Lots of suspension Questions...

[Mr_Chunks]

Order in for S Tech springs, looking for TRD struts, if I cant find a full set readily available im gonna take my chances and buy some tokicos.

Heres my questions:
How much worse coould tokico possibly be from TRD Strut? Is it enough to delay lowering the car? Keep in mind Ill be on 18s within a week.
Alot of ppl on this forum have had the same strut rattle as me. Seems that people with aftermarket strut, especially TRD get this rattle, but I've got it on my stock front passenger strut. Everytime i hit a bump it sounds like something is jiggling and rattling around in my strut. Just my passenger side tho. Will replacing the strut with aftermarket all together help it or do i have to get strut mounts? How can I alleviate this problem?
Would changing out to full coilover ( not just sleeve over ) help this problem alltogether?


Sorry if some of these questions are reposts. I did a brief 10 minute scan of search results and gave up. I have to be up by 6 in the morning to catch my plane out to Hawaii.

Please give some feed back, id very much appreciate it. Oh, and if anyone has some TRD struts ( full set ) up to sale do tell me, id love to have a set.

See you guys in a week

[Mole]

you need to buy new strut mounts. they're probably worn down.

a jic coilover comes with they're own strut mount.

tokicos aren't bad at all.

[ThatVietGuy]

Depending on how you look at it, Tokico can be much worse than TRD. Not in a "bad buy" sense, but just because the Tokicos do not provide the same stiffness/performance that the TRDs can. And in that same thought, coilovers are even better than either.

It just comes down to two things, IMO: performance vs. necessity (by necessity, I mean that it's a bad idea to drop on stock struts) and cost.


If you got plenty of money and you want performance, go for the coilovers (I'm biased because I have coilovers; honestly BEST money I have ever spent for the car ).

Can't afford the $1000+ tag on coilovers and still want performance? TRD because Mark can hook you up.

Just need the struts and still want so-so performance? Tokico.

Now Tokico isn't bad (I don't know how it rides in a Solara, but I have ridden in a 240SX with them installed and it's fairly nice) it's just that the TRD (Bilstein) are just better, IMHO.


And that strut rattle could be from a lot of things; two things I can think of right now is something is loose or your strut mount in bad. And installing coilovers would solve this problem, most likely, because it comes with its own strut mount.

[Mr_Chunks]

Someone once told me tokico ride quality is closer to stock than TRD ( Bilstein )

If this is true I may even have to lean toward tokico because im fat and i need comfort ahahaha

Thank you for the speedy responses. This kinda stuff honestly keeps me up at night

[SleeperSolara]

The TOKICO struts are suppose to be like stock.
TRD struts are stiffer from what i've read.
You can get the TRD struts from Mark.

[krawzyazn]

your not gonna find a place other then me that has TRD struts also if you want a close to stock ride then get tokico or KYB

[anttarz]

I would personally try to get TRD Struts from Mark especially if you are getting 18s and buy new mounts, possibly only front mounts if thats where the rattle is now. But if you want the comfort and a more stock ride go with KYB or Tokico.

[lightear]

Seems that people with aftermarket strut, especially TRD get this rattle, but I've got it on my stock front passenger strut. Everytime i hit a bump it sounds like something is jiggling and rattling around in my strut. Just my passenger side tho.

I'm trying something out this weekend with my clunking noise. I'll let you guys know if I get it fixed. There will be pic-by-pic steps on how to do it if it works.

I'm thinking it has something to do with the strut being aligned correctly with the grooves of the strut mount. Wish me luck.

sam

[anttarz]

A lot of the problems people are having with the TRD struts are due to poor installation. Whenever dealing with new and old parts together you gotta do it right or else there will be tons of noise and rattling. If you know what you are doing you'll be good. I know Milt was able to help some people in So. Cal.

[Solorange]

This is an interesting topic. I never knew that the TRD struts were stiffer than the Tokico. Now I wish if I could do over I would get the TRD struts. But anyway that rattle problem you guys are complaining about, is it up front or in the back? I personally dont have any rattling problems at all with my setup but when I bought my car it cluncked a lot up front and that was due to bad front strut bearings.

[SolaraGuy22]

I have the clunking in the rear driver side. Who knows how long it's been like that. I didn't notice it until recently because I have no stereo. I'm just now searching the threads for solutions too. May have to get some coilovers after all. It depends after I take a ride in Blak's to see how I like it.

[NRDriver]

i like how stiff the trd struts are while i am driving fast and cornering but they are a bit stiff at slower speeds. as far as rattling, mine has 65,000 miles on them and they are just fine

[E_funkdoktor]

mine dont really rattle but slight squeak...in the back... stock shat!

[indiglosolara]

Hey Tracy,
Sorry I didn't get to call you back. I got busy and haven't had time.

If you still have questions feel free to give me a call after 6pm tonight..

[Mr_Chunks]

Hey Tracy,
Sorry I didn't get to call you back. I got busy and haven't had time.

If you still have questions feel free to give me a call after 6pm tonight..

Ill give you a call probably when i get back from vacation ( roaming is a bitch. )