Front Spension

Hi guys,

I had my 94 camry with a new front struct in the front (both side). I used the KYB struct and the dust boot instead of the Toyota. I had someone changed them for me. The struct mounts and springs are still the old one. When it go over a speed bump, it is fine when it is running at a less than 10km to the top of the bump. There is something hitting my car when the front bounce after passing the bump. So problem will be heard when it is running on a bumpy road. I tested the front left and front right individual on the speed bump. It still have the same problem. I did change the front sway bar bushing with the toyota one but it did not solve the problem.

Do you think there is a problem with spring, front stabilizer bar link or the Toyota original struct has a longer piston rod than the KYB struct?

Tough to tell. Did you change the upper strut mount bearing?

Tough to tell. Did you change the upper strut mount bearing?
My struct doesn't need the bearing because the spring doesn't rotate with the struct

This might clarify: http://www.monroe.com/tech_support/tec_struts.asp Unless your KYB strut is some new design, it should look similar to this.

Also open the FAQs thread at the top of the forum, go to page two and read post #19 (little yellow number on far right)

I assume you have the older style strut where the bearing is located at the base of the spring rather than in the mount on the top. (thought this was only for 93's and earlier though?) It's not likely a strut bearing anyways. Are you sure the person that installed the struts installed the rubber bumpers again? As well, they should have re-installed the spring isolators top and bottom. When you replace the boots, they usually come with a new bumper. Also make sure the strut rod nuts were tightened properly on the strut mounts. There are flat spots on the rod below the threads that need to seat in the mating surface of the strut mount. If they didn't do this when the struts were re-assembled, then they could be loose now. Also check the stabilizer links to make sure one of them did not come loose. I've seen that happen if their bolts are not properly torqued.

dave mc

I assume you have the older style strut where the bearing is located at the base of the spring rather than in the mount on the top. (thought this was only for 93's and earlier though?) It's not likely a strut bearing anyways. Are you sure the person that installed the struts installed the rubber bumpers again? As well, they should have re-installed the spring isolators top and bottom. When you replace the boots, they usually come with a new bumper. Also make sure the strut rod nuts were tightened properly on the strut mounts. There are flat spots on the rod below the threads that need to seat in the mating surface of the strut mount. If they didn't do this when the struts were re-assembled, then they could be loose now. Also check the stabilizer links to make sure one of them did not come loose. I've seen that happen if their bolts are not properly torqued.

dave mc

Yes, you are right, the bearing is located at the base of the spring. The top and bottom rubber spring isolator were the old one. I did check the stabilizer links and did not see any sign of loose. I am sure a new rubber bumper and boot were replaced as I can check it by myself except the struct rod nuts on the struct mounts. Do you think there is a slightly difference of the size between the KYB and the original struct? Thinks

Do you think there is a slightly difference of the size between the KYB and the original struct? Thinks

I wouldn't think so. The rear struts are slightly longer than the fronts, so unless you somehow mixed them up. See if you get any noise with very slow, full turns (ie. pulling in and out of a driveway). If it is only a rattle over bumps, then it is likely the strut mount is loose/bad or the rod is loose. Did you use replacement cartridges, or a full replacement strut?

davemc

I wouldn't think so. The rear struts are slightly longer than the fronts, so unless you somehow mixed them up. See if you get any noise with very slow, full turns (ie. pulling in and out of a driveway). If it is only a rattle over bumps, then it is likely the strut mount is loose/bad or the rod is loose. Did you use replacement cartridges, or a full replacement strut?

davemc

There is no noise with very slow, full turn, only a rattle over bumps and it is a full replacement struct. I won't be able to check the struct mount myself. What is consisting of inside the struct mount? Thanks.

There is no noise with very slow, full turn, only a rattle over bumps and it is a full replacement struct. I won't be able to check the struct mount myself. What is consisting of inside the struct mount? Thanks.

For your strut mount, I think it is just a rubber isolator in a sleeve. I don't think they go bad that often since they don't have any moving parts really. Whoever replaced your struts really needs to re-inspect them to see if anything was missed.

dave mc

For your strut mount, I think it is just a rubber isolator in a sleeve. I don't think they go bad that often since they don't have any moving parts really. Whoever replaced your struts really needs to re-inspect them to see if anything was missed.

dave mc

I had another mechanic to check my struct again. There is no problem with the struct mount. It is causing by the size of the rubber bumper. The rubber bumper is around 2.5" long so the piston doen't not have enough travelling to move up. He adviced it should be cut down or the struct mount may be damage if running over bumpy road. What do you think?

I had another mechanic to check my struct again. There is no problem with the struct mount. It is causing by the size of the rubber bumper. The rubber bumper is around 2.5" long so the piston doen't not have enough travelling to move up. He adviced it should be cut down or the struct mount may be damage if running over bumpy road. What do you think?

Nope, that sounds bogus to me. The bumpers on my camry are about the same length. Why would a rubber bumper cause a rattle? Does not make sense. I would not cut them down. Make sure the springs are seated properly in the rubber isolators top and bottom.

dave mc

Nope, that sounds bogus to me. The bumpers on my camry are about the same length. Why would a rubber bumper cause a rattle? Does not make sense. I would not cut them down. Make sure the springs are seated properly in the rubber isolators top and bottom.

dave mc

The springs are seated properly in the rubber isolator top & bottom that I can check it myself. He tested the struct by pressing the front very hard and I used a flash light to watch. The piston really hit the bumper. As I said before, the bumper is a new one from KYB and the original Toyota parts is spring bumper. Would it be the coil spring getting weaker after working for 140,000km.

the next thing i would try is to switch the left and right front struts and see if the noise follows the suspect strut. I believe the only difference between right and left is the brake line bracket. Temporarily just tape the brake line and ABS cable to the struts to preform this test. Carefully compare the two strut assemblies to each other while you have them out. If the noise changes sides, then you know for sure something is bad on that strut. In that case, I would take the whole thing apart again and check the spring for cracks, inspect the isolators, inspect the mount, strut rod, and strut base carefully.

dave mc

the next thing i would try is to switch the left and right front struts and see if the noise follows the suspect strut. I believe the only difference between right and left is the brake line bracket. Temporarily just tape the brake line and ABS cable to the struts to preform this test. Carefully compare the two strut assemblies to each other while you have them out. If the noise changes sides, then you know for sure something is bad on that strut. In that case, I would take the whole thing apart again and check the spring for cracks, inspect the isolators, inspect the mount, strut rod, and strut base carefully.

dave mc

I finally got the problem fixed. It was really the rubber bumper. The Toyota mechanic told me there is a difference in between KYB and Toyota struct. The Toyota struct has a longer piston. The rubber bumper was cut down now and my car is running very quiet now. Anyway, thanks again for your advice and help.