gen 4 suspension noise checklist

[Velox_camry]

ok heres the deal.... i had massive strut rattling noise on the front of my gen 4 camry (98) i was running ground control coilovers with stock struts... i also had a clunking noise when i turned the wheel while not moving at all. I replace my whole strut coilover assembly with tein ss dampers, and brand new update front upper strut mounts with new ocillator bearings. the clunking noise while turning the wheel while not moving went away and the rattling noise bearly occured... but now the noise is getting louder little by little.

so to help with the troubleshooting with gen 4 suspension noises, i did the following and and i still have the rattling noise:

1. changed entire strut coilover assembly
2. changed upper strut mounts ( i made sure that they were the "new and improved model"
3. changed ocillator bearings
4. tried re-tightening the strut bolts

i think im gunna try tightening the stock sway bar bolts and see if this helps at all.... in the haynes manual it also says when u have abnormal front suspenion noise to:

check for worn or loose control arm bushings or tie-rod ends.

well hope this helps you guys out... if anyone has found a way to solve the noise, or have any ideas on what else i should check, please post !

Thanks !

[cam2Xrunner]

Sounds like you did everything you should have.

[Mike Gerber]

Try replacing the swaybar bushings. The hole going over the swaybar gets pushed back due to wear and tension over the years. Take one off and bring it to the dealer and compare it to a new one in the parts department. You will be surprised at how much smaller the hole on the new one will look. This enlarged hole allows the swaybar to hit the underside of the chassis when you go over almost any bump. This was the clunking noise on the rear of my 98. I had been searching for that noise in my rear for years. Cheap and easy to fix.

Good luck.

Mike

[BLUEMEANIE]

its the end links.


...if I only had a nickel for every time...

[Velox_camry]

Originally Posted by BLUEMEANIE

its the end links.


...if I only had a nickel for every time...

end links for what ? the swaybars ?

[BLUEMEANIE]

they attach your swaybar to your strut in the back they're about +/-7" and in the front they're about 4" long or so

These are pretty much what yours look like...




This is on a WRX...




on the wrx they attach the swaybar (red) to the lower wishbone (silver). On your car they attach the swaybar to the strut.

the screw is on a ball joint surrounded by a grease packed bushing so it moves, when the bushing goes it tends to klunk around.

[ericcyl]

My 1999 Toyota Camry 4Cyl also have the similar problem.

Unindentifiable right front end noise has been bothering me for years.

I changed the front bumper, installed new struts and springs, replaced old and leaking sway bar links, and the noise is still there.

[Davee]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

Try replacing the swaybar bushings. The hole going over the swaybar gets pushed back due to wear and tension over the years. Take one off and bring it to the dealer and compare it to a new one in the parts department. You will be surprised at how much smaller the hole on the new one will look. This enlarged hole allows the swaybar to hit the underside of the chassis when you go over almost any bump. This was the clunking noise on the rear of my 98. I had been searching for that noise in my rear for years. Cheap and easy to fix.

Good luck.

Mike

This was my problem on a 97 LE after about 2 years. Really noisy in cold weather when rubber not resilient . Has been good since the change -- Rather expenisive little bits of rubber though