[avalonshoe]

Hey guys, there's not much discussion in the avalon forum, so I was directed here to gen4 owners here.

I have a 2000 Avalon XLS with 155k miles and cannot carry too much in my car because the rear will bottom out i.e. tires rub against the strut plate and the sharp end of the fender. I have fairly new KYB rear struts and mounting plates (factory springs), but no avail, they are still too weak.

(I have to travel with casefiles, tools, and a boat load of equipment in my car. When I do this, i refuse to take any passengers because i put my casefiles in crates and leave them in foot area of the back and passenger so that no one can sit there.. Also, I do this to distribute the weight to the center/front of the car.)


MY OBJECTIVES: Stiff suspension to carry heavy loads and WITHOUT Lowering the car.


What I want is the very stiff rear suspension without lowering my car. Options include:
1. ..coilovers?
2. ...find shocks with pressure adjustment (i doubt they make them)
3. ....or to make custom make rubber bushings and insert them "evenly" into my springs to prevent them from collapsing all the way? I'm interested in this option b/c it is the cheapest alternative. Moreover, does anyone have other ideas or comments on how to prevent me from killing myself by doing this?


I'm not sure which "camry" parts will fit my car. Also, i plan to put some Whitelines RSB on the car thereafer when the rear can carry enough. I think the installation is the same for both cars?

 

[ONE_to_HATE]

There's a couple people who's running gen4 coilovers on their avalons- and as a matter of fact, they are straight swaps. If yr looking for a stiffer ride to support the weight yr carrying in the trunk, - i think yr best bet would be a coilover set up. Even if its just the rears, grab a set that have the softer spring rates.. usually 5KG and below are plenty soft and significant amount of suspension travel even when the strut is set into its softest settings. Also, this would tighten up the rear end during turns even better in conjunction with the RSB. Good luck!

 

[avalonshoe]

I'm looking at ksports, but am confused. I do have a 2000 avalon. i see aftermarket ksports are for 99s. I don't htink there's a difference in the mounting? Though im sure im wrong.

I see
1. these on ebay, which look like slip ons for 00-04; and
2. Ksports for 02-06 camrys gen 5s. I'm checking the Ksport part number and they are different from Gen 4s.

3. Ground Control for gen 4s



number 1 and 3 look like sleeves of some sort that goes over other struts? Ground control description also states: "1=STOCK 2=TOKICO HP 3=TOKICO ILLUMINA 4=KONI 5=BILSTEIN 7=KYB 8=KYB AGX 9=GAP R 10=GAP HP"


I'm not sure. KYB and OEM struts have that large housing plate where the springs are seated on. I wouldn't mind milling off the plates if the coils can slip over the struts.

 

[ONE_to_HATE]

talk to GreekAvalon on solaraguy and see what he says- he's the avi-tech over there.

 

[greeksoccerboy]

LoL thanks one to hate. that made me happy? lol but in all seriousness, i don't believe you can use gen4 camry suspension or gen1 avalon suspension. since they redid the bodystyle in 2000 im pretty sure they changed the suspension. im not 100% on that though. one good way to start is trial and error, see if anyone in ur area has rear susp off a gen4/gen1 solara/camry/avalon. DO NOT GET THOSE 99 coilovers. that just has bad written all over it. itll probably work good for a bit then you'll have nightmares. you said before you don't want to lower your car which i understand but the options you wrote all lower the car. i'll ask some people i know out here that say they add spacers of some sort to keep their rear end from sagging cause they have subs that weigh a tonn. i'm really not too familiar with the gen2 avalons if you can figure out if gen5 camrys are the same try and find springs with a stiffer spring rate. that should help.

 

[LynchburgCSI]

The struts and spring between gen 3/4 camrys (and avalon's, es300's etc) are interchangeable. What's NOT interchangeable are the strut mounts and rubber bits.

 

[avalonshoe]

thanks for the quick reply guys! looks like it might be a custom job for me. First, I'm gonna try to keep my springs compressing all the way.

My temporary trial and error are these.
[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Gasket-1281-Standard-Neoprene/dp/B000BWE41S/ref=sr_1_7?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1280202007&sr=1-7[/ame]

Will try to find them in poly.



Will keep u guys updated for sure.

 

[greeksoccerboy]

The struts and spring between gen 3/4 camrys (and avalon's, es300's etc) are interchangeable. What's NOT interchangeable are the strut mounts and rubber bits.

really? so even gen3 struts r interchangable on gen4s? i know gen4 and gen1 avalons are straight swaps, so all thats needed are diff strut tops? even on the gen2s? that's pretty tempting now

 

[LynchburgCSI]

really? so even gen3 struts r interchangable on gen4s? i know gen4 and gen1 avalons are straight swaps, so all thats needed are diff strut tops? even on the gen2s? that's pretty tempting now

I know 100% that gen 3 camry/gen 4 camry/gen 1 avalon/ 92-01 ES300 struts and springs are interchangeable. Just need those different bits you mentioned. Gen 2 Avalon... that i'm not sure on. It MIGHT be closer to the gen 5 camry instead of the gen 4. I'm not sure.

 

[avalonshoe]

those gen 5 camry Ksports bottom mounts look very much like the gen2 avalon struts bottom mounts.

I think i can make anything fit with titanium metal scraps, welding, enamel high temp paint, and a dremel..

looks tempting though.

 

[Tom 2000]

The struts and spring between gen 3/4 camrys (and avalon's, es300's etc) are interchangeable. What's NOT interchangeable are the strut mounts and rubber bits.

If that's the case, wouldn't it make sense to get the rear springs from a gen3 Camry wagon with the optional 3rd row seat? I would think it has the best springs to carry heavy loads.

I did a quick check on the tirerack website to see KYB strut applications for gen3/4 Camrys and gen1/2 Avalons. They were all the same. 235709 for Left Rear and 235708 for the right rear.

 

[LynchburgCSI]

those gen 5 camry Ksports bottom mounts look very much like the gen2 avalon struts bottom mounts.

I think i can make anything fit with titanium metal scraps, welding, enamel high temp paint, and a dremel..

looks tempting though.

Be sure you're looking at an EXACT photograph of the gen 5 k-sports and not a "stock photo". You're also aware coilovers don't last as long as strut/spring combos, right?

If that's the case, wouldn't it make sense to get the rear springs from a gen3 Camry wagon with the optional 3rd row seat? I would think it has the best springs to carry heavy loads.

Those would probably be the best, yes. Assuming they're different from the coupe/sedan springs. Funny note... the wagon strut mounts are the same as the gen 1 avalon ones and are NOT interchangeable with the gen 3 camry coupe and sedan (IIRC).

 

[avalonshoe]

Be sure you're looking at an EXACT photograph of the gen 5 k-sports and not a "stock photo". You're also aware coilovers don't last as long as strut/spring combos, right?

Yea i was looking at rebuild costs and such on those. I'm just a daily driver in the gulf region. Not much alternatives though.

 

[LynchburgCSI]

Why not just pick out a stiffer set of springs? There's plentyyyyyy of choices. Anything from the gen 3 or 4 camry will work!

 

[avalonshoe]

Didn't know they would fit til now, but most i see are lowering springs. I need some really stiff springs, but i guess i can get lowering springs with spacers.

I thought about height adjustment in coilovers just in case my the rear would not be stiff enough or is too low or too high.

 

[SexieWASD]

I was in the same place, wanting stiffer springs without lowering the car at all because my audio system weighs a ton. I ended up putting eibach pro kit springs on it. In the end the car actually gained a little height do to the much higher spring rate, coupled with a TRD rear swaybar my car has almost no body roll now.

 

[LynchburgCSI]

^ Those are the springs that I would suggest.

 

[73sport]

I'd think the coil overs would be a waste when they fail after a year.

You should go to the scales with all your gear and at least a 1/2 tank of gas. Weigh it front, rear and total.

Order a progressive spring rate capable of handling the load you're imposing on the car!

Do a little google for a local shop and talk to them. We had one here which did leaf and coil springs. Because no one really knows how much your putting in the Avy, you need quit guessing about what might work and tell them what you must have.

Google -
custom coil spring manufacturers
Specifically looking for progrssive spring rates so it doesn't ride like flat bed truck when empty and carries the load when full. Make sure your brakes and tires are in tip top shape too!

 

[avalonshoe]

I was in the same place, wanting stiffer springs without lowering the car at all because my audio system weighs a ton.

@SexieWASD, u have a gen 4 camry? which eibach pro kit did u get? I thought they all came with the purposes of lowering your car?

You should go to the scales with all your gear and at least a 1/2 tank of gas. Weigh it front, rear and total.

I have roughly 275-325lbs in the trunk. and roughly 100-150 lbs in the foot area of the rear seat.

About 100 lbs are car tools, ammunition, and shooting equipment. The rest are casefiles, books, printing/scanning equipment. (I weighed them independently and added the weight up.) Case files are shifted in and out on a daily basis so the weight varies _+75lbs. When i have a passengers (very seldom), the rest are in the trunk unfortunately.

I'm driving in and around the gulf states. The worse roads are in new orleans and thats where i drive the most. They don't really have the luxury of having custom shops. there are mostly pepboy shops and beatdown mom & pop shops that i might get killed if i go to. I trust myself with the FSMs.