'95 Avalon ABS?

[JohnHealy]

Hi everyone.
I need desperatly to replace all the struts/shocks in my Avalon XLS. I have been searching for KYB GR2 but the problem that I'm having is finding the units with application for ABS brakes. It has been such a problem that now I'm wondering if the car has ABS brakes or not. The KYB site catalogue does not differentiate between cars with ABS or not. However, when I go to certain cites to purchase them, it lists the application as fiting 1995 Avalon with out ABS only. I have yet to find the application for my car with ABS brakes. Please help! I have spent hours on line searching but the only thing that I found was Monroe struts which i despise. I would have to buy these as a last resort because the problem has gotten that bad, but I would rather swallow a hot coal! Can someone please help a more than grateful fellow first generationer. Thank you in advance for any help.

John Healy

[JohnHealy]

I think that the ABS did not become standard on the Avalon until 1997

However, I think that ABS was offered as an option on earlier models. How can you tell if your model is equiped with ABS short of slamming on the brakes? What does the ABS sensor look like?

John

[swiftjustice]

Its easy to tell whether you have ABS. Open the hood and look to the left hand corner area near the grille. You should see a silver colored alloy box with several metal pipes(brake lines) running into it. That is the ABS modulator. The windshield washer fluid reservoir sits in front and below it. No box=no ABS.

My '95 has ABS, I'd snap a pic but its dark out now.

[JohnHealy]

I hope that I don't have ABS. It's been a nightmare trying to find struts/shocks for it. Have you replaced your struts/shocks on your Avalon? It so, what type of product did you use as a replacement? Thanks again for your help. I'll check tomorrow.

John

[JohnHealy]

I have the ABS box, therefore my problem remains " where can I get struts/shocks for my '95 Avalon XLS". Any help would be appreciated.

John

[cexsiman]

this is the abs pump, so check it out.

why would having abs change what struts you would purchase. it shouldnt be a nightmare finding them, KYB makes them, and heck you could go with stockers from Toyota, and the same ones that fit a v6 camry fit the avalon.

best of luck

*not my engine bay

[JohnHealy]

I purchased shocks from auto parts warehouse, KYB GR2 front and rear. When I was looking on their site I noticed that the shocks for my XLS had a listing in the application box for non ABS cars only. I called them on the phone and spoke to a manager who told me that the struts that they had sent to me would not fit my car because I had ABS brakes. Then he said that they did not carry KYB struts for my car with ABS brakes. I did not understand why ABS would make a difference but sent the struts/shocks thet sent me back. Ever since I've been trying to find struts with the application for ABS brakes!

My car is in desperate need of strut/shock replacement. I am a school teacher in the South Bronx, NY and the roads there are a disaster. If someone could sent me the appropriate part numbers for my vehicle, I would be eternally grateful

John

[cexsiman]

call the dealer or something, there is no reason why abs would effect the design of strut. it connects to the spindle behind the brakes. that cant be accurate.

[96Avalon_Matt]

I remember having this same problem when I was searching about a year ago. The issue is that there is a sensor for the ABS located near the shocks/strut (as best as I can describe, I don't remember the specifics)

Unfortunatley I have no answer for you. I was going in circles, half the sites never mentioned abs/non-abs, I finally gave up looking

[JohnHealy]

I went to the dealership to ask about shocks/struts for my '95. They only had one part number for the standard Avalon w/o ABS. However, he checked the '96 model and it had two numbers for each wheel. He said that my car must have been a late year model '95. He said that the ABS strut had a bracket or something on it for the ABS. He gave me the OE# for the struts/shocks that I need

FR #48510-09045

FL #48520-09035

RR #48530-09080

RL #48540-09070

How do I convert the OE# into numbers that I can search for on line?
I would like to purchase a set of KYB struts/shocks. Any help would be appreciated.

John

[toyomoho]

A few suggestions:

Determine if your struts can be rebuilt by replacing the cartridge.

If you want KYB shocks call them at 888-800-9629 and inquire.

The Avalon struts may the same as Camry with V6 option (or even the I4?). Check part numbers at www.rockauto.com and compare.

Take a look at your struts and compare with the photos at rockauto (plus check out what a cartridge looks like). The ABS sensor mounts on the caliper; only the wiring may mount on the strut. Worse case you may be able to fabricate a wiring bracket then clamp it to the strut with a hose clamp.

Review the posts in the Gen 3-4 Camry forum; the Avalon is almost the same car.

[JohnHealy]

I called KYB and got the parts numbers for my 1995 Avalon w/ ABS brakes.

334170
334171 front

334133
334134 rear

It appears that the rear is the same for both ABS and non-ABS.

I was able to purchase the shocks/struts from kUnderCarParts.com

The front struts were $60.18 and the rear shocks were $50.38. The best price that I've seen in all of my searching around.

John

[Qslim]

Originally Posted by cexsiman

call the dealer or something, there is no reason why abs would effect the design of strut. it connects to the spindle behind the brakes. that cant be accurate.

Yeah, there is. Front strut housings have a tab that the speed sensor wire fastens into to keep it from flopping around. This issue can probably be solved just as easily with a zip-wire as with a welded tab, though.