2014.5 Camry SE V6 Strut replacements? Keep Springs? OEM Struts?

SCSCOTT · Jan 4, 2025

Looking to replace my Struts. 160k Miles. Original owner. None are currently leaking but... Only a matter of time.. Southern Car, In Raleigh, NC and Charleston, SC Area entire life of the car.. No significant rust issues and all fasteners should come free without issue. I do all my own Maintenance to include Transmission Fluid replacements (There is NO such thing as Lifetime Fluid), not a drain and fill, full replacement using the oil cooler line and fill plug with 12 total quarts run through it and level set properly, Coolant, Spark Plugs, all filters, Brakes, gear lube, Transfer case fluids, virtually anything bolt-on. I am very meticulous when it comes to maintenance.

I have replaced entire strut assembles with the Spring included on a 2001 Accord, Lifted multiple 4th Gen Runners and my 08 Sequoia with the "No Spring Compressor" method of R&Ring the Struts/Shocks as well as a 2009 Rav4 Strut replacement with no spring compressor and reused the old springs. Never an issue with any of the work I completed above.

I know the SE V6 has stiffer tuned Struts. I want to keep the OEM ride, No stiffer. I do not feel spring & strut packages from aftermarket will perform the same as the OEM. I looked at getting KYB Excel-G Struts but my concern is they are tuned a little stiffer to help compensate for worn suspension parts.. I do not want it any stiffer. I just replaced the front track bar bushings and end-links to fix a slow speed clunk, which was successful. If I need to replace worn suspension parts I will.

I see lots of Threads that used the quick-strut options. Anyone reused their OEM springs with OEM Struts? What other Parts did you replace while you had it apart? Strut Mount Bearing? -

Anyone use KYB and regret it after the fact? I figure if I have gotten 160K miles out of the OEM... It is worth the price to put OEM back on it for another potential 100K miles of services.

I welcome others first hand experiences.

Thanks in Advance.

BigMacCamry · Jan 9, 2025

I can only relate my experience. I replaced the struts and springs on my 02 Camry with "plug and play" replacements from Gabriel (I think that was the brand). It rode like a truck afterwards -- worse than before the change, despite having 160k miles on the old ones. I was not pleased.

FWIW I've owned a bunch of Camrys, and never had a leaky strut even with >200k miles on them. Maybe I was just lucky. My advice: If you're that concerned and can afford it, go with OEMs.

paulbot · Jan 9, 2025

There's years worth of threads discussing this subject. I followed them all, to summarize what I gathered from them, I installed Monroe Quick Stuts because of cost on my 01 ES. Quick struts, the Monroe were favored for ride, KYB's for tighter feel initially, some report they settled in after some mileage.

Getting OEM shocks and using old assemblies is the winner for somewhat reasonable cost would be the better option. Much more work unless you remove them and have a tire shop compress them and install new shock. A small percentage went with all new OEM struts.

rl1990 · Jan 14, 2025

If you want to keep the OEM ride then you would need to replace the struts with OEM and reuse the springs. With that said, if it ain't broke don't fix it. Shocks and struts aren't maintenance items and if the ride is still good, handling is good and no uncontrolled motions then there is no need to change them.

2014.5 Camry SE V6 Strut replacements? Keep Springs? OEM Struts?

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