parts list to convert non-sealed to sealed strut

[SamMan23]

Just trying to put together a definitive list for switching over struts from nonsealed to sealed. for example 93 ES300 to 94 ES300. or 93 Camry to 94 Camry.

p.s. I realize that people have discussed this, but I think it would help everyone to put together this list so when people search, they'll find a definitive list.


and if we want, we could even put together the order that it all goes in when putting it onto the vehicle.

[rusty9]

i may be ignorant, but why would you do this?

[chronoti]

^easiser sometimes cheaper to go to sealed

from my research nothing.

in a few months i'll tell you if the 96 non sealed can use the 94 with no problems.

[88 LE]

The only difference is in the strut housing (non-sealed or sealed).

Other then that their the same.

[xylium]

Do you plan on putting Tokico's on there? If so, you may want to go to the Junkyard and grabbin the complete assemblies of a 95-96. The strut mounts are different between the 92-94 than the 95-96. The Tokico's are designed for the 95-96 because the bearings that allow the strut to turn in the front are located in the top as opposed to being located in the bottom like the 92-94. If you just plan on using the 92-94 KYB's or anything, you shouldn't need any extra parts when changing from non-sealed to sealed. Just make sure you save your spring seats because they contain the bearings.

[88 LE]

Originally Posted by xylium

The Tokico's are designed for the 95-96

Tokico makes inserts and full replacements for gen 3 Camrys.

Koni Special [Reds] (inserts only) (Front: #86-2484 / Rear: #86-2485)
KYB GR-2 (full replacements) (Front: #334131,334132 / Rear: #334133,334134)
Tokico HP (full replacements) (Front: #HB3179,HB3180 / Rear: #HB3181,HB3182)
Tokico HP (inserts only) (Front: #HZ3138 / Rear: #HZ3139A)



Question: Do I have sealed or servicable struts?


Answer:

Gen3:
92-94 use servicable struts (non sealed)
95-96 use sealed struts

The exception being that most 94 models (Japan and USA) built after October 1994 use the same mounts and sealed struts as the 95-96 models.
This applies for all Gen3 Camrys.

Both V6 and 4-cyl models of a given year use the same parts. Also, 95-96 cars have slightly different strut tower mounts than the 92-94; they incorporate a bearing, whereas the 92-94's dont. This shouldn't have any effect on strut fitment though.



So if you have non-sealed struts, you can use the inserts or full replacements.

[chronoti]

i have a 96 v6 with servicable

i'll take a picture when i get my car back from gettnig painted friday.

and they do make replacement incerts for the 96 camry well koni does at least

[ryuji16]

yea? i have a 92 with sealed... go figure

anyway it looks like tokico doesnt make sealed struts specifically for the 92s, but do make them for the 95-96 (according to their application list on their website).

just to clarify, the sealed struts made for the 95-96 WILL fit in a 92 and a 92's strut mounts? because i have no idea if my strut mounts are 92 or 95 style with the bearing.

something got swapped out, sears replaced the struts a few years ago before i knew the difference btwn sealed and serviceable. i had nothing to do with it, my dad did it w/o me knowing (keep in mind this was a while ago... hehe). im not too fond of sears.

and since im gonna need a new mount for the front anyway, should i replace them in pairs or is 1 at a time ok... and also which mount design is better, the gen 3 or 3.5? will the gen3.5 mount fit in a gen3?

if i asked a question that has already been answered, feel free to flame.

[CrawlingEye]

Don't be fooled though, your previous owner could've changed the struts out on you. Mine appeared to be serviceable (has a nut-type thing) at the top but is in fact some generic strut (likely replaced by the previous owner) that is SEALED.

We found this out while I was trying to unscrew it and it wouldn't come undone, after we cleaned it up it was clear it was a sealed strut. Not fun. So I'm sitting on my 4 tokico inserts until I'm ambitious enough to go out to a junkyard and pull 4 serviceable strut units off a junker.

[septicdeath]

So, I went and ordered new strut mounts for my 93 Camry Wagon V6, and noticed specifically that their were no bearings to be ordered (like the ones for the lexus/avalon of same year group).

Spent a little coin getting all 4, I guess I should have checked to see if I had sealed struts or not, I didnt, and from what I read here, non bearing strut mounts basically belonged to the serviceable non-sealed struts, is this a correct assumption?

The Tokico's I find listed (part # HZ3138) with the "Excludes SEALED Strut; Fits models from 1992 - August of 1994" notes on them, they dont explicitly state they are just cartridges for the stock serviceable struts, so could I assume that these are full replacements, or a new non-sealed strut assembly missing the Spring\spring rubber seat and Upper mount? These struts include the lower mount plate right? Since I dont see notes about needing it (like I do on the KYB's I see online).

I'm a little confused, because I read these are better units, but they are coming up 10-20 bucks cheaper per assembly than the OEM/Monroe's found locally.

Thanks, everyone and anyone.

[septicdeath]

This is funny, maybe I am answering my questions for myself here, but I was looking at a kyb parts sheet, and noticed for the first time that they list 92-94 All w/sealed struts. And then at the 92-94 they say Sedan w/Serviceable struts.

I know from looking at the online parts that the 92/93 wagon has different toyota part than the sedan, but the part # for the 92/93 wagon is the exact same part # for the 94/95/96 sedan, I wonder if it was the 92/93 wagon's that came with sealed struts and thats why they match factory part numbers with 94/95/96 (did they go sealed with all models at these years?)

Kinda sucks having the car not at my disposal why I research this, (I work for CBS Sports, and am on assignment dealing with the March madness, MAN ITS rough). Thanks.

[mtmx46]

Just to make sure. On my 1996 Kentucky Camry, I have sealed rear struts? Toyota and some ebay dealers call them shocks, others call them struts. But struts to me means the whole spring assembly and the piston. What does servicable mean then?

This should be the right part no.s if I want kyb's?

Part numbers 334170 Front Right, 334171 Front Left & 334133 Rear Right & 334134 Rear Left.

[xylium]

I meant to say that the Tokico Sealed Full Struts are designed for the 95-96 but will work on the 92-94 if you get different strut mounts.

To clarify the sealed vs non-sealed. My 94 came with sealed struts that had the bearings on the bottom of the spring. It was a transition year. The 92-93 used a non-sealed serviceable strut with the bearings on the bottom of the spring. The 95-96 used a sealed strut with the bearings on the top of the spring. The rear struts were the same from 92-96. The fronts is where it causes issues. You can use the sealed Tokico's on any Camry, but just make sure you have the bearings on top when your done or you'll be twisting the spring which is very bad. That why I said to grab a whole assembly from the junkyard because you'll need the strut mount, bearings, and upper spring seat which can be very costly from the parts store. You can't trust what the parts store or catalogs say your car has. You need to crank the wheel, pull up the strut boot, and see if that strut cap is either screwed on or squeezed on. When I say cap, I mean the cap that's between the black or blue large cylinder and the small chrome cylinder. Not the nut that is on top of the mounts under the hood. That'll tell you if you have sealed or serviceable.

[mj8]

After reading through threads for days now and not knowing if I have serviceable or not serviceable struts can someone give me a hand.

1993 Camry and I need new front struts...from what I can tell the 95-96 fronts will fit on my car and are overall cheaper solution. My question is what all parts will I need. Here is the list I have come up with can anyone who has done this conversion confirm this for me?

I will re-use my stock 93 springs
KYB Part # 334171 front left strut assembly
KYB Part # 334170 front right strut assembly
KYB Part # SM5174 front left and front right strut mount and bearing
KYB Part # SB101 strut bellow and boot same for both

Do I need anything for the bottom of the assembly where the spring sits on the bottom of the strut assembly? Do I need anything else for the top? Can I reuse what I have on my 93?

Are these needed?
KYB Part # SM5441 lower spring seat isolator?
KYB Part # SM5485 coil spring seat (with isolator, upper spring seat with isolator)?

I know this topic has been brought up before but for the life of me I can't seem to get all the information I need...please someone shine some light on this for me. Also I would like to reuse all parts that I can...so unless it's absolutely necessary I would like to use my 93 supplies.

[dino420]

So it looks like I can convert my 94 to sealed units. Can anyone clairfy the following:
I will need to ditch the old struts with the bearing assy in the lower end. I can buy the newer style sealed unit and UPPER bearing assy and install with no fit issues. I will no longer need the lower bearing that I used with the old strut?