Strut Recommendations for 2000 Camry?

[wmichaelb]

My 2000 Camry CE has 180,000 miles on the original struts, and they've always been too soft for me. By way of calibration, I'd like to have the car handle as well as my wife's 2004 Pontiac Vibe (Matrix). If I wanted something stiffer than stock, what have people found that works and is available? I've noted some references to Bilsteins, but www.bilstein.com doesn't list anything for this car. KYB's seem to be panned a lot. I was hoping for the Tokico Illumina's because they're adjustable, but they're not available for this car either. I plan to have the work done by a local shop, but the owner wants me to choose. A local speed shop wanted $1000 to put KYB's on, which seems a bit much to me. Has anyone had experience with this particular year and model? Thanks!

[Tom 2000]

I changed the struts on my Camry couple of months ago with KYBs. It's a little stiffer than stock and the car handles well.

To give you an idea how much the shop is charging, I did this job myself at home.

I bought 4 KYB GR-2 Struts from eBay for $260 shipped.
I bought the parts listed below from WorldWideToyotaParts.com (All Genuine Toyota Parts). It came out to around $250 including shipping.

- Front Strut Mounts $60.66 each X 2
- Front Susp Upper Spring Insulator $14.02 each X 2
- Front Susp Lower Spring Insulator $14.60 each X 2
- Rear Susp Lower Spring Insulator $14.60 each X2
- Front Sway Bar Bushings $7.80 each X 2
- Rear Sway Bar Bushings $7.42 each X2

I replaced the struts in my garage. Spring Compressor, Torque Wrench and a Vice are the only special tools I used.
I reused the bearings, upper insulator for the rears and obviously the 4 springs, My sway bar end links were fine so I reused them as well.

I paid $80 for a 4-wheel alignment at the local Les Schwab Tire Center. Before the alignment, the car still drove straight, even after I changed the struts. Caster and Camber were still good, but the toe was off on all 4 corners.

Around $600 total in the end.

[importcar]

What's toe?? I did the KYB struts myself 3 weeks ago and like yours, the car drives straight without an alignment.

[RU2CHKN]

Usually to adjust toe you have to turn the nut on the tie rod to do it