I got FONDMETAL rims....see pic below...high quality Italian rim maker for luxo German and Italian brands, and F1 racing. Got them on ebay.

 

FONDMETAL rims huh? I've never heard of them. Are they $$$?

 

Eibach springs and upgrade to stock 17" of the SE V6 2005-06 tires.

For the 2002-2003, Eibach used the same springs used in the Gen4 Camry. The drop is kinda weird giving the front a much higher drop than the rear. Part number is 8249.140. For the 2004-2006, Eibach has a different set of springs of 8273.140. It's an even drop for front and back. I don't think there is any reason why you couldn't use the 8273.140 for your 2002. MAybe other can chime in.

Upgrade to stock 17" for the 05-06. I believe it's 17x7, tire size is P215/55R17

 

Well they used the same struts for the gen 5 and 5.5 I believe so I don't know why they wouldn't work just fine.

I've been thinking about gen 5.5 SE wheels if I can find a set. I also was looking at a set of gun metal 17s from a Lexus. I thought they looked good.

 

Unless you fork out big bucks for light weight wheels when you upgrade to a 17" tire and wheel you are going to add around 6 lbs of unsprung weight on each corner. This greatly effects handling and braking: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsprung_mass
W95c

 

True, but I was thinking of upgrading the size and tires for something that would pop a bit more (appearance wise) and have a wider tread and stiffer sidewall for better grip and less roll. Something lower profile than the 205/65R16 that I have on the stock rims now. Plus my current tires are cheap. Eldorado touring or something? They were like $65 VIP tires and even though they still have 75% tread life, they don't grip worth a damn.

 

Is anyone aware of any TRD or otherwise available sway bars for the car? The front one probably isn't too bad (23mm I think?) but th rear is sad. 16mm isn't going to do anything really. Plus, I think the mounts for the rear sway bar look so flimsy it's ridiculous.

 

Best upgrade handling wise for the $$ in a Camry is a rear swaybar. Whiteline BTR39(20mm) can be found new for under $200, if you get new end links makes the job 100% easier and pretty straightforward install.

http://www.tunersports.com/whiteline-sway-bar-btr39_p30651.html

 

Great thanks! Does it use the shitty flimsy stock brackets? (that's IMHO)

 

17s is the way to go imo, if I may ask why were you going for such a wide tire? 245 is overkill honestly and probably more $$. I went to a 225-55 when I upgraded to 17" wheels. I had a set of 225-50 but they looked too low profile for my liking, plus I'll never lower my car so the 225-55 series tire gave me the look I was going for and didn't compromise ride quality. Here is a picture of my car not after I put on my 225-55s on.

 

I really wanted a wide tire for the appearance/stance and grip. Judging from what you said, I could probably for for a 225/50. You said you didn't like the low profile look, but I would like a low profile look and I don't mind the ride quality being compromised a bit in exchange for a stiffer and shorted sidewall. Also, I would like to lower the car a bit...maybe Eibach?

 

Yea it does but you can but new ones if yours are in bad shape. The 225-50 is the "correct" size or closest to stock tire height, I'm just not a fan of lowering only because they seem to sag in the rear after a while when I had on an 03 Camry on Tein springs that's why I went to a 55 series sidewall. I personally wouldn't go with a cheap spring either, eibach would be the safest bet with a quality strut. Dont forget to have your alignment checked and corrected after any major suspension work (if you do springs), you'd be surprised on how little adjustments even air pressure can make a difference.

 

Oh I know. I've seen it. I'm a technician, so I see cars come in all the time with a pull to the left or right. Customer wants an alignment. I always set the tire pressures first and have them drive it again. A lot of the time it's that.

But yeah, I'd just throw it on the rack after I did the springs anyway. All my struts are still good (stock, KYB?) so I think I'd do the springs only for right now. Or whenever I get to it.

 

Does anyone have a rear suspension breakdown with part numbers for a gen 5? I wanna find the rear sway bar brackets somewhere (new, not from the junkyard) and replace them. Mine were so rusty when I changed the bushings a few weeks ago that I think I should replace them.

Also, does the Whiteline 20mm rear sway bar work with the stock brackets or do they provide custom ones with the sway bar kit? If that's the case I'll skip looking for stock brackets and wait till I get the Whiteline.