99 Gen 1 Solara rear shock blew..? Big bang sound...help

[Rookie Solara]

Its been a long time since 99...mod the Solara with strut, then add the waste of money ALL SHOW Ground Effect Coilover kit and get my back hurt.....what a waste. But that was like good old 8 years ago and 120,000 miles later...

Last week, my passenger side rear shock (suspension) start giving me a STIFF sound and feel (struts are Tokico Blue since 2000)...even on a not so smooth road, or a little bump, the rear shock will give me a big loud "BUMP/BANG" sound and the feel. It feels like there are no suspension at the passenger side rear or it is bottom out. Again, I was using the ground effect coilover since my Solara was 12,000 miles 8 years ago....I am surprise it last that long untill this week. I have check the rim/tire, all the stuff in the trunk and there are nothing loose or wrong about them.

Most likely, I think I will have to replace all the struts, front and rear (100,000 miles is about right)...throw away that fancy looking ground effect coilover (or sell it for $20) and replace it with the Eibach lowering springs and new Tokico blues....I just want the others to tell me it is the strut....not something else.

Also, I have look thru several threads about something similar to my case...seems like it is all starting from the passenger side REAR strut first...why is that..? Also, should I also need to replace the strut mount as well..? And what else I should replace this time..? The bushing on the a-arms front and rear?

I will do the installation with my friend...we did the Gen 3 and Gen 4 Camry 8 years ago....did couple Gen 1 Solara...did the TRD Supercharger, RMM intake...side marker and stuff. It was fun...but 8 years later, we all enjoy watching football and play golf rather, not really enjoy modifying our 120,000 miles family car nor having the 2" drop low ridier.

Thanks all....I still think my Solara looks OK.

Also, anywhere online is a good place to pick up the Tokico blue and Eibach lowering springs...? Thanks

[Gangis]

Contact woa_its_j3ff, he's in your area and has plenty of experience with these matters!

[no_escape]

Most likely the Strut mounts. I have the same issues with the thud sounds in the back. I'm running the Tokico/Eibach setup but you would have to talk to talk to shocar4 to find out where he bought them. He owned the car and installed most everything.

[Toy1mzfe]

im guessin u meant ground controls?

If u selling i may be interested in buying ur Ground controls for 20.

You can try the strut test. Push down on the corner of the car with the problem and see how many times it rebounds (up and down).

[Rookie Solara]

im guessin u meant ground controls?

If u selling i may be interested in buying ur Ground controls for 20.

You can try the strut test. Push down on the corner of the car with the problem and see how many times it rebounds (up and down).

You are right...its Ground Control...I don't even remember that name, and you can imagine how long was that...
Come over and go figure out HOW to remove the coil...I will even give it to you free. I adjust the front alot due to SNOW in winter...but never have to adjust the rear, that is the problem and the screw is no longer be loose.

I have try the strut test...usually, a blew strut, your car will bounce alot cause there are no longer any air inside the strut to smooth the ride, only spring left.....but my case...seems like my strut is no longer be able to compress....like I am replacing my strut/spring with a solid 2X4....every bump is a "HARD HIT" to the uni-body of the frame of the car.

I will have JEFF in Chicago to look at my car soon....if nothing is work, someone can come take this Solara off my garage so I can get myself a MINI-VAN or 911.

[Rookie Solara]

Most likely the Strut mounts. I have the same issues with the thud sounds in the back. I'm running the Tokico/Eibach setup but you would have to talk to talk to shocar4 to find out where he bought them. He owned the car and installed most everything.

So are you saying it is rear strut mount that was the problem? Not really the rear strut? Please do let me know...thanks

[Toy1mzfe]

too far for me to come to chicago... im in Cali. haha

I would say... take it out and see whats wrong with it. Besides that i dont ttink theres anything u can do with it still installed.

[Rookie Solara]

too far for me to come to chicago... im in Cali. haha

I would say... take it out and see whats wrong with it. Besides that i dont ttink theres anything u can do with it still installed.

Actually, if I remember correctly, the Ground Control Coilover is just COIL OVER...I just need to knock off the Tokico shock cap (which when they were new, I hard to knock the cap off to install the coilover at the beginning) and get the sleeve out...then the whole spring will be out.

The only part are not working are the rear adjustable spring cap (that gold piece that adjust the spring RING up and down)...the hex screws are so tight (probably due to rust or whatever happened inside the ring) that I don't want to STRIP it by using extra force....the coil height is SET at the right amount of height so if you are using anything 18" rim or smaller, it is all good..

I have never need to adjust the rear.....so after I take it off, I might put her on EBAY and see I can sell it for more then $20...

I just found out...that thing was about $350....wow, I was dump enough to pay that much to hurt my back back then....LOL

[no_escape]

Most likely the Strut mounts. I have the same issues with the thud sounds in the back. I'm running the Tokico/Eibach setup but you would have to talk to talk to shocar4 to find out where he bought them. He owned the car and installed most everything.

So are you saying it is rear strut mount that was the problem? Not really the rear strut? Please do let me know...thanks

I have the thud sound going on now. I haven't been able to get to the suspension due to health reasons. I hope by the spring to replace the strut mounts.

I've had this issue on my eclipse and replaced them. Didn't hear the sound again. That's why I'm sure this is a strut mount issue for my car.

[Rookie Solara]

Most likely the Strut mounts. I have the same issues with the thud sounds in the back. I'm running the Tokico/Eibach setup but you would have to talk to talk to shocar4 to find out where he bought them. He owned the car and installed most everything.

So are you saying it is rear strut mount that was the problem? Not really the rear strut? Please do let me know...thanks

I have the thud sound going on now. I haven't been able to get to the suspension due to health reasons. I hope by the spring to replace the strut mounts.

I've had this issue on my eclipse and replaced them. Didn't hear the sound again. That's why I'm sure this is a strut mount issue for my car.

Thanks for your info...but I am not too sure about the strut mount issue. The sound for my rear passenger side sound are not like knocking sound or something soft. It is HARD and LOUD...like the strut is a solid rod with no compression. And it is a BUMP sound...nothing near to the knocking sound I have on the front while I am turn the wheel...

Now I do remember that night when it was 20 degree outside, my car was cold, and I was getting out of the driveway and I have never experience the bounce like that before....that tells me the strut are DONE....

I am aware about the front knocking sound....even with the TRD isolated bushing, still...plenty of little knocking sound, I just play ignore and hope I can buy myself a minivan soon.

[youngblood]

I've had struts go bad in the way you describe-- that corner of the car will have NO suspension travel and will hit HARD on any pavement irregularity. It's usually due to an internal valving problem in the strut and most struts aren't rebuildable (although some coil-overs are).

The strut mount may very well be fine, but I would be prepared to replace it when you do the job. I usually buy new mounts any time I replace a strut and then return them if the original looks good when I get it all torn apart.

Good luck!

[Rookie Solara]

I've had struts go bad in the way you describe-- that corner of the car will have NO suspension travel and will hit HARD on any pavement irregularity. It's usually due to an internal valving problem in the strut and most struts aren't rebuildable (although some coil-overs are).

The strut mount may very well be fine, but I would be prepared to replace it when you do the job. I usually buy new mounts any time I replace a strut and then return them if the original looks good when I get it all torn apart.

Good luck!

Greatlly appreciated your experience...most likely I will have to buy the strut mount just incase....thanks.

[SleeperSolara]

Check your mounts.
You can also check the strut by jackin' the car up wit a floor jack and checkin' if there is some black oil residue all over the lower portion of the strut.
If you do see a black residue then you have a blown strut.

[bronzemaxell]

bang and thumbing noise are normally from bad strut mount or sway bar end link dried
if strut goes bad, it will just be more bouncy.

[Rookie Solara]

SO...strut mounts and sway bar links...

I am looking for the full 4 corners strut mounts....$200 for all 4 corners does that make sence..?

Thanks again...