Suspension on the cheap

[GIMike]

I just got a 96 3.0l Camry. It runs great. Needs struts all around and some functional cosmetic stuff (passenger mirror, door handles, windshield - not needed to operate the car, but not just for looks). Right now it seems as if my whole suspension is shot. The rear has no shock absorbing left at all, and the front makes a lovely rattle when going over bumps. I'm trying to do this as cheap as possible (sometimes fixing a fixer upper can be cheaper than a car with no issues, if you can ignore the non-necessities of the fixer upper ). I'm thinking though, since my rear end is basically just riding on the springs with no shock absorption left, wouldn't this limit the life of the springs since they're being overused? So, while I want to stay on the cheap side, I definately want to be on the safe side. This is why the first thing I replaced was the master cylinder before I even drove it home.

I'm not one to buy things from unknown sources that I'm going to rely on. I got some cheap door handles on ebay, but what about something like this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/STAGG-SHS-SE...item1c2034116f I'm not looking for performance. I'm looking for cheap. I almost would rather have had the 84 oldsmobile that I had to give up for this car because this one will be more expensive to fix even though it's infinately nicer than the oldsmobile

[dorifuto.boi]

get the monroe quick struts. they come with upper mounts while the ones in your link doesnt

[Chris Crash]

^ for about the same price, too.

[Yuko]

I have installed Monroe Quick-Struts and are performing fine. A complete assemble is cheaper than buying all the parts separating and piecing it together. It's also safer and faster to replace with a complete assemble. You might have to replace the both sway bar bushings and possibility the end-links too.

[GIMike]

Originally Posted by Chris Crash

^ for about the same price, too.

I wish they were. But sadly I can't find any monroe quick struts for less than $220 a piece. I've found Gabriel Ready Mounts for "fairly" cheap. Almost $100 cheaper a piece. Monroes are about $230, I've seen Gabriels for $140. Anybody had any luck with those? Should I make a thread asking about those in particular?

[ajkalian]

Originally Posted by GIMike

I wish they were. But sadly I can't find any monroe quick struts for less than $220 a piece. I've found Gabriel Ready Mounts for "fairly" cheap. Almost $100 cheaper a piece. Monroes are about $230, I've seen Gabriels for $140. Anybody had any luck with those? Should I make a thread asking about those in particular?

Try Amazon or RockAuto, both have them for $150.00 each

.

[GIMike]

I couldn't find them for a 96 camry le 3.0 @ rockauto. They don't have any preassembled struts at rock auto Sad cause they're normally pretty cheap.

[PhatRoyale]

Originally Posted by GIMike

I just got a 96 3.0l Camry. It runs great. Needs struts all around and some functional cosmetic stuff (passenger mirror, door handles, windshield - not needed to operate the car, but not just for looks). Right now it seems as if my whole suspension is shot. The rear has no shock absorbing left at all, and the front makes a lovely rattle when going over bumps. I'm trying to do this as cheap as possible (sometimes fixing a fixer upper can be cheaper than a car with no issues, if you can ignore the non-necessities of the fixer upper ). I'm thinking though, since my rear end is basically just riding on the springs with no shock absorption left, wouldn't this limit the life of the springs since they're being overused? So, while I want to stay on the cheap side, I definately want to be on the safe side. This is why the first thing I replaced was the master cylinder before I even drove it home.

I'm not one to buy things from unknown sources that I'm going to rely on. I got some cheap door handles on ebay, but what about something like this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/STAGG-SHS-SE...item1c2034116f I'm not looking for performance. I'm looking for cheap. I almost would rather have had the 84 oldsmobile that I had to give up for this car because this one will be more expensive to fix even though it's infinately nicer than the oldsmobile

They seem alright.

The seller is actually legit. I bought from them on several occasions with no problems.

[ajkalian]

Amazon shows that Monroe part #171958 and #171957 for the rears and part #171979 and #171980 for the fronts.

Here's a link, but sometimes they get screwed up for some reason. Just do a search on amazon for the part numbers. You can double check it with their part locator/finder.

I'm pretty sure RockAuto will stock the same part numbers. Might be worth checking.

http://www.amazon.com/Monroe-171979-Quick-Strut-Complete-Assembly/dp/B000C55KXK/ref=au_pf_ss_3?ie=UTF8&Model=Camry%7C1011&n=15684181&s=automotive&Make=Toyota%7C76&Year=1996%7C1996&carId=001

http://www.amazon.com/Monroe-171979-Quick-Strut-Complete-Assembly/dp/B000C55KXK/ref=au_pf_ss_3?ie=UTF8&Model=Camry%7C1011&n=15684181&s=automotive&Make=Toyota%7C76&Year=1996%7C1996&carId=001