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Toyota Camry Suspension Questions

146 messages,  Last post on Mar 25, 2012 at 10:14 AM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry, Suspension, Sedan

Messages Page 13 of 15

#117 of 146 Re: 2007 Camry--Leaking Struts [gtgtcobra] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Dec 20, 2009 (9:27 am)

Replying to: gtgtcobra (Dec 20, 2009 12:00 am)
That's a great lease in terms of mileage (the usual stumbling block for most leasees) and I don't mean to nitpick, but in fact your payments are $233 a month because of your upfront money. Still you can't beat that mileage allowance.

#118 of 146 Re: 2007 Camry--Leaking Struts [Mr_Shiftright] by gtgtcobra

Dec 20, 2009 (5:06 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 20, 2009 9:27 am)
"That's a great lease in terms of mileage (the usual stumbling block for most leasees) and I don't mean to nitpick, but in fact your payments are $233 a month because of your upfront money. Still you can't beat that mileage allowance."
 
Yes, you are very right about the mileage allowance. Initially, in the beginning of the lease deal, I "demanded" that my payment be "no more" than $150.00 per month "with" taxes included with ONLY a $1,000.00 down payment and "with" 18,000 miles a year. The dealership declined my offer and I then increased my down payment to a $1,500.00 down payment and still demanded the same exact $150.00 monthly payments with tax included.
 
The dealership then was able to meet me at a payment of $169.00 per month with all the taxes included with 18,000 miles a year and with ALSO a FREE REMOTE START. I closed the deal at the $169.00 per month payment, but my wife wanted to put $500.00 MORE down and when we did that the payment went down to $156.01 per month.
I also had to pay an extra $185.00 for the car which I selected from the lot because it had $185.00 more in options in it which wasn't a big deal to me. Then I ALSO paid the GAP INSURANCE up front too which was $595.00 for the entire 3 years of the lease.
So, the $185.00 added difference in the price of the car that I chose from the dealer's lot, plus the added $595.00 GAP INSURANCE plus the $2,020.00 that I put down for the car came out to a total of $2,800.00......($185.00 + $595.00 + $2,020.00 = $2,800.00).
I also think that I got an excellent deal too.
 
I'm hoping to work out a similar deal just like this one again when my lease is up in 3 years when I am ready to lease another Toyota Camry again.

#119 of 146 Re: 2007 Camry--Leaking Struts [gtgtcobra] by mcdawgg

Dec 20, 2009 (6:21 pm)

Replying to: gtgtcobra (Dec 20, 2009 12:00 am)
Disagree about USA build quality. I have had worse experience with Japan built cars. My experience is that USA and Canadian built Toyotas have gone over 100,000 miles with no problems. The Japan-built did too, but it had about three squeaks and rattles that had to be fixed (fortunately under warranty). But is it really the build quality? No!
 
I said the same thing over in the Prius vs. Camry forum. What matters the most is the design of the car. If the design is good, then the assembly will be easy, and the chance of errors is much less. Also, the design also includes the parts and their specs, and if this is good, then you will not have any problems, no matter where they are built. I know our USA workers can produce as good or better as any country, but you have to start with a good design, and that includes all the components. A bad component can be built OK, but if it is with sub par materials (per the design specs) or if it is not easy to assemble, then the chances of a problem go up dramatically. The factory, no matter where it is, can only produce a car as good as the engineering was. I had more problems with a Japan Rav than my USA/Canadian Toyotas - why? Some BAD engineering, not bad Japan assembly.
 
Sorry, I have been in manufacturing since I finished college, and my experience tells me that it is the DESIGN, not the assembly.

#120 of 146 Re: 2007 Camry--Leaking Struts [mcdawgg] by gtgtcobra

Dec 20, 2009 (7:10 pm)

Replying to: mcdawgg (Dec 20, 2009 6:21 pm)
I made this same exact post in the Prius versus Camry Forum, but since we are both debating about the same issue regarding Toyota build quality, I thought that I would also include the same post that I made in the Prius versus Camry Forum in here too. Maybe you or someone else in here can enlighten me about this topic.
 
I can tell you one thing. My family currently owns a 98 Camry and I used to own a 97 Camry CE. I sold my 97 Camry back in 2000, but mine ALSO had fit and finish and quality issues. My family still owns the 98 Camry and it too has fit and finish issues and rattles and it only has 54,000 original miles on it. Both of these vehicles were built here in the USA in Kentucky. Before my family owned the 98 Camry, they owned a 1982 Toyota Celica that was purchased brand new which was 100% built in Japan. The 100% Japanese built 1982 Celica was an excellent car. We never had any fit and finish or any quality problems with the Celica during the entire 16 years that we owned it. It had over 170,000+ miles before we gave it away to another member of our family. They owned it and drove it for another 2 years until it was 19 years old and they traded it in for another vehicle. When they traded it in the 1982 Celica was still driveable and it had over 180,000+ miles on it. The only thing wrong with the car was that it had rust on the lower panels and on the floor boards from all the salt and from the 19 winters that it went thru up here in the northeast. Other than that, everything on the vehicle was working and the car was running like brand new.
  
But on the other hand, the 1998 Camry that my family still drives and owns has all sorts of rattling and fit and finish issues that the 1982 Celica didn't have. Can you tell me WHY that is so?
WHY didn't the 1982 Celica have any fit and finish and quality issues during the entire 19 years of ownership? And WHY does the 1998 Camry have fit and finish and quality issues? And WHY did my 1997 Camry also have fit and finish and quality issues too? Is it because maybe when they were built here in the USA in Kentucky that the manufacturing process or the materials were not up to par like the materials and like the manufacturing process that they use in Japan for the same exact same vehicles? There HAS to be a legitimate reason WHY this occurs. There is NO WAY that American built Toyotas are better or equal quality as the Toyotas that are 100% built in Japan. That's an big overstatement. American built Toyotas are not as well built and are not as good quality as the ones that are built 100% in Japan. There is something that is NOT done here with the American built Toyota vehicles that are done with the ones that are built 100% in Japan. What it is I don't know? I am hoping that someone can chime in on this issue. What is the difference between a 100% Japanese built Toyota and a 100% American built Toyota? If we can find this out then we will also find out WHY the American built Toyota vehicles lack the quality that the Japanese built ones have. Maybe someone in here knows the answer to this.

#121 of 146 Re: 2007 Camry--Leaking Struts [gtgtcobra] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Dec 20, 2009 (10:15 pm)

Replying to: gtgtcobra (Dec 20, 2009 7:10 pm)
Well anecdotal evidence is good for the person who experiences it, but it's not necessarily evidence that will work as "proof". After all, each of us is only a database of 1.
 
I agree, it's how the car is engineered that determines its success in the field. Fit and finish issues are easily addressed and it is the management, not the workers, that create or destroy quality control. I mean, you'd think German workers would be the best in the world, being well paid and well educated, but they don't make the most reliable cars, and the reason is because German management and German engineering doesn't have a handle on it yet.

#122 of 146 Re: 98 Toyota Camry Rear Suspension Rattle. [duck928] by zipper5

Jan 08, 2010 (7:00 pm)

Replying to: duck928 (Oct 27, 2009 9:12 pm)
Had the same problem. Toyota garage put new bushings in rear sway bars for $130 and noise was gone.

#123 of 146 2009 Camry Suspension Problems by pissoffcamown

Jul 06, 2010 (9:36 am)

I am having some problems with my 2009 Camry from the day I purchased it two years ago. I live in Canada, and I wanted to know if anyone is having the same problems.
 
1. My shocks are leaking... all four
2. When I go over a speed bump or pot hole I hear a clunking noise and a weird sound from the front.
3. My engine between 40 and 60 struggles to change gears.
4. At about 85, 95, and 110, I get this vibration from the frond end and sometimes the car jumps to the right or left when I hit a bump at high speeds. I have almost gotten into several accidents.
 
I am told my Toyota Canada and the dealership there is nothing wrong with my car. The leaking shocks are normal on Camrys. The vibration problem they have noticed also but tells me that it is the road conditions, but when I change speeds to 115 or 90 or 89 km the vibrations goes away on the same road. The engine problem they have stated that it is the overdrive that is kicking in, but I know overdrive does not kick in until after 75 km.
 
The first dealership where I purchased my car, after I complained several times and yelled at them the last time, they had their lawyers send me a letter that I am no longer welcomed at that dealership and must take my business elsewhere. This is how Toyota Canada and the dealerships treat customers.

#124 of 146 Re: 2009 Camry Suspension Problems [pissoffcamown] by kiawah

Jul 06, 2010 (10:11 pm)

Replying to: pissoffcamown (Jul 06, 2010 9:36 am)
Leaking shocks are not normal, and could be the cause of #2 and #4 problems, also causing alignment problems which lead to tire wear and balance problems. You indicate the problems existed 'from the day you purchased it'. If your shocks were leaking since day 1, the dealership would obviously had replaced them as clearly defective. You don't indicate your mileage, and we don't know your driving style or typical roads in your area.....to determine the "cause", or "when" the shocks started going bad. You also don't explain the logic and rationale that the dealership has given you why they won't cover the repair. So we really don't have a whole lot of info to evaluate your situation.
 
I have an 07 with almost 60K miles now, and the suspension is still very tight, tracks straight, and no leaks anywhere. But with any mechanical conglomerate of parts, I'm sure someone has had a defective shock. How you could end up with four would on the surface indicate that it is something that you have done....or....the shock manufacturer has a MAJOR problem that would effect more than you. The odds of you getting 'all four' defective shocks, is a low probability.
 
If you have a legitimate low mileage warranty concern, escalate up the Toyota chain. Otherwise, go put a new set of struts on the vehicle, have it aligned, have the tires rebalanced, and replace the tire if it can't be balanced or is out of round. Your vehicle is not going to get better sitting in your driveway.
 
If the strut breaks, you run the risk of a catastrophic accident as the wheel breaks out from under the car as you are driving down the road. You risk serious injury, to you or others. You knowing this risk of failed parts, failing to repair your vehicle and continuing to drive on it, would put you legally at risk as well.
 
Go repair your vehicle and move on with life.

#125 of 146 Re: 2009 Camry Suspension Problems [pissoffcamown] by pff3

Oct 15, 2010 (6:58 pm)

Replying to: pissoffcamown (Jul 06, 2010 9:36 am)
I have a 2009 Camry with 12k miles and I have the exact same issue that you mentioned in #2 above. At low speeds, especially when turning into driveways, I hear a loud clunking noise from the back end of the car.
 
I took it to the dealer and they "couldn't replicate" the problem and refused to investigate it further. I did a quick visual inspection and everything appears to be firmly attached, but I'm far from an expert in suspensions. I'm planning to bring it back in and take the Toyota technician for a ride so that I can replicate the problem for him.
 
Just wondering if anyone else is coming across this issue.

#126 of 146 Re: 2009 Camry Suspension Problems [kiawah] by skybucket

Dec 03, 2010 (10:24 pm)

Replying to: kiawah (Jul 06, 2010 10:11 pm)
Lot of 07-08 Camry's have defective struts. Toyota and the dealerships are stressing over that. They won't recall them. Far too many Camrys on the road, far too expensive. So, they blow people off, and wait until the struts get really bad (at around 60K miles), then offer to replace for about $1500. At 60K, the car has just ruined its 3rd set of tires (premature wear due to defective struts.) As you drive around town, look at the rear tires of 07 and later Camrys as they go down the street. It is easy to see, on 2 out of 3 Camrys, that the back tires are bouncing way more than they should. It is high frequency, low amplitude bouncing.
 
So, I have to agree with your advice. Repair your vehicle and move on with your life. And don't buy another Toyota, make sure they know you won't buy another Toyota, and make sure to do your part to ensure no one else buys a Toyota, i.e., word of mouth.

Messages Page 13 of 15

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