5th & 6th Generation (2002-2006 & 2007-2011)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 2002-2006 & 2007-2011
Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving America's favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
Long background/rant story (skip to the bottom for strut only stuff):
So, I've had TRD springs on my '07 XLE V6 since pretty much day one, but was never happy with them.
It really upsets me that the Eibach (and the consequent TRD rebadge) just continued to issue some of their old springs, when the Gen 6 got completely revamped suspension (obviously, as it's a new chassis/suspension, etc.). Heck, there wasn't even a different set for the I4 and V6 models, though the curb weight and weight distribution is obviously different.
The back looks "saggy", but I measured the actual ground clearance from the frame to the ground and it's even front/rear; so I guess it's just the way the fenders/wheel wells are designed, fine.
But then there was the bad handling. Very noticeable understeer at turn-in, a "hook" feeling at mid-turn, and then neutral feeling at exit. But that got sorted out with the installation of Ultra Racing's 19mm rear swaybar and front strut tower brace.
However, it continues to have a terribly oversprung and bouncy ride. Yes, I'm on 225/45/18's; and yes for the last 20K miles or so were on Goodyear Eagle F1 All-Season's (with kevlar main belts and carbon fiber in the super stiff sidewalls). I know it's the springs because I spent some time on the rims/tires with the stock springs and didn't have these issues.
But I'm not talking about harshness of the ride. I'm talking about how going over speedbumps at anything over a crawl takes like 3-4 bounces for the car to settle; and at highway speeds (especially here in LA, like on the I-10) when going over uneven pavement (especially in a series of it) or going onto/off of concrete overpass sections, the car bounces 3-5 times before settling.
This is terribly uncomfortable and confidence-robbing. And to make it even more obvious, I've got an HID conversion (I know, save yourself the retrofit mantra, I know) where I blocked off the "squirrel spotters" completely and have a clear/strong cutoff; and I can bet that every time I'm going over bumps/dips at night, the nearby drivers must be thinking "WTF?" seeing my lights bounce around everywhere.
Now I ride around like I'm a poor high-school kid who cut his stock springs. Not to mention that my front left strut/mount/bearing is blown, with low-speed crunching noises (though this could be from my shop's install).
Heck, at one point I bought Megan Racing's coilovers. But, at the time, Megan was still trying to figure out the right spring rates for the setup (I actually had the updated setup, which didn't match their older advertising/manual). I didn't like being a guinea pig, and was worried if they'd be too harsh (since they are cheap coilovers). And, I think that the Megan's were not rebuildable. Plus, I didn't want to deal with messing with the ride heights/corner balancing, or the spring perches moving outta position. Oh, and my car was/is still under warranty. Anyways, had them for a month sitting in the shipping box, then sold them off here on TN.
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Struts:
Been thinking about upgrading to the slightly stiffer SE struts, a.k.a. KYB GR-2's. But I was never that excited about KYB's consistency/quality control between individual struts. Plus, it really is only an replacement strut. While it may be a few percent stiffer than my XLE struts, they'd be nothing really to write home about.
I'd been waiting ~3 years for better struts to hit the market, whether Bilstein, Sachs, Koni (Yellow's), or Tokico (Blue's). Heck I'd even have been happy with KYB AGX's (at least I can set the firmness to my liking, and to even them out, plus they're made for lowered setups).
So any one of you fellow TNer's have an inside line on when these might be out? I'm coming up on my 30K/3 years, so I want them very soon! By the way, besides replacing the top bearings (per the manual), what other links/ends would you recommend changing? And what strut mounts (OEM/KYB/etc.)?
Maybe those GR-2's are still better than nothing. Although for people with SE's, you have stiffer bracing all around the car, stiffer bushings, stiffer front swaybar, shorter/stiffer springs (stock, I think), etc. Wish they made an XLE-SE version (better suspension setup, cooler steering wheel, and the nice body kit), heck I'd sacrifice my reclining rear seats for the SE rear seat bracing.
Maybe those GR-2's are still better than nothing. Although for people with SE's, you have stiffer bracing all around the car, stiffer bushings, stiffer front swaybar, shorter/stiffer springs (stock, I think), etc. Wish they made an XLE-SE version (better suspension setup, cooler steering wheel, and the nice body kit), heck I'd sacrifice my reclining rear seats for the SE rear seat bracing.
Wake up......if you have an XLE, you have the V Brace between the suspension towers and the body floor.
i wrote on july of 2009 and they said that they are developing it but the dont have an exact date, they told me probably aprox late of next year (2010) so i think it would be a good guess to say that maybe this christmas we can see some tokiko struts.
i would love to have some tokiko struts too. but if by this christmas they dont come out, i will get some kyb gr2.
Hahaha, friggin' Njerald!
Good to see your sense of humor hasn't changed! Yes, when I stripped my car to add sound deadening material and run my audio gear, I became very aware of the V-brace. And you are right (figure that's what you live to hear), only the LE (CE too?) models with folding-type seats don't have the V-brace. However, the SE still has other body/chassis stiffening items that my XLE doesn't; it's in Toyota's own literature and the differences were also covered well by the press around the launch of the Gen 6.
Gabypr, thanks for the info! I'm in the same boat as you then. If nothing by the end of this year, I'll just get the GR-2's.
after doing se conversion i can tell u there only a few small things that we don't have suspension wise/under car. 1 is the se struts, 2 is there is a aerodynamic covering over the gas tank under the car, and 3 there are 2 braces on each side in the rear. the rear braces i'm looking into getting and same with the cover since i have se rear lip. the struts well i have megan coils.
sound like if u want to solve ur problem u should ponny up the 800 or so bucks and get megans coils and enjoy. at 8 clicks from stiffest my car turns like crazy and feels about as stiff as trd+kyb but is much less bouncier. awesome coils with the money and can be rebuilt with stiffer springs and diff top mounts.
Hmmm... great information! But if I remember correctly, the SE's have a stiffer front swaybar and stiffer bushings. I'd like those eventually as well. As for the undertray piece, I may have to look into that as I'm getting the RK lip kit. The rear braces would be nice, but not critical for me.
As for the Megan's. I've had them, but sold them before putting them on because of certain concerns I had. See the last paragraph in the first section of the original post; I know it's long, sorry. Glad to hear they worked out for you though.
Hmmm... great information! But if I remember correctly, the SE's have a stiffer front swaybar and stiffer bushings. I'd like those eventually as well. As for the undertray piece, I may have to look into that as I'm getting the RK lip kit. The rear braces would be nice, but not critical for me.
As for the Megan's. I've had them, but sold them before putting them on because of certain concerns I had. See the last paragraph in the first section of the original post; I know it's long, sorry. Glad to hear they worked out for you though.
Front sway bar? No thank you.
The LE/XLE Front sway is an asset, when stiffening the rear, you get less understeer.
Pawel,
Thanks again for all your insight! Glad the Megan's are all sorted. Still too lazy to go through and set it up properly (corner balancing at a shop after getting the right ride height, then speedbump tests to get the damping right). Plus, the cartridges are not rebuildable right (yes I understand I'd have to charge them with nitrogen, but that's not hard). And good to know that the undertray actually clips to the SE rear lip; one less thing for me to worry about buying/installing.
MJZ,
Yeah, I get what you mean, but I don't really feel my car is pushing badly at all (and I've got heavy audio equipment in the trunk too).
u don't need to corner balance. i didn't do it. dampening since u xle it's super easy to change. front is under hood obviously and rear just remove the rear headrests on outside/corner of rear seat and lift up that piece that reclines with the seat. u lift it from corner and u have perfect access to damper and to the 3 bolts. no need to remove seat at all for installation or anything. like i said i hear everything is rebuildable.
Small update, just got an email back from Tokico, and they stated "There are no plans to develop performance products for your Camry," when asked about the blue shocks.
Netforcer, what's with the negativity? Unfortunately, a Lotus or Rossion is not an option for me now. What's so wrong with trying to improve what we've already got? I was just looking for a slightly firmer strut so my car wouldn't be so oversprung. Just ironic coming from someone who dumped way more money into his Camry. If you're looking for looks, handling, power/speed... you bought the wrong car...??? Obviously there are better looking, better handling, and faster cars out there, so then why'd you try to make your Camry look/handle better or have more power?
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Tokico HP Series "Blue" Struts
Long background/rant story (skip to the bottom for strut only stuff):
Struts:
Linear Mode
