suspension trouble shooting

[forgottenman]

1993 toyota camry LE wagon V6 115k miles;

having some trouble with the suspension, the car isnt a race car in anyway, just transportation.

1. the car has a slight vibration at about 60mph and faster, feels like a rear tire maybe out of balance, cant feel it in the steering wheel, just in the seat. We have had the tires balanced at SAMS club twice with no improvement, the tires are goodyear and about 1/2 worn out. Its been doing this for a couple of years.

2. just lately maybe the last 5k miles the car has been "stumbling" when it hits any kind of bump/tar strip/expansion strip/ lane divider bumps. It acts like its traveling over a washboard section of the road. When you hit a small bump it feels as if you went over 3 or 4 bumps very quickly.

I know some of you guys are familiar with the suspension and know your way around these cars, any help with ideas on fixing the problem would be appreciated.
I recently changed the front axels due to leaking CV joint boots, the car drives and reacts exactly the same now as before i changed the axels.

thanks for any help/ideas

[forgottenman]

come on guys, not even a guess, anything would help. I know there are lots of variables but some one must have some ideas.

[Frodo65]

Originally Posted by forgottenman

1993 toyota camry LE wagon V6 115k miles;

having some trouble with the suspension, the car isnt a race car in anyway, just transportation.

1. the car has a slight vibration at about 60mph and faster, feels like a rear tire maybe out of balance, cant feel it in the steering wheel, just in the seat. We have had the tires balanced at SAMS club twice with no improvement, the tires are goodyear and about 1/2 worn out. Its been doing this for a couple of years.
Well, try rotating the tires. If the vibration follows, then 'tis the wheel/tire. If not, it's either wheel bearings, drum, or a strut. With that age, and absent a noise complaint, a strut is a very likely suspect. As a further confirmation, look at runout of the bearing/drum assembly. Runout gauges can be had at Harbor Freight for <$20; see the dial indicator that's the 1st item, you'll also need the holder for $9. The 'Clamping dial indicator' is a pretty versatile setup for $30, but you could do the magnetic base + the dial indicator for <$20.

2. just lately maybe the last 5k miles the car has been "stumbling" when it hits any kind of bump/tar strip/expansion strip/ lane divider bumps. It acts like its traveling over a washboard section of the road. When you hit a small bump it feels as if you went over 3 or 4 bumps very quickly.
That's also a bad strut symptom. Could also be an issue with a sloppy control arm bushing or strut isolator. Take a look at the diagnostic in the appropriate TSM at http://camrystuff.com/.

I know some of you guys are familiar with the suspension and know your way around these cars, any help with ideas on fixing the problem would be appreciated.
I recently changed the front axles due to leaking CV joint boots, the car drives and reacts exactly the same now as before i changed the axles.
On an old car that's in its late teens, and especially if the struts are original, I'd do new struts, isolators, and control-arm bushings, along with sway bar bushings as a preventive maintenance item. Not cheap, but a certain way of getting back the 'like new' feeling.
thanks for any help/ideas