Need Suggestion on '02 Camry LE Suspension Problem

[inactive]

Every time my '02 Camry LE (4-cylinder, 90K miles) hits a bump, I can hear a kind of knocking/clicking noise from the right rear end. I don't know much about cars. So I have my car checked by 3 local shops. The estimates really confuse me.

1st shop: suggest to replace the right rear strut mount only, $350

2nd shop: suggest to replace the both strut and strut mount, rear left and right, $1,200

3rd shop: suggest to replace both strut and strut mount, all 4 pairs, front/rear and left/right, $2,000

I'm on budget and inclined to accept the solution from the 1st shop. But the guy in the 2nd shop told me that the strut and strut mount have to be replaced in pair, and that left and right strut/mount also come in pair. The guy in the 3rd shop even claimed that he has to replace all 4 pairs at the same time.

I have to say someone is lying here. Is replacing only one strut mount really doable? I hope I can get some suggestions from this forum. Thank you!

[sundarpn]

option 1 sounds ok. (but tell them that their diagnosis better be right! so if that does not fix the problem, they are responsible for fixing it right without more $ or downtime. ).

2 & 3 seem outrageous.

[CharmCityES]

theres a TSB out on rear suspension thump in 2002-2003 camrys....the repair is to simply replace the noisey rear strut mounts with the updated version....depending on your milage id also look into replacing the struts themselves
to put it simply, if you were looking to save some coin, you can replace just the strut mounts, but id be sure to get oem toyota....aftermarket ones may be just as noisey if not worse than the bad oem one you have now

[inactive]

Originally Posted by sundarpn

option 1 sounds ok. (but tell them that their diagnosis better be right! so if that does not fix the problem, they are responsible for fixing it right without more $ or downtime. ).

2 & 3 seem outrageous.

Thanks for your tip.

[inactive]

Originally Posted by CorCamrySE

theres a TSB out on rear suspension thump in 2002-2003 camrys....the repair is to simply replace the noisey rear strut mounts with the updated version....depending on your milage id also look into replacing the struts themselves
to put it simply, if you were looking to save some coin, you can replace just the strut mounts, but id be sure to get oem toyota....aftermarket ones may be just as noisey if not worse than the bad oem one you have now

Thanks for mentioning the TSB and the oem part tip.

It seems that I can replace the rear right strut mount only. So the guy in the 2nd shop didn't tell the truth... he said I have to replace the left/right rear struts and strut mounts at the same time.

[Gellenole]

you can always see if the upper mount had the main bolt/nut loose -- try tightening it up and test it out again.

[gdanaher]

At 90k miles, if the struts aren't shot, they should be. I wouldn't spend the labor cost of pulling the one strut out just to replace the mount and not the strut, and I certainly wouldn't replace a single strut--always do it in pairs. I vote for garage #2

[sundarpn]

2 grand for all four struts and mounts sounds a certain rip off. This does not even include new springs!