SolaraGuy.com

I recently bought a 2005 Solara SLE. Why is the suspenssion so stiff?
Thanks!

Could be that there is aftermarket suspension on the car??

Could have sport suspension on it.

My car was going to be used in a commercial, and they tried to make the car shake by pushing down on it (i have sport suspension) and when the stunt guy did it, he was shocked how stiff the suspension was, the car barely moved at all (in a normal car you could rock it back and forth or get it to "bounce" a little bit up and down)

SleeperSolara wrote:Could be that there is aftermarket suspension on the car??

Not for sure. The car looks brand new with 113K. It was very well kept. If I can not find a way to calm the suspension, then I will sell it. Thanks!

Are you sure it's an SLE and not an SE Sport?

Absolutely! That's why i searched for the SLE and not the SE model. I was told that only the SE has a stiff suspension. I test drove the car just for five minutes when I bought it and it seemed okay, but i came home and realized that it rides totally different than my previous car, a 1997 Camry XLE. I am very unhappy with the way my 2005 Solara SLE, leather, 2.4L engine, mint condition and so on, takes me on the road. Please help if you know a way to soften its suspension. I am the second owner, the car has 113,000 miles, and the previous owner did nothing other than changing oil.

Thanks!

Other than returning the car, your only other option is blowing more money on replacing the struts (and possibly the springs -$$$$) with ones that are known for giving a cushy ride. Keep in mind you're comparing the 2005 coupe suspension to a 1997 sedan's, I can't imagine a '05 Camry being any softer (even Cadillacs don't ride as "pillowy" as they did in the late 1990's).

By the way, as a side-note regarding money, at 113,000 miles I hope the previous owner DID change the brake pads/rotors, timing chain and water pump. The Solara should last you thousands of more miles but it won't by just changing the oil regularly. That holds true for any car over a 100, 000 miles no matter what the brand quality.

It must have some kind of swap done by previous owner - or an RSB or something because the stock SLE suspension is soft as grandpa's dick!

word. Are you in southern california? If you are, I'm down to meet up to see how stiff your suspension is. I'm also down for a swap. I flippin hate my soft cushion ride. My friends with real sports cars, jump in my ride and tell me they want to fall asleep because it's so comfortable!!!!! haha

pxl is back!

copeland wrote:word. Are you in southern california? If you are, I'm down to meet up to see how stiff your suspension is. I'm also down for a swap. I flippin hate my soft cushion ride. My friends with real sports cars, jump in my ride and tell me they want to fall asleep because it's so comfortable!!!!! haha

where were you for the last meet 3/20/10, were here in so cal..............

sorry to revive an old thread but can anyone who has tried the sport and SLE suspension give some details about the degree of difference in the two? My SLE has gotten super uncomfortable after being lowered and I'm also facing some rubbing issues. Just want to know if swapping to sport suspension would change all that or if its not worth the investment.

^^ ur rubbing on oem wheels and trd springs? uncomfortable how?

this is just me but it might feel different with other people:
oem se struts & springs= 50/50 stiffness/play(softness)

TRD springs+se struts= 85/15 <~~~my tires might have some influence in the 15

Thanks Projex0. My current wheels are 17x8.5 and 225/45/17 tires on TRD springs. I've read in other threads that the SLE struts won't work too well with the TRD springs because it'd make the ride super bumpy. I've had the springs for about a year now and the ride really is unnaturally bumpy compared to when the car was all stock. anyone else who has had experience with both?

I installed the trd rsb on my Solara back in 2005 and its been there since, but I haven't installed lowering springs on the stock SE struts nor I plan to.

Why don't you just upgrade the struts? That is what I would do and Bilstein and KYB makes them for your car.