Just installed the Front swaybar

[cdssolara]

I think you're correct about this issue. The last time I took my car into the local Toyota dealership to diagnose a problem, they refused to do any type of warranty work as soon as they saw aftermarket equipment anywhere near the area of the problem. I think the only time they will consider doing warranty work is if the parts are TRD and an authorized Toyota dealership did the installation.

yup, that's what pays for my Solara........i do it all day long!

the moral of the story is: remove any aftermarket parts in your car before going to a dealer for the possibility of a warranty repair.

That's good advice, but sometimes removing the aftermarket part is more of a problem than what you're taking the car in for.

Regarding the strut mount issue, do you have much experience with this? Is fixing it just a matter of replacing a bushing, or is it more complicated than that?

[impactX]

If they are going to deny my warranty, I will make sure I put up a good argument.

This is probably what I will say if they really deny my warranty: "What the TSB states is from a STOCK car, the bushing has problems still. Now that I installed springs + strut combo, the problem still exists. Something in common? OH IT'S THE BUSHING! So you are still arguing that my struts and springs are causing the trouble? You surely lack some common sense and deserve to be fired, let me talk to your superior."

If his superior says the same thing, I will direct my complain to Toyota of Canada.

I hate many of those service people with a passion... They expect me to pay them to do a half ass job for springs and struts while I can do a way better job for free.

[DavPak]

That's good advice, but sometimes removing the aftermarket part is more of a problem than what you're taking the car in for.

that's absoluetly right

Regarding the strut mount issue, do you have much experience with this? Is fixing it just a matter of replacing a bushing, or is it more complicated than that?

it happens sometimes, usually we replace strut tops, not the mount or bushing. and its usually fronts on camry's and such. its not too complicated, but we do have to take the strut off the upper mount.

[Kocho]

"we usually replace strut tops not the strut mount or bushing"

Isn't there just one thing that is being replaced under the TSB for the front suspension noise - the strut mount?

What is a strut "top" and a "bushing" in this case? There is the upper stpring seat/plate, the bearing above it and the strut mount on top. Where would be the "bushing" and the "strut top"?

I've been having the clunking noise for 4 years now (replaced strut mounts under warranty, then twice more afterwards myself) but it can't disappear - just gets better for a while with new mounts then comes back.

Gen 4 with TRD springs/Tokico strut.

Thanks!

[happy_aggies]

Koncho,

Where is the clunkin noise? front or rear?

[Kocho]

Koncho,

Where is the clunkin noise? front or rear?

Front. More on the driver side - the pass side is almost OK. The noise occurs when driving over speeds bumps at low speed, or over bridge joints or over small potholes/rough road at high speeds. All is tight to spec (and may be a bit over).

I also have the TRD insulator installed (the small rubber ring that goes inside the strut mounts to fill in the gap at the top), but with or without it the clinking is still there.

[happy_aggies]

Check for the clearance, that is the Sway bar against any nearby object.

I have to bend the fuel tank a little bit for RSB.
So no clunking noise whatsoever from rear, No nasty re-greasing.

Also check and tighten Stabilizer Bar Link.

[Kocho]

Check for the clearance, that is the Sway bar against any nearby object.

I have to bend the fuel tank a little bit for RSB.
So no clunking noise whatsoever from rear, No nasty re-greasing.

Also check and tighten Stabilizer Bar Link.

Thanks.

I don't have an aftermarket FSB and I can't see the stock one touching anything. I'm pretty sure the clunking is related to the front strut mounts, but so far have been unable to eliminate it. The end links seem tight, but I'll re-torque them anyway.

Someone at Camryman.org mentioned that there is a way to align everything in such a way (not just to line-up the notches on the mount, plate, rubber and the strut on the outside) as to eliminate the noise, but I can't find specific instructions...