What other parts needed while doing struts 80k

[{GodlightSoul}]

Gen 3.5.....80k miles......1996

Got access to a spring compressor, impact, and tools, but....

besides the actual non-serviceable strut (front and rear), what else while I'm in there would I need to replace due to wear or aging?

Much appreciation.

[HawaiianCamry]

i replaced the non-serviceable struts front/rear and springs on my 98 gen 4 camry (50K miles). the upper strut bumpers (rubber bumper at the top of the strut) and the lower insulators (rubber ring that the springs sit on) were worn and needed replacement.

i also replaced the front boot covers (they still looked good), front strut mounts and rear strut mounts. The rear strut mounts have the boots built-in; my rear boots were cracked. The strut mounts looked okay but i figured i should replace them anyway.

i ordered these parts from toyotaparts4u.com; they gave me a better price than my local toyota dealer even with the shipping and have great service (also got my TRD springs and TRD RSB from them too).

i found the following tools to be useful:

- chilton or haynes manual - has good instructions and lists the torque specs
- spring compressor - someone suggested using a drill to tighten/untighten to speed things up. i did it by hand and my arms ached for a week.
- 1/2" metric socket set
- 16" breaker bar (to remove the strut-to-axle carrier/strut-to-steering knuckle nuts) or impact wrench
- torque wrench up to 156 ft-lbs
- jack stands, hydraulic jack

[_VVTi_]

do all struts have upper strut bumpers? and lower insulators?
and do all rear strut mount have the boots built-in?

[{GodlightSoul}]

OK, I just got done researching for 40 minutes with no answer

HOW do I know if I need to replace the strut mounts???


please answer quick, as I already have struts onrdered, and I need to do them during this spring break, because I work full time and take 19 units, so if I don't do it now, I won't get to until summer.

[{GodlightSoul}]

bump

[skewe]

you will not know until you see if the mount is busted.
or if you are driving any you hear some clunking sound whenever you go over a bump/pothole.

u might want to change that since you have all the components out. there is a company selling original toyota mounts on ebay. 90$ + shipping. if not, go with the OEM, try www.tirerack.com and they have it.

[skewe]

spings?
does your car feel floaty whenever you go over a bump in moderate speed.

[amerikim]

I agree with Skewe if you got your suspension coming off, consider swapping the springs too. Something mild like Eibachs help a lot. I wanted a little lower and went H&Rs. I like the look. Don't forget to factor in an alignment after.

As for the mounts, it's always a good idea to swap them out at the same time. You only want to be doing this once as the amount of work to go back in is time consuming. Anything rubber over 10 years old and exposed to the elements is probably hardening and cracking. So to answer your question, if your rubber mounts are messed up, replace them.

It's one of those pay now or later things, like swapping out water pumps when changing timing belts, which is my next expense.

[{GodlightSoul}]

what about those t-bone motor mounts?