'06 SE Suspension

[kdkrone]

We purchased a 2006 SE for our daughter with about 9000 last year. I remember that when we drove the rear suspension seemed a bit--I don't know how to describe it accurately--dead? Over bumps, the rear end seems to hop a bit and "thud". Perhaps the car is a bit light in the rear end. Anyway, we have swapped cars with her for a few weeks (now at 20K miles) and it drives the same. I had forgotten in the meanwhile.

Is there a way of tweaking the suspension on the Solara? (I am probably spoiled by having driven a 5 series BMW and '92 Infiniti Q45 for a long time.)

Thanks
Ken K

[Gadgetjq]

Ken,

Toyota Racing Development sells springs and a heavy duty rear sway bar for your daughters car. There are other aftermarket spring/shock kits available.

It's my understanding each of those items makes some improvement in the way the rear of the Solara handles. The most popular mod (and easiest to install) is the sway bar part #PTR02-06041-01.

Keep in mind each improvement in handling comes at the expense of a slightly harder ride that your daughter might not need or appreciate the same way you would (been there done that with the wife's car).

BTW, TRD also offers a heavy duty shock tower brace for the front of the Solara. It's a lot stouter than the OEM brace installed on the convertible (I don't know if it's stock on the coupe).

Cheers

[kdkrone]

Turns out that there is a technical service bulletin from 2006 about "thunking" caused by the shocks in the 2004-2006 models. I will bring the car into the dealer to have it dealt with.

Thanks
Ken K