Fairly New Member needs help:Rear Sway Bar Bushings, Front Rotors & Front Brake Pads

[Mrs_Lop]

Hello Everyone,

Please see my two other threads to get a feel for what I am up against health wise and financially. I don't have a service manual for my car.

This morning my mechanic told me that my 1997 Toyota Camry LE 4 cyl 5SFE needs Rear Sway Bar Bushings, Front Rotors and Front Brake Pads.

I've just started with this new mechanic and he is willing to work with me on my buying the parts. He charges for labor only when I do it this way. He knows that I can't afford to have it done right away and says that I can still drive it as it won't fall apart on me. His chief mechanic took it for a test drive and then put it up on the lift. It was the first time I got a good look at the undercarriage.
It looks really good for a 14 year old car!

I need your help on finding all the right parts to buy for this job. From having read another thread, there are some parts that are definitely not good to buy.

I also need help on how many mechanic hours of labor he should be charging for.

Are there other things that could be found that need to be fixed once the wheels and sway bar is taken apart?

Does anyone have pictures that they can post of what is involved in this job?

Thank you for your suggestions, ideas and any advice
you can give.
Blessings,
Mrs_Lop

[Chris Crash]

Honestly I wouldn't worry about the bushings. All it will do in the meantime is maybe squeak or clunk around corners.

The brakes would be the priority. A good set of vented rotors and carquest "red" brake pads should be around $60. I would know I just did the same maintenance to my 97!

For the front brakes, should take 1-1.5 hours. Maybe less considering his utilization of a lift and air tools.

While he has the brakes apart he might discover you have a stuck slide pin or have a torn boot or something, but you probably would have noticed by now anyway to be honest.

Hope that helps!

[Specialmen240]

like chris said the priority goes to the brake rotors and pads and the rear sway bar bushing make squeak around corner that her job keeping the sound to the minimem level if the bushing in bad condition it will make sound .

[JohnGD]

For brake pads and rotors I'd use the Akebono ProAct ceramic pads (ACT562, $51) and Brembo rotors (#25357, $38) combination. Tirerack is running a sale now. Amazon also has the ACT562 for $53.32 with free shipping.

Besides Brembo I'd also use Centric's Premium or C-Tek rotors, but Brembo is a premium brand. Akebono IMO is the best OEM pad, I wouldn't waste time on NBK or Sumitomo that you may find over the dealer counter. (Please double check application, I did use 97 LE 4-cyl but just in case).

I agree that they may find caliper related rubber needing work. But you won't know minor issues until they take it apart. One additional check I'd do is to check the lower control arm bushings for cracks.

http://www.akebonobrakes.com/afterma...ads/index.html
http://www.brembo.com/ENG/Car-Brakes/

As far as the rear sway bar bushings go, they are like $10+shipping (2 for both sides) and doesn't take 5 minutes to install. I'm not saying the shop shouldn't make a few bucks, but I also think it's best to know what's involved in a job if you're paying for one.

[Mrs_Lop]

Originally Posted by JohnGD

For brake pads and rotors I'd use the Akebono ProAct ceramic pads (ACT562, $51) and Brembo rotors (#25357, $38) combination. Tirerack is running a sale now. Amazon also has the ACT562 for $53.32 with free shipping.

I agree that they may find caliper related rubber needing work. But you won't know minor issues until they take it apart. One additional check I'd do is to check the lower control arm bushings for cracks.

I have spent numerous hours reading about Akebono Brake Pads and Brembo Rotors. Akebono Brake Pads got consistently good reviews, however, reviews for the Brembo Rotors were mixed. The problem with the particular number that you supplied, and were correct for my vehicle, was rust at least on the rear rotors installed-according to one reviewer. Not many reviews were posted for the fronts, so it's hard to know what to believe. The centric reviews I read were very good. It seems that centric paint their items to reduce the possibility of rust. People seemed to like that. Just a general observation by me, but rust seems to be a recurring problems with lots of manufacturers parts.

Before I spend my husband's hard earned dollars, I want to be sure that I get it right. Some centric products are hard to find as I am not really interested in Track or Street Racing. The kind I'm looking for is for Daily Driver that will last. (I am using the original 14" wheels on my 1997. ) One local store only sells Wagner stuff.

I am still trying and hope that people on this board will jump in with some recommendations.

My Car: 1997 Toyota Camry LE 4cyl 2164cc DOHC 14" wheels
Thanks so much for your help.
Blessings,
Mrs_Lop



http://www.akebonobrakes.com/afterma...ads/index.html
http://www.brembo.com/ENG/Car-Brakes/

As far as the rear sway bar bushings go, they are like $10+shipping (2 for both sides) and doesn't take 5 minutes to install. I'm not saying the shop shouldn't make a few bucks, but I also think it's best to know what's involved in a job if you're paying for one.

[Hajoca]

Most brake rotors are ductile cast iron and will rust. Rust is not an indicator of poor performance and often times a brand name like Monroe, Eurorotor, or even parts store brand (Napa, Parts Pro / Car Pro) is decent enough to use. Call them and ask for their price.

In Canada shipping is a killer for online buys. I call up a local brake parts wholesaler and find their prices as well before making a decision.

[Stillrunning]

Phone these guys, they may be helpful. I just bought good quality street rotors.
http://www.buybrakes.com/

[peshwa]

For brake rotors I would suggest Raybestos professional grade rotors that cost ~20 bucks for each piece ~$40 for the Fronts.
For brake pads I have used Bendix on my camry and very satisfied. No brake dust and great stopping power.
Order from Amazon for free shipping and zero sales tax (until now)!
All in all your budget should not exceed ~$100 for the brake job for parts alone.
Labor charges is an entirely different ripoff in this holy country
For around ~$60/hr this should be a 2 hour job at max for a competent mechanic with bleeding the brakes and greasing the caliper guide pins.

[JohnGD]

More and more newer rotors/drums now come with anti corrosion coatings. But some older ones still don't unfortunately. But IMO metallurgy (such as Brembo's high carbon noise dampening steel), casting, run out, balance and other physical properties are more important properties.

However, as mentioned, Centric would be another aftermarket brand I'd use. For Calif I'd choose the uncoated C-tek (otherwise for the price it's Brembo). But for RI, the black powder coated Centric Premium may be more desirable. OP's call.

There is no need for drilled or slotted rotors. They come with problems of their own. Just get the basic plain.

[capnblinski]

Does anyone know the size of the rear sway bar bushings for a stock 2000 Camry four-cylinder? I've looked around and can't seem to find a satisfactory answer.

[fenixus]

all info you need on the stock rubber bushings here:
http://www.fme-cat.com/Application.a...cat=Suspension

Look at the Sway Bar Bushings kit, front/rear suspension to frame. don't bother with problem solver modded versions, just get the plain ones, they fit all right and are easy to work with, .e.g. 2.2L front sway bar takes K90025 and rear sway bar takes K90547 (16mm) or K90549 (17mm), if I remember correctly 2.2L takes the BIGGER ones (my V6 solara takes the 16mm one while wife's 2.2L solara calls for the 17mm rear one, fronts are same). You can double check parts fitment on other website like rockauto.com or advanceauto.com

as much as I hate Moog brand for their unprotected against rust metal parts, they make the best rubber replacements for bushings

You can buy them (look by part number) super cheaper online on Advance Auto parts site with discount coupons (e.g. BIG5, BIG15, BIG25, A123, P20, etc.) and pick up locally. I paid for mine like a few bucks each set.

They healed all kinds of squeaks from RSB and FSB on my V6 with them and they fit perfectly fine like the stock ones do.

Note the stock camry/solara/avalon FSB is same between i4 and V6 while the rear one differs in diameter.

Whatever sizes you know from Whiteline site, they are upgraded aftermarket sizes, totally different from stock ones.