99 Camry Rear Strut Issue

That doesn't make sense. They've always been gas filled - but that should not make any difference in ride quality or ride height. The gas pressure is not that much, it only keeps the hydraulic fluid in the strut from aerating. Toyota often updates part numbers, but the new part should be identical to the original part. Try double checking the part number you actually received on your invoice. By your description, sounds like the wrong item was installed. Toyota is very precise with suspension components - they're desgined for your exact application. Make sure someone didn't helpfully "upgrade" your struts to some after market or different application.

Have you given the new struts a few weeks to break-in? The new Monroe sensa-tracs I put on were sensitive and "over-active" and best when new, but after a few weeks, they have settled into an almost too soft stable floaty feel...

I've checked the part numbers with two other Toyota parts departments and can confirm that the part numbers on the service order sheet are correct: LR - #48530-A9021 RR - #48540-A9021 Whether or not they actually installed these, I don't know. I'll have to return the car for inspection to know for sure. I have an appt tomorrow morning to have the dealership look at it. I can just imagine they will tell me every thing looks "normal"

My experience with gas filled struts is that they do have a tendency to push out and increase ride height. I'm experiencing about a 1/2 to 1 inch increase. I also thought perhaps they had swapped out the springs too, to save time, but the service dept. said that's not their policy. Daniel, you are correct ? the original struts (both front and rear) were gas charged. I thought I remembered something about the 4-cyl models only having front gas charged struts with standard units in the rear. Wrong.

I can live with the ride height change. It annoys me, but that?s about it. The thing I want fixed is the stiff ride. As I mentioned in the original message, I don?t care about ?feel of the road.? I don?t carry

50# bags of cement in my trunk. I don?t take corners at high speed. That?s not what I bought the car for.

After reading other threads in this forum, I?m convinced that I?m in the minority with this issue. Seems like most Camry owners are complaining about the rear suspension being too soft and bottoming out. Perhaps Toyota made a specification change to the struts to correct this (common) complaint?

Chicken, I had the work done almost a month ago, so I suppose that?s enough time for the struts to settle-in. If they have become more compliant, I haven?t noticed it. Also, I don?t think this is an example of ?the frog in the frying pan? effect. That is, time has not caused me to forget how stiff the original struts were when new.

Assuming that the dealership finds nothing wrong my question remains: Who makes a strut with minimal resistance?

Now, if you did, _that_ would smooth out the ride.

That is odd, Toyota supposedly makes the strut with minimal resistance.

I know this is way too obvious, but you did check the tire pressure, to make sure they didn't pump them up to 35 psi when changing the struts.

Another long shot. If you push on the rear fenders by hand, the car should move up and down reasonably. It is possible that you got a defective new strut - happened to me - one of the new factory struts made a noise over uneven pavement, like the common strut mount complaint, but in my case was eventually solved by the Toyota dealer replacing the just installed new strut under the lifetime replacement warranty at no charge.

I have 36 pounds pressure in all 4 tires and my 99 V6 rides very well, thank you.

|| || Another long shot. If you push on the rear fenders by hand, the car || should move up and down reasonably. It is possible that you got a || defective new strut - happened to me - one of the new factory struts || made a noise over uneven pavement, like the common strut mount || complaint, but in my case was eventually solved by the Toyota dealer || replacing the just installed new strut under the lifetime replacement || warranty at no charge.

We have two Camrys. One 99, built in Japan, and one 98 Built in the US. The two cars drive totally different from one another. Our 98 has a much softer suspention. My 99 has a firmer, less bouncier suspention which I've gotten used to. Sometimes I think the struts need to be replaced on the 98 when I drive it but I was told it's fine. Weird but it feels if I was driving another type of car when I switch. Our Camrys are both 4-cyl CE models.