Gotta get over them speed bumps some how >

 

Hahaha..True that should help!

You need one, maybe two bodies in the trunk. :grin:

Its stiff! Probably need like 6 bodies. :grin:

You need to cross the river and catch the Land Rovers.

Can’t possibly be gas charged struts.

I looked underneath, looks all normal. But she sits high! I need it to sit normal.

 

You need one, maybe two bodies in the trunk. :grin:

 

You need to cross the river and catch the Land Rovers.

Can’t possibly be gas charged struts.

 

Land Rovers stuck IN river.

https://jalopnik.com/kurdistani-news-report-turns-into-unplanned-toyota-ad-1831106491

 

Gas struts will do that and some come with a note telling you that.

Just make sure you have the right springs and struts. Struts should have part numbers stamped on the tube.

 

I'll try Friday to look around and find the part numbers. Its honestly too high.

No, that is not normal. Did the owner replace just the struts, or did they put in "quickstrut" assemblies? If the latter, could be that they came with the wrong springs.


Also, could be that you have "heavy duty" springs installed. Stock springs are pretty soft, and the rear will squat easily with not that much weight. If you haul a lot of, say, bodies around, "heavy duty" springs are a good option. But not otherwise.


Bottom line - you have the wrong springs in the back, or the wrong struts. Shocks would not push it up that much, especially after 2 years or use. See if you can read some part number and verify.

He just said new struts all the way around 2 years ago. I am going to look again, but I thought one side on the back was blue, and the other side was black. I can't remember. I was doing so much maintenance when I got it. That I overlooked it. I'll see if I can spot a number on them somewhere, and report back. I'll be under it Friday.

 

No, that is not normal. Did the owner replace just the struts, or did they put in "quickstrut" assemblies? If the latter, could be that they came with the wrong springs.


Also, could be that you have "heavy duty" springs installed. Stock springs are pretty soft, and the rear will squat easily with not that much weight. If you haul a lot of, say, bodies around, "heavy duty" springs are a good option. But not otherwise.


Bottom line - you have the wrong springs in the back, or the wrong struts. Shocks would not push it up that much, especially after 2 years or use. See if you can read some part number and verify.

 

I was looking around on rock auto. I will not be able to check the car until Friday, but I have a feeling I’m going to have to replace the struts. Who knows what he put on there but I will try to get a part number.

But my question is are those quick struts OK? They come with the springs and everything installed. I believe they might’ve been Monroe, and possibly Gabriel but I can’t remember now. Because there may be the wrong springs on my car for how it sitting.

 

People hate Monroe, people love KYB (which might be OEM for yours), but I still plan on getting Monroe anyway because I rather not deal with a lot of work and am willing to take the sacrifice. To me, the top strut brands are:

• KYB
• Monroe
• No one else

 

Everyone has a different experience with everything. So who knows. ops2:

 

I’ll probably stay with Monroe! KYB is fine but high prices! As I want quick struts though.

Here is a picture of the monroe sensatrac quick struts on my car. I have been very happy with them, nice ride and no noises for 100,000 miles although it does raise the ride height a little. This may be what's on your car. I hope this helps.

Your ride height seems fine to me! Thanks for the photo. And the advice with what yours have done for you. Mine seems much higher in the back! Looks like I have Gabriel Jacker air shocks from the 70s on mine!

And that just verified that I will get Monroe’s! I know my struts were replaced, I will check the part number Friday. They even look very clean. But mine sits ridiculously high in the back. It’s honestly embarrassing.

 

Here is a picture of the monroe sensatrac quick struts on my car. I have been very happy with them, nice ride and no noises for 100,000 miles although it does raise the ride height a little. This may be what's on your car. I hope this helps.

 

I am confused with which ones are the OESpectrums.

On Rock Auto:

MONROE 281681 {Click Info Button for Alternate/OEM Part Numbers} RoadMatic

MONROE 271680 {Click Info Button for Alternate/OEM Part Numbers} Quick-Strut

Neither says OES, or what ones they are. They just say Roadmatic, or quickstrut.

The KYB's are not as expensive as I thought.

Example,....

KYB SR4036 Strut-Plus, 108.00 a piece. And thats the spring already installed. I don't know what the PLUS means. Hope that wouldn't mean as in sitting higher. :facepalm:

 

KYB SR4036 Strut-Plus, 108.00 a piece. And thats the spring already installed. I don't know what the PLUS means. Hope that wouldn't mean as in sitting higher. :facepalm:

No, "Strut-Plus" just means it's the complete assembly as opposed to bare struts. Monroe calls their version "Quick-Struts".

 

Different companies call their assemblies different names.

The Quick Struts should have OESectrum in there. IIRC they advertised it before. But right I couldn’t find it on their site.

Maybe call tech support yo confirm. You don’t want the roadmatic.

If KYB comes out cheaper and you want to try those, then let us know if you think it’s firm or just right.

 

Yeah, something is off. When I replaced my struts/springs (KYB Quick Strut) the front and rear was quite high for the first hundred or so miles. It was kinda embarrassing since it was so high up. But I was hoping it would level out and settle in and it did. Now it is of normal height and still rides well. I have about 40k miles on them and one of the boots tore but still rides nice and isn't waterboaty yet.

 

I seen the KYB were only 108 on rock auto. I think after winter I’m going to buy a set. I’m glad you told me they start out high, I would have been like :facepalm: LOL

 

Okay reporting back with part numbers on my struts. 2000 Camry XLE.

The drivers side.

Passenger Side

 

Mine does that too, but it's exactly what it needed to get over the bump at the end of my driveway. It was scraping before I installed Sensen Speedy Struts. Car rides fine, no weird noises.

 

My driveway now has a large bump at the end! The lovely township repaved my street, and made a mountain at the end of everyones driveway, for except the mayor! His goes into his driveway, and is nice and smooth!

Leacree... bottomest bottom of the market. 1/4 of the price of KYB's. I'm impressed they fit at all.

I didn't know what they were, I just snapped pics. They sure sit high!!! For all I know that could be the klunking noise I am get hitting bumps. Unless I am just trying to blame them. :grin:


Classic example of you get what you pay for. If the springs are original Toyota (usually have yellow assembly marks on the springs), keep the springs and get some decent struts. If the springs are not original either, throw everything away and get some decent strut+spring assemblies if you intend to keep the car.

The springs look new and clean and shiney. So I will need a complete set up. I do plan on keeping her for a long time. I have done a ton of work so far.

 

Leacree... bottomest bottom of the market. 1/4 of the price of KYB's. I'm impressed they fit at all.


Classic example of you get what you pay for. If the springs are original Toyota (usually have yellow assembly marks on the springs), keep the springs and get some decent struts. If the springs are not original either, throw everything away and get some decent strut+spring assemblies if you intend to keep the car.

 

Leacree :bleh::bleh:

1A Auto peddles those. I had a Cavalier once that I put those on. Made the ride significantly worse (and it was a Cavalier so the ride wasn't up to par in the first place). Nasty.

For what it's worth, I installed Moog quick-struts on my uncle's '95 four years ago and it still looks like a funny car. Then again, it's had maybe 2500 miles put on it in that time...

 

I see they have a butt load of videos on youtube. Stating your getting the quality parts from them on their insturctional vids.

I would like to get a set to make it sit level. If the Monroe quick struts sit it down a few inches, I would be thrilled! I need to check the fronts, he did those too. Although it seems fine, curious as to what he put up front.

 

May as well finish the job.... :lol:

 

Oh geeez! :grin:

 

The Gen4 naturally sits a bit high in the rear. Even with Eibach, the rear still seems to still sits a tad higher than front. Its fine otherwise.




But I do agree. These 'quick struts' tend to IMO raise the rear a bit...err....too high , especially if you ONLY do the rear.

My mom had a set of 'quick struts' installed. Also my friends car has 'quick struts'. Both not sure what brand, but the car looks like it is 4x4 a bit. I'm sure it's a tad higher than brand new stock.

 

I seen the KYB struts, with springs. I’m tempted to try them and hope they sit mine down a little bit.

Mine seems extremely high with those generic struts the PO put on. I do notice they do sit a bit high naturally, but mine honestly is out of control. :frown:

 

If you want to make sure the car sits at the correct height, you'll have to get yourself some used OEM springs.


Even with quality quick struts chances are good it will sit a little too high. The reason is, these quick struts were made to be compatible with all the vehicles where they would "bolt in" - Lexus ES300, Toyota Avalon and Camry, Solara. The Camry is the lightest of them all, so it will sit the highest.


Toyota had different rear springs for each of those vehicles, and even had different springs for the front of the Camry depending on whether you have the 4 cyl or the heavier V6. Any quickstrut that's compatible with 4 cars will be a compromise.


If I were you, I would go to a junkyard and find a set of original struts with OEM springs and top hats, then replace the struts with KYBs. The hats are known to not be as good on aftermarket quick struts as the OEM hats. Probably not the suggestion you wanted to hear, but if you want it to sit right that's the only way.

 

Well after reading your post, YES you are right! As bad as I want to say, NO...your right!

And it does make sense. If that "same" strut is "one size fits all", its actually not due to weight....etc.

I will wait till after winter, and contact a few local yards. I am wondering how I will know which are originals at the yard?

When they sale the aftermarket springs alone, are they for each car specific? Or the same deal. I need to look that up.

Maybe, I should just go on ebay, and buy lowering springs! :grin:

 

i know im late to this but bruh get some ebay coilovers you can adjust height, good quality with adj dampers.

 

Check out Amazon. There was a time where I couldn't order struts at all. Now I believe I can via prime again. I should buy another Gen3/4 so I can do struts because it is fun... LOL.

RA charges me an arm and a leg, about $130 for 4 struts for shipping out here.

 

Sensen Speedy Struts

Sensen had different part numbers for their F&R Speedy Struts for Avalon, Solara, ES300 & Camry, so not sure if it's all bs or they actually had different spring rates. I think its prolly bs cause my Camrys sitting high in the rear, but again it's all good cause I can get over my driveway bump and my wife and I both have bad knees. Plus, I carry a lot of my customer guitars and guitar repair tools in the trunk. It works out fine.

 

Sensen had different part numbers for their F&R Speedy Struts for Avalon, Solara, ES300 & Camry, so not sure if it's all bs or they actually had different spring rates. I think its prolly bs cause my Camrys sitting high in the rear, but again it's all good cause I can get over my driveway bump and my wife and I both have bad knees. Plus, I carry a lot of my customer guitars and guitar repair tools in the trunk. It works out fine.

If they have different part numbers I would honestly think the only difference would be weight?

Is it sitting as high as mine? On page one, is my photo. Mine is like 4wd high! :facepalm:

 

I don't think my Camry is sitting quite as high as yours in the rear, but its definitely sitting higher then the stock struts w/ sagging springs the car had when I got it in Nov b/c it no longer scrapes on the hump on my diveway. Here's out-of-order pics of- 1. the new ride height pic taken 1 month after install, 2. the old struts at removal, 3. the ride height before the new struts, 4. the rear Sensens on Amazon, 5. the front Sensens on Amazon. I'm sort of a newbie here, so I'm still trying to figure out how to post and quote on here.

 

thank you! No yours is not sitting as high as mine for sure! Mine looks like is has air shocks. Pumped full!
Thanks for the pics! I may go to amazon and get what you bought. Thats a pretty good deal!

I'd recommend just going for either a set of quick struts (KYB, Monroe,etc.) or getting the pieces all separate (spring, strut, mount, etc.). Unless you are trying to drop your car or make it "better" on turns, you are better off with a OEM-like ride than trying to custom tune your suspension. One set of problems vs a whole new set of problems. Up to you in the end.

Well my son and his friend stopped today to say hello, in his buddies BMW. He has coil overs on it. After a chat, he said, you might want to drive his car first. It rode extremely firm! Too much for me. I don't want to go low, I just want to sit normal. Mine honestly does handle great. For except the butt end high in the air.
I may get those Sensens or kyb, and call it a day!

 

I’ve read that about coilovers more than once; they give a really stiff ride. Good for auto cross, but not for a DD if you’re more into comfort. And I’ve read that the cheaper brands don’t last long.

I’m admittedly a KYB fan. I’d get bare KYB struts and springs out of a junkyard. I’ve used Monroe upper mounts without problems. I’d stay away from KYB mounts. I had a set that were bad right out of the box. Monroe for lower insulators too.

 

I looked in a dealer website that someone put up. They had springs, OEM of course, for everything except mine! Even the Japan Built one they had. I was going to bite the bullet and get new springs from the dealer, well the online one.

Wow I thought KYB was all good. That’s a shame. I’m going to let it ride high until after winter. Then do my struts. Probably as suggested with junkyard springs. Then KYB struts.

However until then I am going to pop mine off soon and do the felt trick at the top to see if my klunking stops. I checked everything again today and nothing is loose under there. But I have another thread going on that.

 

Yeah I think OP should do fine with the Monroe Quick Struts. It’s just a tad firmer than the Gabriel Ultras which previously I preferred.

Best to wait for $100 rebate buying 3. Lifetime warranty too.

 

I seen Gabriel’s on rock auto but wasn’t sure if those or Monroe. As in it sitting normal. And comfort.

Yeah StreetSleep, yours is def up higher than mine. I can only say that the Sensens were inexpensive and look and work well. Fitment was perfect. I know lots of manufacturers claim lifettime warrantys, but it looks on-line that Sensen honors it- from what little I can find and it's spelled out on their web site (see below). The ride is excellent, tho my end links need to be changed out, so a little clunking from them, but the strus and springs are really AOK. The welds, paint and fittings looks to be perfect. I will keep everyone here posted if the ride or ride height changes or rust develops. I had Bilsteins on my previous old toyota corolla that rusted in a year, but still worked great. These Sensens look like they will never rust. The only negative is just my opinion that the rubber bellows look sorta cheap. If they fail, the strut could fail prematurely. Again, I had KYB bellows that were shreded in a year from normal highway driving, so??? So far 2k on the Sensens and no complaints whatsoever.

CORRECTION.... I did just notice something.... the 99-01 Solara 2.2L uses the same speedy strut part numbers as the 99 Camry XLE 2.2 I have. The Solara, curb weight is 3120 and the Camry's is 2998, so this may be why the ass end is up a bit.

Product Description
Precision-engineered for the ultimate in safety and performance, Speedy Struts by SENSEN provide improved comfort and control, long life and durability, and maximum shock performance for today’s passenger vehicles. Speedy Struts assemblies include all the components required for strut replacement in a single, fully-assembled unit. The Speedy Strut is a ready-to-Install replacement strut assembly. No specialized tools are needed with this breakthrough design. Speedy Struts saves on installation time by eliminating having to disassemble components and compress the coil spring prior to installation. The complete Speedy Strut comes with pre-assembled replacement bearing plate, upper and lower spring isolators, upper spring seat, coil spring, boot kit, and a premium SENSEN strut. Speedy Struts are manufactured and tested to the strictest OE standards for unparalleled performance. Built for trouble-free ownership and 100% visually inspected and quality tested. SENSEN shocks and struts is quickly becoming a preferred suspension brand of professional automotive technicians nationwide.

Fitment:

1997-2001 Toyota Camry

Cross ReferenseNumbers:
SR4035,181680, 171680,G56933,SR4036,181681, 171681,G56932

WEB SITE... http://www.sensen-na.com/

That’s a bummer they use the same springs in different weight vehicles. That’s why our stances are height are too high.

The Generic ones in mine, surprisingly do handle nice and are comfortable. Well I have nothing to compare to. But the height is just humiliating.

 

Sure thing @Streetsleeper, no problem. I just loaded up the 48" drywall T-Square in the Camry for the measurements, I'm curious as to what they'll be also.

 

Mines in my slanted driveway until tomorrow. I’m going to do the felt trick and remove my struts to see if that’s my klunking noise. I’ll measure mine in the garage tomorrow.

See if the top of the wheel well is about 27”.

I’ll definitely measure mine in the garage Tomorrow when I have it inside.

Looks like initially even KYBs will be higher by up to an inch. Allow to settle then see I guess.

Ouch that is not good! I’ll check those links on my pc tonight.

https://www.toyotanation.com/forum/...-1996-1997-2001-1st-gen-solara-1999-2003/1400145-01-camry-rear-ride-height.html

https://www.toyotanation.com/forum/...-1996-1997-2001-1st-gen-solara-1999-2003/402284-ride-height.html#/topics/402284