97 Avalon Suspension Noise

IHA 97 Avalon with a lot of front suspension noise - sounds like loose
plastic at slow speeds on a rough road. I see thatToyota did issue a
TSB on this, but can not seem to find it.

Does anyone have this TSB or is there some place I can go to
view/print this TSB?

The info I have from the NHTSA is below

Service Bulletin Num : SU00299 Date of Bulletin: SEP 03, 1999
Summary: SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT NOISE.
*TT

Service Bulletin Num : 012199 Date of Bulletin: JAN 21, 1999
Summary: BRIEF INFORMATION ON FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT NOISE. *TT

Service Bulletin Num : 980812 Date of Bulletin: AUG 12, 1998
Summary: A GROAN OR CRUNCH NOISE MAY BE HEARD FROM THE FRONT
SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR DIPS IN THE ROADWAY. *YC


TIA - Tom

Tom Young wrote:
[color=blue]
> IHA 97 Avalon with a lot of front suspension noise - sounds like loose
> plastic at slow speeds on a rough road. I see thatToyota did issue a
> TSB on this, but can not seem to find it.
>
> Does anyone have this TSB or is there some place I can go to
> view/print this TSB?
>
> The info I have from the NHTSA is below
>
> Service Bulletin Num : SU00299 Date of Bulletin: SEP 03, 1999
> Summary: SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT NOISE.
> *TT
>
> Service Bulletin Num : 012199 Date of Bulletin: JAN 21, 1999
> Summary: BRIEF INFORMATION ON FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT NOISE. *TT
>
> Service Bulletin Num : 980812 Date of Bulletin: AUG 12, 1998
> Summary: A GROAN OR CRUNCH NOISE MAY BE HEARD FROM THE FRONT
> SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR DIPS IN THE ROADWAY. *YC
>
>
> TIA - Tom[/color]

I have a 97 Camry that makes the groaning noise. Also makes noise when
turning wheel. I'm told it is the strut mount bushings and is not
dangerous. It is worse when temperature is cold. When warm there is
hardly any noise. Is this similar to your symptoms?

--
No matter what happens, someone will find a way to take it too
seriously.

On 9 Mar 2005 14:40:33 GMT, "badgolferman"
<REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>I have a 97 Camry that makes the groaning noise. Also makes noise when
>turning wheel. I'm told it is the strut mount bushings and is not
>dangerous. It is worse when temperature is cold. When warm there is
>hardly any noise. Is this similar to your symptoms?[/color]

Mine sounds more like the plastic shields rubbing/hitting on something
when going slow over rough pavement. It seems to come from the right
front wheel area. No noticeable noise at speed on the highway.

I have had the front end aligned and checked, so I don't think I have
any major problems -- just irritating noise. No abnormal tire wear
or clunking like a ball joint, etc. I currently have about 69K miles
on the car.

"Tom Young" <thyoung47@insightbb.com> wrote in message
news:3hmt219tq8g12n5h317brk06e0e1fjblvv@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> IHA 97 Avalon with a lot of front suspension noise - sounds like loose
> plastic at slow speeds on a rough road. I see thatToyota did issue a
> TSB on this, but can not seem to find it.
>
> Does anyone have this TSB or is there some place I can go to
> view/print this TSB?
>
> The info I have from the NHTSA is below
>
> Service Bulletin Num : SU00299 Date of Bulletin: SEP 03, 1999
> Summary: SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT NOISE.
> *TT
>
> Service Bulletin Num : 012199 Date of Bulletin: JAN 21, 1999
> Summary: BRIEF INFORMATION ON FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT NOISE. *TT
>
> Service Bulletin Num : 980812 Date of Bulletin: AUG 12, 1998
> Summary: A GROAN OR CRUNCH NOISE MAY BE HEARD FROM THE FRONT
> SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR DIPS IN THE ROADWAY. *YC
>
>
> TIA - Tom[/color]

I do not have the TSB handy but it essentially identifies the cause of a
knocking noise from the suspension as hardened strut bushings. Replacement
strut bushings will quiet the suspension (at least it did for our 97
Avalon).
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

On Wed, 9 Mar 2005 14:26:57 -0600, "Ray O"
<rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOT.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>"Tom Young" <thyoung47@insightbb.com> wrote in message
>news:3hmt219tq8g12n5h317brk06e0e1fjblvv@4ax.com...[color=green]
>> IHA 97 Avalon with a lot of front suspension noise - sounds like loose
>> plastic at slow speeds on a rough road. I see thatToyota did issue a
>> TSB on this, but can not seem to find it.
>>
>> Does anyone have this TSB or is there some place I can go to
>> view/print this TSB?
>>
>> The info I have from the NHTSA is below
>>
>> Service Bulletin Num : SU00299 Date of Bulletin: SEP 03, 1999
>> Summary: SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT NOISE.
>> *TT
>>
>> Service Bulletin Num : 012199 Date of Bulletin: JAN 21, 1999
>> Summary: BRIEF INFORMATION ON FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT NOISE. *TT
>>
>> Service Bulletin Num : 980812 Date of Bulletin: AUG 12, 1998
>> Summary: A GROAN OR CRUNCH NOISE MAY BE HEARD FROM THE FRONT
>> SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR DIPS IN THE ROADWAY. *YC
>>
>>
>> TIA - Tom[/color]
>
>I do not have the TSB handy but it essentially identifies the cause of a
>knocking noise from the suspension as hardened strut bushings. Replacement
>strut bushings will quiet the suspension (at least it did for our 97
>Avalon).[/color]

I guess with 69K on the car it would make sense to just go ahead and
replace the struts which should come with new bushings.

Thanks for the response.

Tom Young wrote the following on 3/12/2005 7:05 AM:
[color=blue]
>
> I guess with 69K on the car it would make sense to just go ahead and
> replace the struts which should come with new bushings.
>
> Thanks for the response.
>[/color]

On my '98, I had front suspension noise at around 30K miles...there was
a TSB to replace the top strut mounts. Dealers were authorized to
contribute
to the cost of the repair. As I recall, I was out of there with two new
strut mounts
for $170 or so, and have had no further issues. I'll bet your struts
are fine and you
just need the top mounts replaced.

[email]zig@zag.nut[/email] (Z) wrote:
[color=blue]
>On my '98, I had front suspension noise
>at around 30K miles...there was a TSB
>to replace the top strut mounts. Dealers
>were authorized to contribute
>to the cost of the repair. As I recall, I
>was out of there with two new strut
>mounts for $170 or so, and have had no
>further issues. I'll bet your struts are fine
>and you just need the top mounts
>replaced.[/color]

I've owned two Toyotas and one Lexus and they all three made the strut
mount noise. I never put any money into fixing it and lived with the
noise. I own an Infiniti QX4 now and it makes the same noise at the same
time my others did. The ride is fabulous, pointing to no serious defect.
It's just annoying, the noise, especially in parking lots because it
happens a lot at slow speeds when the vehicle's weight shifts when you
have to brake and accelerate.

Oh, and it's definitely worse in cold weather. On hot days, it will
disappear totally.

"Tom Young" <thyoung47@insightbb.com> wrote in message
news:2km531dprl3lp8gfc5586195uaths8f1q8@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Wed, 9 Mar 2005 14:26:57 -0600, "Ray O"
> <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOT.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>
>>"Tom Young" <thyoung47@insightbb.com> wrote in message
>>news:3hmt219tq8g12n5h317brk06e0e1fjblvv@4ax.com...[color=darkred]
>>> IHA 97 Avalon with a lot of front suspension noise - sounds like loose
>>> plastic at slow speeds on a rough road. I see thatToyota did issue a
>>> TSB on this, but can not seem to find it.
>>>
>>> Does anyone have this TSB or is there some place I can go to
>>> view/print this TSB?
>>>
>>> The info I have from the NHTSA is below
>>>
>>> Service Bulletin Num : SU00299 Date of Bulletin: SEP 03, 1999
>>> Summary: SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT NOISE.
>>> *TT
>>>
>>> Service Bulletin Num : 012199 Date of Bulletin: JAN 21, 1999
>>> Summary: BRIEF INFORMATION ON FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT NOISE. *TT
>>>
>>> Service Bulletin Num : 980812 Date of Bulletin: AUG 12, 1998
>>> Summary: A GROAN OR CRUNCH NOISE MAY BE HEARD FROM THE FRONT
>>> SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR DIPS IN THE ROADWAY. *YC
>>>
>>>
>>> TIA - Tom[/color]
>>
>>I do not have the TSB handy but it essentially identifies the cause of a
>>knocking noise from the suspension as hardened strut bushings.
>>Replacement
>>strut bushings will quiet the suspension (at least it did for our 97
>>Avalon).[/color]
>
> I guess with 69K on the car it would make sense to just go ahead and
> replace the struts which should come with new bushings.
>
> Thanks for the response.
>[/color]
I think the strut bushings/bearing plates are a separate part so make sure
you ask before ordering strut replacements.
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

ravelation wrote the following on 3/13/2005 12:34 PM:
[color=blue]
> I've owned two Toyotas and one Lexus and they all three made the strut
> mount noise. I never put any money into fixing it and lived with the
> noise. I own an Infiniti QX4 now and it makes the same noise at the same
> time my others did. The ride is fabulous, pointing to no serious defect.
> It's just annoying, the noise, especially in parking lots because it
> happens a lot at slow speeds when the vehicle's weight shifts when you
> have to brake and accelerate.
>
> Oh, and it's definitely worse in cold weather. On hot days, it will
> disappear totally.
>[/color]

Annoying, indeed, and yes, I saw the same thing with colder weather.
But the redesigned strut mounts have done the trick for me, whether the
weather
is cold or warm, and I've driven it about 35K since having them replaced.
Well worth it, I say.

What years were your models that had the problem?

[email]zig@zag.nut[/email] (Z) wrote:
[color=blue][color=green]
>>I've owned two Toyotas and one Lexus
>>and they all three made the strut
>>mount noise.[/color][/color]
[color=blue]
>Annoying, indeed, and yes, I saw the
>same thing with colder weather. But the
>redesigned strut mounts have done the
>trick for me, whether the weather
>is cold or warm, and I've driven it about
>35K since having them replaced. Well
>worth it, I say.[/color]
[color=blue]
>What years were your models that had
>the problem?[/color]

One was an '85 Camry, one a '99 Rav4L, and the Lexus was an '01 RX300.
The '99 Rav started at about 12K miles and the Lexus at about 23,000
miles. Thankfully, I had an honest mechanic who, with the '85 Camry,
told me what the deal was. The stealership wanted to put all new struts
on the car.

I wonder if Toyota ever decided to put the redesigned strut mounts into
their new vehicles. Or, is it a built in moneymaking problem for them
and that's why new cars are still having the same problem as my '85
Camry? (Now, that was a great car. We wish we still had it!)
I was rather disappointed when the Lexus began making the noise.