New member saying HI (and asking a couple of questions :) )

[jdog0411]

Hi everyone, this is my first post and I wanted to say hi and introduce myself. From the looks of things, I am probably one of the "older" owners on the board (29) but we all have the Solara in common so it's cool, right?

I own a 2000 Solara SE V6 and I bought it new in November of 1999. I love the car, and I bought it mainly because I had owned a bunch of American makes and wanted to try out the Toyota reputation for quality. Well I must say that the car has been fantastic as advertised. It now has 42000 miles on it, and the only thing I have had to do to the car are oil changes. Nothing else. Pretty amazing.

After owning the car for three years, here is my short list of gripes:

1. The OEM Bridgestone Potenzas are crappy tires. I didn't get 30,000 miles out of them. I just replaced them with Yokohama Avid H4's so I will see how those go.

2. The paint on this car is way too soft and vulnerable to damage. It looked wonderful from the factory, but it didn't take long for it to get damaged by road debris. My hood looks like a moonscape and I drive very carefully and avoid driving behind trucks, etc. I may have to have the hood repainted because it is really bugging me.

3. The brakes have been weak since day one. It takes a lot of pedal force to get the car to stop. From what I have heard, this is common on Toyotas.

Other than that, the car rocks. Now, for my questions:

I would like to get new brake pads, but I want to try my hand at doing it myself. What type of pads do I need, and how hard would they be to install myself? I have never done brakes before. Anyone have a good source for brakes? I don't necessarily need high performance brakes, the OEM replacements would be fine.

Has anyone else had problems with the paint chipping easily? Anyone had to get a repaint due to rock chips?

Thanks for the responses everyone!

[cdssolara]

Welcome to the forum, and you're not old, at all. I've got you by a lot years!

Anyway, I feel the same way you do about the paint. Almost from day one, my paint has been getting chipped. It's really annoying, especially if you have a dark car (mine is black). I've resigned myself to the fact that every couple of years, I will have to have a detailer touch it up.

Other than that, I love my car, but I've done a lot of modifications.

[nkx1]

Hi and welcome. You're not too old; I'm 24, so only a 5 yr difference. Anyway, I have some answers to you're dilemmas (kind of costly answers, but if you can part with a little cash, you'll definitely be happy).

1. crappy tires: C'mon dude, get some wheels. I have 18's (as do many people), and I'm really happy with them. Maybe you wont get 40k miles out the tires, but hey, your car will look 10x better (not that it looks bad stock though; after all its a Solara). Plus you'll get slightly better handling and better traction.

2. weak brakes: I plan on getting Power Stop drilled rotors and Axxis metal master pads. Not too expensive, durable, and when I put them on my Integra they really stepped up the braking power.

3. road chips: I saw a cool thing at a Mustang show recently. It was a clear bra. It basically was a clear peice of very thin plastic film that covered the front end. You can't even see it from 5 or so ft away, unlike those ugly black bras. I don't know what it's called, or where to get it, but some quick web research should yield some results.

[martian01]

I got several chips on my hood too.. and swirls.. that's the feedback my car gives me for too much carwash..
And the door dings!! i really want to blame on those inconsiderate pooheads but seeing it from the other way our cars do have a way too soft body!
As for the brake pad.. for me, who doesnt have any mech skill.. i choose to let experienced ppl do it. Since it wont save me lots bucks anyway.. and also it's a job relating to the brake.. i choose to let ppl who are less likely to screw up than i am to do it..

[Optimus]

Woah! I thought I was the only one having paint probs and just an idiot that couldn't take care of the paint. Just spent $600 to get my hood redone and several spots/door dings touched up. Hood had lots of chips and bad swirls, but the final nail for the hood was with one evil ass pile of bird doo-doo... on the car less than 24 hours.. ate straight through to the metal! I had a bug do some severe damage on the roof as well. It's very annoying... I love keeping a clean car and even keep Meguier's Quick Detailer to get rid such things immediately, but it still didn't help. just bought a covercraft cover for added protection at work (garaged at home).
sounds like toyota has a problem.

I just crossed 30K after 3 years. OEM tires are done. Today I put on 17" Motegi MR7 with Yokahama ES100s. Amazing difference. little noisier but cuts corners with no problem. Ride is still as smooth. Sorry fellas, just not into 18s.... at least not yet. maybe once i get the TRD package.

[Missay]

Just spent $600 to get my hood redone and several spots/door dings touched up.

$600!! how much did the do on the doors? i hope a lot considering a brand new hood is only 400!

final nail for the hood was with one evil butt pile of bird doo-doo... on the car less than 24 hours.. ate straight through to the metal! I had a bug do some severe damage on the roof as well.

wow! all the way thru the paint?? was this some kind of robo, acid bird!? lol.. the paint is way too soft tho..i had soooo many light scratches all over the car hood from washing it and stuff, and you know how gentle i am w/ it!

i agree w/ you about the brakes being weak. i've had other people who drive my car mention that they thought the brakes were soft and not very reactive.

[jdog0411]

I went to Midas today and had them check the brakes. They took a look and came back and said that everything is perfectly fine. They say the pads are well within limits and the rotors are basically like brand new. I guess Toyota just builds the brakes soft. I don't care for it, but if I want better braking, I guess I need to buy bigger brakes.

Anyone know about how much a repaint of the hood would cost? I know we had one guy paying $600 but I don't think it should be that much.

[Missay]

i'm just thinking $600 is high b/c you can buy a whole hood for 400. i can't see it costing that plus some including the door just to touch up paint. unless of course they're stripping the paint down, priming, painting, and then clear coating it fresh.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

yeah 600 for a hood repaint is TOO MUCH! Unless you have scoops, and vents, and cutting and snading/edging...but since your stock....GRLP!!have you shopped around....i think a junker hood painted would be WAY CHEAPER (ie. if you trade yours in for theirs)

[Optimus]

Bay Area, specifically the Peninsula, is one of the most expensive areas for car repair. I shopped around quite a bit... most wanted $1K for the work I wanted (per 1/4 panel is about $400). I had a couple nasty scratches (1- 7" on roof) and dents repaired as part of the job. Fixing a deep scatch usually requires a full blend. the hood was a complete redo with stripping, priming, paint, and clear coat. That was around $400 of the total cost. I'm pleased with the results..... looks like a brand new car.

[Yanks0114]

Wow its amazing because i have the exact same complaints. During spring/summer i wash my car every other day and i have so many little scratches its horrible. Also i have a few nice size door dings and lots of hail dents in my hood. Eventually going to get it detailed after winter.

As for the brakes, from like 50MPH they slow down nice to like 10MPH and then to come to a dead stop really takes a lot of work. Big difference from my moms maxima which stops on a dime. I want to upgrade to slotted rotors but i have heard horror stories about them warping and rusting. Also some brake pads have been known to squeak.

[impactX]

Hey

yeah the paint gets chipped all the time... I am sooooo used to it now

The brake is weak... went to the dealer to complain, they tell me it's ok

oh wells, I changed the front pads to Hawk HPS and see a difference in braking performance. Also, I ordered some stainless steel brakelines which will come in 5 weeks. Hopefully, this will solve the braking problems.

[c2g]

Has anybody used the TRD brake pads?

[sLoSoLaRa2k2]

just like almost everyone else...i paint is all chipped....but my car is silver so it isnt' really that noticeable but still...it bugs me...i'm thinking of repainting my car

[papa solara]

your not old try 47 . my 2001 solara has paint problems had roof and hood repainted because of chipping from small rocks striking car. the brakes do feel soft. other than the mentioned problems the car is great to drive . I replaced stock wheels and tires with 17'' centerline wheels and 215/45zr-17 tires with a eibach pro kit,lowering the car about 1.6 inches. the solara looks good this way and preforms well on the two lane roads of north western california and oregon.