Sway bar = true or false

[rossman945]

I think I have the same sound as you do, does it happen alot when its cold out and you go over bumps? I took my car in to get looked at it was my struts. They said they replaced the brushings? or something, I can't remember, and if I wanted the problem completely solved that all 4 struts would eventually have to be replaced. I also have 18's, but the car was making the wierd sound ever since we bought it, and it came with stock rims.

Ross

[townboy2]

i do wondering which shop that your dad went to so i can stay a way... thx u

[2002greenhornet]

Upper strut mounts on the front could very well be the problem.

This is a common problem on Solara and Camry. I got my Tokico and Tein combo installed by a great local speed shop here in the DC area (the same shop that built PaladinGreg's Silverlicous, JoeB's Red Knight, and Shidosha01's Tabasco--the 3 fastest Solaras on the planet). A few months after that, I kept hearing a rattle on the right side at low speed over small bumps and rough pavement. Sounded like the rear. We checked the torque on the upper mounts in the back and it was fine.

Then I realized that it *might* be coming from the front. Did a search and found that upper front strut mounts are a common failure in these cars. Not all, but some. Called the dealer (Koons Tysons Toyota) and said "I hear this can be a problem with these cars" and they said "yeah, it can". I took it in, went for a ride with the shop foreman so he could hear it, and they replaced the upper strut mounts in the front UNDER WARRANTY even though I had after-market suspension.

The noise is gone. I am happy. It could be that the shop your Dad is trusting is guessing and actually has no idea. One thing, though, diplomacy and a friendly attitude made all the difference in this when talking to the dealer. They don't respond well to bad attitudes.