Gen 3/3.5 cutoff date

[murphymp]

I've got a 94 camry that I'm having front suspension issues with and need to replace parts. In my readings, it seems that Toyota transitioned from Gen 3 to Gen 3.5 in the middle of 1994. How do I determine if my 94 is a gen 3 or 3.5 before taking the front suspension apart?

[JCamry94]

gen 3 = 92-94
gen 3.5 = 95-96

What do you need to know about your suspension? The parts between these generations are 100% interchangeable with one another.

[whip_cracker]

Nice...

I reckon that the American Cammas are different... our Gen 3s finished in April 95 and Gen 3.5s started from Oct 95 through to sometime in 97.

Look at the Chassis plate on the firewall. If it's VDV10 it's a Gen 3 and a VCV10 is a Gen 3.5. Not sure how the 4 bangers model numbers work... SDV10 or something like that.

[murphymp]

Originally Posted by JCamry94

gen 3 = 92-94
gen 3.5 = 95-96

What do you need to know about your suspension? The parts between these generations are 100% interchangeable with one another.

There is a difference which I figured out with some research. Someone else has come up with a parts list for the gen 3 & 3.5 shock absorber components. The gen 3.5 has a bearing under the strut mount the gen 3 doesn't have. There is also a difference in the strut mount Toyota part numbers between the 4 and 6 cylinder as well as the generations. Aftermarket parts only make a distinction between the generations for the strut mount part, not the engine size. The upper and lower insulators also have different part numbers.

Also, Gen 3s were made from June of 91 to August of 94. After that they were gen 3.5. This probably corresponds to the model year information above since the 95 model year would have started production sometime in the latter part 1994.

The sticker on my camry says it was manufactured in March of 2004 so it's definitely a gen 3.

See the following post for reference:
Gen3 Front & Rear Suspension OEM parts number!

[JCamry94]

Hmm, never knew about that.

Then again I avoided the whole problem and bought all my struts and springs complete, without the need for mixing up the part numbers.

And again, if you were to do that ^ the mounts will sit perfectly between gen 3 - 4.5s, and are wholly interchangeable.