Wife Not Happy - Camry 04 Noisey Harsh Suspension

[Croc Dundee]

Hi Guys

I have just bought a 2004 v6 Camry with 45,000 klms - the front suspension is very hard riding - I am feeling and hearing every bump in the road.

It has steel wheels and is far harsher than my 1997 model (with alloys) that I just replaced it with even my 1991 was smoother on Sydney roads.

Has anyone had this experience? is it a common problem? any / all help greatly appreciate as my wife wants to sell it as she is not happy.

Cheers

Croc Dundee

Sydney Australia

[KamryKruizer]

tyres have you checked the pressures? too hard a pressure too hard a ride.

also tyre profile makes a huge difference as well, 45 & 50 series tyres are as hard as rock, i just went from stock 65 series to 45 series and the ride changed completely, handles better but rides heaps harder. its something i can live with but it dont sound like your missus can.

maybe someone with that model can help more

KK

Edited February 24, 2009 by KamryKruizer

[lateralus]

tyre pressures wouldnt make that much difference to the harshness of the ride, but check them anyway - 250 kpa on the front, 220kpa on the back.

i'd recommend taking it to a suspension specialist to get it checked out and determine if there actually is any problem.

if anything, the standard camry suspension is a bit bouncy

[Croc Dundee]

thanks guys - i'll try those - any gut feel on how much a front end suspension fix (shocks and springs) would cost installed .

[Whip Cracker]

Just wondering if you have a problem with the Bump Stops? Sounds a bit weird..

[SportyAsh]

i drive the same car but 4 cylinder , my car came with alloy's standard. i would check the suspension and tyre pressure as recommended. sounds like you have problems with your suspension then anything else

[ASG14]

The tires thenselves can make a big difference. My mom's all season tires are quiet, no noise, while my snow tires you can hear whining on the pavement.

[apg39]

Sell the wife.

Or alternatively, might be worth while looking at some replacement shocks if the above answers dont help.

[MR 988]

my car is camry 2003 sportivo, i got some noize at the back of suspension, but it does not happen all the time, it only can hear when i drive slowly with not good road.

and wt kind of noize u got? is it really loud? if sounds very loud, u might have to change your shocks, front shocks do not cost much, $450 included installation,but if u get them from Repco by yourself, and ask them to install for u, they only charge u for labour cost, it will be cheaper around $30. I just changed my four shocks, as they need to stay with the lower springs. But the noize is still there, i went many different suspension shops, they all could not find the problems. I recommend u to check your suspension first with suspension ppl, see wt they say, it might be too dry for shocks, just lubriacte them. Also for my opinion, Camry is a very good car, and very stable, i think u will not be regert if u keep it, and every car got a little problem after u drive for a while, so just check it first and save moeny

[Whip Cracker]

Is it more of a "clunk", or does it squeak??

Moreso, does it sound like the shocks are hitting the top of the strut tower?

[Croc Dundee]

Is it more of a "clunk", or does it squeak??

Moreso, does it sound like the shocks are hitting the top of the strut tower?

It jiggles around like mad, it feels as though the wheels and tyres themselves are very heavy / made out of lead. I also feel this in the steering being heavy.

I have tryed all tyre pressures from 38PSI to 26PSI with only slight improvement at lower pressure levels.

My last 2 cars had mag wheels and felt alot lighter in the steering and suspension also. The car is running std steel rims and dunlop sports 300 tyres.

[Croc Dundee]

The tires thenselves can make a big difference. My mom's all season tires are quiet, no noise, while my snow tires you can hear whining on the pavement.

I see your photo there do you find that your Burgundy early 90's model rides smoother than the blue 2003 model in the garage?

[ASG14]

The Burgundy was my old '92 I4 Camry, and the Blue one is my mom's '05 I4. My mom's '05 actually has a bumpy suspension like a boat, but steers easy. The '05 is actually MUCH MUCH quieter then any Camry up to 2001 I've been in.

For the steering, are you susre the power steeing is working correctly? Here in the US, there is a known issue with a seal in the power steering syatem leaking fluid on the 02-06 models. How bad are the roads where you are?

By any chance, do you have the Sportivo model? The Sportivo (I think like the USA SE (Sport) model) has a stiffer suspension and tighter steering.

[Whip Cracker]

Bloody Americans - think they know everything LOL

Would power steering cause the steering to shake so to speak?

[lateralus]

Bloody Americans - think they know everything LOL

Would power steering cause the steering to shake so to speak?

no, it would just make the steering feel much heavier. shaking would be caused by worn tie-rod ends, balljoints or wheel bearings.

[Whip Cracker]

Yeah... I wasn't expecting "shaking" from the power steering... I had an issue with my Power Steering pump once, was harder than usual to turn the wheel..