Camry struts

[steelframe]

I have a 1997 Camry with 120k miles, ? does it need new struts and how easy it to replace them. I do hear some clunking over bumps.
In the rear are they struts or plain old shocks.

[SmokingTires]

Well, when you hit a bump, does it feel like the car entirely takes it(hits hard), or just a little bit? Because if they are out, you will hear a very loud hitting sound. It will be very noticable, even on the smallest bump.

If it isn't very loud, chances are that it's fairly normal and your just hitting things too fast. 120,000 miles is nothing on struts. I'm at 201,000 and I still haven't had to change mine.

[nort0188]

Struts and shocks are NOT the same. You have struts all the way around. Struts have the spring perch on them, shocks do not. The clunking could be rear upper strut mounts, those tend to wear out a lot. You can check your shocks by pushing down on the rear or front of your car, and if it bounces more than one or two times, chances are they're blown. Replacing them is a pretty simple, but time consuming job. You will need a spring compressor to do it too.

[95camguy]

120k miles... could be the struts. but you could also check the stabilizer bar bushings or as someone else said the strut mounts(those were a big problem in 97's). i dont agree that struts last forever either. i drove my girlfriends 91 corolla(170k miles) that needed struts and the damn thing was dangerous to drive.

[Lauren]

Yeah strut mounts usually go quickly in the '97's. When my rear struts went, my car would also shake side to side as well. It sounds like a clunky-rattle. A bushing may squeak and if the bushing is completely worn or gone, it's a definite metal-on-metal sound. They are pretty easy to replace, but like Siver_Cartel said you need a spring compressor. (You can rent one at a local car supply store like Auto Palace, ect.)
If you are looking for a shop to replace it-it's pricey. I was quoted at 1400-900 dollars for my '95 Cam. Shop around and get the best deal if you do go that route.

[mikesa]

Just replaced the rear struts on 91 camry, around $200. It was making a bad clunking sound and the rear would bounce alot whenever going over bumps. rides like a new car now.

[Stealth]

Originally Posted by Lauren

Yeah strut mounts usually go quickly in the '97's. When my rear struts went, my car would also shake side to side as well. It sounds like a clunky-rattle. A bushing may squeak and if the bushing is completely worn or gone, it's a definite metal-on-metal sound. They are pretty easy to replace, but like Siver_Cartel said you need a spring compressor. (You can rent one at a local car supply store like Auto Palace, ect.)
If you are looking for a shop to replace it-it's pricey. I was quoted at 1400-900 dollars for my '95 Cam. Shop around and get the best deal if you do go that route.

Yeah I got quoted just under $800. I could do it myself but I'm not sure what I need as far as mounts and what not, and I don't know if I could survive with my car off the road for a few days. Don't think I'd want to the do the work during the winter anyway.

[amerikim]

It's easy to tell if a strut goes out cause your car will be even more squirelly.
Come off a bump and you are tracking all over the place, good chance you got a bum strut. Car also seems to ride crooked. Squeaks and clunks could be other things as well. Tire wear is good indicator. Cupping on one side, etc etc.

Bad news is springs need to come off,
good new is you do not need to put the same ones back.

Invest in a stiffer rollbar down while you are down there. You will like it a lot better.

[_VVTi_]

if he doesn't change the struts until spring comes around, whats the worst can happen? if the struts are blown, there would not be travel inside the struts, would the struts go thru the trunk or the hood?

[tbalon]

Originally Posted by _VVTi_

if he doesn't change the struts until spring comes around, whats the worst can happen? if the struts are blown, there would not be travel inside the struts, would the struts go thru the trunk or the hood?

Driving with bad struts simply means that you will be driving a car with degraded handling capabilities. The car will seem to "float like a boat" and will lean excessively while cornering. It will also dive while braking and bounce excessively. All this will add up to making the car unsafe to drive especially during an emergency maneuver.

The struts will still have travel, as in range of up and down movement, but they will not be dampened to slow the up and down movement.

It is most unlikely that the bad struts would go through the trunk or hood. This is assuming the car is structurally sound and has not had areas of corrosion that may weaken the frame or uni-body structure.

[BMR]

Ummm... this thread is 7 years old.