3rd & 4th Generation (1992–1996 & 1997–2001)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1992-1996 & 1997-2001
Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving America's favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
I'm down to my last mod.. after this, saving up for an FT-86 as long as the production version doesn't differ much from the production version. Here's the mod.. need opinions. I want coilovers! But mostly for the ability to be able to adjust ride height. That being said, I drive maybe 40-50,000 miles a year, and am NOT willing to get new coilovers every year since they don't last long, anddd I live in new york Here's my game plan as a result. Ground control coilover sleeves with Tokico blues. Why? Because I get what I want out of coilovers (I can raise it in the winter and lower it in the summer), yet it can last me the life of the car (could always get tokicos replaced when they fail me).
A couple of questions now that I have that out there.
1. The GC's I see on ebay are for 97-00 camry.. will they fit on a 96? I heard that they will but need a second opinion from some of the best.
2. Will I need an alignment every time I change the ride height? If so it'll be twice a year, which I guess isn't that bad, but if I could do without it that'd be even better.
3. I've heard the ride quality isn't that good, especially when its lowered too much.. heard its bouncy cause the springs are stronger than the struts. anything that can be done about this without actually switching to coilovers?
no idea about that but i'm in the ft-86 boat as well i still have plans for mine but they have expanded to where i need to put it off for a few years and need a second car
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^ and leaving it that way!
that sounds like a sensible plan. the GC sleevs wont ware out real quick and you can replace them with better springs when they do, the tokicos with their warranty will be a sure thing.
i jumped out of the FT-86 boat when i read toyota was being toyota and taking away from its origional vision. that being said if it doesnt suck when it hits the floor ill be in teh market for a car again.
I'm down to my last mod.. after this, saving up for an FT-86 as long as the production version doesn't differ much from the production version. Here's the mod.. need opinions. I want coilovers! But mostly for the ability to be able to adjust ride height. That being said, I drive maybe 40-50,000 miles a year, and am NOT willing to get new coilovers every year since they don't last long, anddd I live in new york Here's my game plan as a result. Ground control coilover sleeves with Tokico blues. Why? Because I get what I want out of coilovers (I can raise it in the winter and lower it in the summer), yet it can last me the life of the car (could always get tokicos replaced when they fail me).
A couple of questions now that I have that out there.
1. The GC's I see on ebay are for 97-00 camry.. will they fit on a 96? I heard that they will but need a second opinion from some of the best.
2. Will I need an alignment every time I change the ride height? If so it'll be twice a year, which I guess isn't that bad, but if I could do without it that'd be even better.
3. I've heard the ride quality isn't that good, especially when its lowered too much.. heard its bouncy cause the springs are stronger than the struts. anything that can be done about this without actually switching to coilovers?
97-2000 is different 2 a 1996 camry
it will depend on how much you will be raising and lowering it by if its a minimal amout then no wheel alignment is needed if it was me i would probli get a wheel alignment if i was doing it myself. and ride quality with coils is quite bouncy but most have a hard and soft setting it depends on which set you get i have ksport and i have it on a pretty stiff setting cause of the new wheels and how low i have it.
if want something that you can slam and raise easily i would go airbags ksport does a system that you can install yourself.
sean
Problem is I have to go with something that'll last me. No set of coilovers or airbags will work long term cause I drive to brooklyn regularly on weekends and drive more miles than most.
I've heard that the coilover sleeves will work on the gen 3 also, just need confirmation before I grab em.
I'll probably get a wheel alignment after I install them but I was wondering if a wheel alignment is needed even after adjusting height, not only when I change out the entire assembly.
Anyone? I can't remember where I read it that it will fit.. I'm hoping I wasn't dreaming. If not, are there any coilover sleeve options for the gen 3? I don't think there are..
they should fit. but you are gonna be the first i know of to put these on a gen3. the other two question you asked you should already know the answer to. you should get an alignment after ANY suspension work...even removing and replacing parts. so lowering it will of course warrant an adjustment.
and as for ride quality...what do you think will happen with a mild stiffness shock dropped below it's designed threshold with a stiff spring....it will bounce. the softer the spring you run the smoother it will ride. personally, while you plan seems pretty good...if things liek ride quality and longevity are that important, this is not a good option. a good spring strut combo will last MUCH longer and be a better ride than eitehr COs or GC.
The only thing is that with the GC's I can raise in the winter. I DO want to do it for performance though. Decisions decisions. If I go with strut/spring I can't drop it any more than maybe eibachs or h&rs which is still more wheel gap than id like.
edit:
I think sleeves are my best bet for what I need out of my Camry. That way I can drop it to a one finger wheel gap and maybe 2 fingers in the back for a raked look. Maybe I'll get cheap universal sleeves and throw some nice springs on top of em.
double edit:
think i've made my decision! no GC's for me. I'll still be going with tokico blues, but I'll be getting a set of sleeves which fit on them. then I'll be ordering springs with custom spring rates. need to research into what spring rates to use, but i'm almost sure i want the ride to not be too stiff so i'll probably be going with 350-400lb/in fronts and 250-300lb/in rears. any suggestions?
i also need to find out what size sleeves to order.. anyone know the diameter of the perch on the tokico's?
edit:
I think sleeves are my best bet for what I need out of my Camry. That way I can drop it to a one finger wheel gap and maybe 2 fingers in the back for a raked look. Maybe I'll get cheap universal sleeves and throw some nice springs on top of em.
double edit:
think i've made my decision! no GC's for me. I'll still be going with tokico blues, but I'll be getting a set of sleeves which fit on them. then I'll be ordering springs with custom spring rates.
I've owned the Tokico/GC setup in the past and even at the lowest setting, the ride was far from bouncy... It wasn't mushy like the stock ride but it was bearable, maybe even comfortable (but that's subjective) compared to true coilovers.
That said, I'd highly advise against getting universal sleeves because you don't know if they can handle the stress of the long distances you will be driving. Inferior sleeve and perch construction and/or quality could lead to them failing (ie snaping or bending under the car). Suspension is one of those parts that you don't cheap out on.
It's an advertised drop of 3" but trust me, it will never be that low without some strut modification. (See the Slammed Thread for more info on that.) Most you will get is around 2.25" BUT at least it will be an even drop without sag if you go with Eibach Race Springs (that's what Ground Controls come with), ebay brands, no idea.
It's round like the spring with a flat bottom. There is a locking screw with an allen wrench head to lock the perches on each perch.
I really don't need it to be any lower than leaving a finger gap.. so I'm not worried cause I don't want to slam it. I simply want the ability to raise and lower, have a bit performance gain, and also last me the life of the car. That being said I think tokico + sleeve will do me well. I just need to find the size of the diameter I will need so that the sleeve will sit well on the tokico blues I'm getting. any website with specifics/dimensions?
Anyone know the diameter of the tokico blue struts for gen 3?? I found sleeves which are 2 1/8 and 2.5inch diameter, dunno which to get! If anyone has tokicos, mind getting the measurement for me? thanks in advance!! woot, can't wait to drop!
edit:
bought the tokicos.. waiting on em to come in so i know the diameter of the sleeves i need. also going to get custom spring rate progressives to make it comfortable yet lowered.
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Scamry
Here's my game plan as a result. Ground control coilover sleeves with Tokico blues. Why? Because I get what I want out of coilovers (I can raise it in the winter and lower it in the summer), yet it can last me the life of the car (could always get tokicos replaced when they fail me).
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