Suspension problem?

[sitol]

Need help!

After I bought the car, I noticed that two of the springs are broken. So bought a new set of TRD springs and replaced them (all 4). However, I did not change the shocks. After a few days, I began to have a strange feeling about the car. Of course the stability when corning was improved but there were always noices. Whenever there's a gap or a bump on the road, I hear a big "bong" sound coming from the suspension. It sounds very loud, like I am hitting on something very hard. And the "check engine" lights up for a couple of seconds. I though it was the wheel hits the chasis but I was not sure.

Its been months, and the same problem happens everyday. I have to change lanes frequently to avoid any bumps on the road. And recently, I noticed a new problem, the suspension have a new noice, sounds like something is loose. I checked, and everything was attached. Its really driving me nuts. Can you guys help me out? Is this normal, or its just me, or its the New York roads that suck...... ?

[Mole]

do you have stock wheels? most likely your struts are blown. the car no longer has the abillity to take and absorb the bumps on the road, thus having you hear more road noise. about that check engine light, i dont know about that ordeal.

have you check ALL nuts and bolts to see if they are on tight? there should be three nuts at the top and two on the strut housing. check to see if you can re-create the prob by having a friend jump up and down on the frame of the car to see if the noise can pop up. then from there you can eliminate the area of the noise and pinpoint it.

[kubi]

The stock struts are not built to handle lowering springs. They most likely need to be replaced... and as long as you're replacing them replace them with Tokico Blue gas shocks. Those are built to handle the lowering springs. If there were 2 "broken" springs, you might want to check into that. The car may have been in some kind of accident before you bought it, which may be the cause of the check engine light as well.

[sitol]

Thanx
Yes, I have stock wheels.
Im gonna have my car checked this weekend to see if the strut is really blown. That will be the last thing I espect to happen...
BTW, in case I have to replace any strut, do I have to replace all of them or just the one whichever is broken? And.. Will a RSB help alot?

[kubi]

Lowering springs put a lot more stress on your struts. I believe someone said in the past that stock struts on lowering springs would probably only last about 5k miles. A RSB will help you a ton with cornering... but won't really help with your current problem.

[sitol]

Thank you.
I think if I find out any one of the struts is blown, I will go for the Tokico.
I have been thinking about them, but I just dont have enough money.......

[HKSV6SLE]

the problem you're describing is just like everyone else said most likely your shocks. having trd springs on stock shocks isn't the best thing to do and could result in shock problems. I know someone who had a shock blow out because of that. i have stock shocks on aftermarket springs and my car bounces a lot, i just hope everything holds up until i get new suspension.

[Edgar22]

well, after a long time of driving, you can do this little test.

drive for like 45 min... then park, get out and literally touch the strut. If they are really warm, you're fine. But if it's hot as a **** then, mostlikely your struts have died a slow and painful death.

[Yanks0114]

Ive heard KYBs are good too, and cheaper than tokicos.... I have noises tooo, and my car bounces like a MOFO........ my struts have been gone, dont ever use ground controls................ but soon to be replaced with pssssssssssssssst.......... air

Stay away from KYBs for our application. On other platforms they are good, but they never came out with a good strut for the solara. People have had a lot of trouble with them

[Mudd]

Wait a minute. The springs were broken? How the hell do you BREAK springs? I'd be concerned that someone was seriously abusing that car. As for the noise, my money's on a seriously blown shock. Have it professionally looked at if you don't know. And a camber correction kit, if it didn't come with the shocks, are a REALLY good idea too.

As for the shock discussion, if I had to guess, I'd say that the KYB GR2 is probably close to OEM for these cars, maybe just a hair stiffer. The AGXs are good shocks as well, and for cheap, if all you want to do is lower the car a little and be a little sportier on the ride. Having never used the Tokicos, I can't say anything about them, but I've heard the Illuminas were decent. I, personally, prefer the Koni's, but that's on my race cars.

Coil-overs are generally a rip-off (and really hard to get right) unless you get a REALLY good set, like JIC or the like. I'd just stick to a nice set of springs (Eibach Prokit is still the best out there if they're made for this car) and a basic set of shocks. I doubt your car will be seeing much track time, so no need to waste the money.

[Remmi909]

I actually have Tein S-tech and Tokico setup and i am also having this same problem with the loud noise when i hit bumps. I've had this setup for about 2 to 3 months and I've been hearing this loud noise since then. After about a month i noticed that my wheel wells were a little bent up and damaged so obviolously my problem is that my wheels are hitting the fender. This isn't a common probelm for other ppl with the same set up so i dont knwo what im supposed to do ot fix it....any suggestions other then changing my rims? thanks
RImal

[jf1999solara]

Stay away from KYBs for our application. On other platforms they are good, but they never came out with a good strut for the solara. People have had a lot of trouble with them[/quote]

I'm replacing my front struts and mounts, I was wondering if the KYB's are ok for stock replacements. Right now my R/F strut is totally blown and both mounts are clanking like hell over bumps. Basically if I'm keeping the stock springs and want a mild improvement in perf., will I be OK with KYB's, or are they just not for solaras?

Thanks for any reply!!