They're a VERY reputable retailer with great customer service and are usually competetive in price.

[4G63Attack]

Sorry for bring an old threat back to life but i have a some what similar question.

Question being to save myself some money i matted the tokico shocks with the stock spring and ran in to a little problem this combo that it will not fit right back in their. its a little too long. So i'm thinking that the Tokico shocks was meant to be use with lowing springs ? correct me if i'm wrong.

[wtftoy]

using tokico's with stock springs isn't worth the labor taking out the whole assemble but I'm pretty sure they're not meant to be used with the stock tho.. get eibachs, h&r or teins.

[werkit217]

does anyone on here have KYB GR-2 paired with H&R springs on a gen4? if so how is the ride quality? I personally like a softer ride (more like a lexus than performance oriented)

[ONE_to_HATE]

i have GR2's with S-techs.. and they're plenty stiff for yr average daily needs, and its still pretty damn smooth.

[murphymp]

If you're getting new springs as well, consider monroe quick struts. Particularly if you have high mileage. My car has 230K and the spring seats and rubber bushing were all rotted out. You get the whole strut unit so no spring compressing. Just drop the old unit and replace with the new. I replaced my back two this way a few months back. About $300 bucks for the pair on Amazon and Monroe had a $50 rebate on them. I think they were offering a $125 rebate if you did all four corners. Not sure if that's still going on.