One piece of advice is taking the strut nut off. If you take an impact gun to it and hit it one quick turn or so, you'll break it loose without having to mar up or grab onto the shaft of the strut after you've compressed the spring. Makes it WAY easier and zero chance of destroying the strut shaft by marring it up with the teeth of whatever you are holding onto it with.
I see the logic but if your replacing the strut does it really matter if you mar the shaft? Your going to put in a new one. I could see if your replacing a broken spring on a newer strut then yeah.
I have a problem - when the wheels turn to the right or left, the upper screw rotates and sometimes the upper screw opens.I had the same problem more than once, the only screw in the head of the hydraulic jack is rotating..
How does the car ride with the new shocks but OEM springs? I did quick struts but didn't change the spring. I find that the rear feels wobbly but the front feels solid.
My Camry now drives with firm suspension, tight and controlled steering, no wandering on the road and drives like a dream. I, too, first installed quick struts on the Camry, and it was a complete disaster. The rear was immediately spongy and wobbly (that's why I kept my OEM springs), and the front struts soon did the same. The Camry wandered on the road, squeaked and the steering felt loose and sloppy. Quick struts are a waste of money and time, and I'd never use them again. The tensile strength of the springs was the issue. The tensile of the OEM springs is unmatched by the fake-news quick struts. I'd go with OEM springs and a good quality strut. You'll be happy you did. ;)
I have 1994 Camry SE and am replacing the front struts with KYB parts. I purchased KYB SM5173 which is the spring seat kit. But I don't see that on your installation or any other videos out there. My old struts have the SM5173 so just wondering why this isn't on most. Maybe the SE suspension is different?
KYB also has a complete strut package, which I assume is what you're calling a "quick strut" (strut, spring, top mount, etc.). KYB calls it a "Strut Plus." Any thoughts on those?
Hello, James. They're called "strut assemblies," and I don't like any of them. I took off strut assemblies from my car (you see in the video) because they were utter, complete garbage. When I put them on my car, they were bouncy, caused a clunking noise, caused my car to wander on the highway, steering was loose and so on. I have absolutely nothing good to say about strut assemblies--nothing. The apparent issue with the assemblies is that the tensile strength of the assemblies is weaker than OEM springs--hence, garbage. Save yourself a headache and use your OEM springs on some new struts. I like KYB for may car. FYI--with the KYB struts and OEM springs, my Camry drives like a dream now. ;)
@@frugaldiy1 I appreciate your opinion. It was the correct for you, but I took the "other road" and I think I made the right choice in my case. Today I replaced the front struts on a friend's 2004 Camry with 198,000 miles that he purchased new. It still had the original struts and they had failed in about every way possible (except that the springs had not broken yet). We both felt that KYB "strut plus" complete strut assemblies would be better than reusing his OE springs. The only reusable parts on his old struts were (maybe) the springs, and after 200,00 miles I figured they had probably lost some tension causing his front end to sag slightly. The old strut top mounts and bearing plates were extremely corroded and unusable, the dust boots were torn, and the bump stops were turning to dust. We decided it was just not feasible or economical to try to reuse his OE springs and I didn't feel safe compressing them. Your video was helpful and the installation went pretty easily except for those stubborn sway bar link nuts. I also had a problem with the OE bolts that fasten the brake lines to the struts. They were a tight fit and the threads got chewed up when removing them and I didn't want to reuse them. So we took a trip to the hardware store and purchased a better grade of a longer M8 bolt with a flange and decided to also employ a second nut against the strut's weld nut for a "jam nut" effect. After installing the new struts and allowing the car to settle with some road testing, the Camry's front end had risen one inch. That reinforced my feeling that we had made the right decision in not reusing the OE springs. The owner says it drives like it is new again, there are no more strange noises, and he feels much safer. I compared the overall strut dimensions and the diameters of the OE and the KYB springs and they are identical. The KYB strut assemblies come with a lifetime guarantee.
@@ddk80I should also add that the owner also wanted his rear struts replaced as there was some noise, so we did those next, using KYB Strut Plus replacements. This returned the Camry to "like new" ride height and handling with no more wallowing and weird noises. It's been about a year and he reports no problems with the KYB units.
I'm trying to get OEM struts and springs from now on cause these aftermarket quick struts are a pile of junk. Every last one of them I tried, even Monroe was a pile of junk like clunking and riding rough. I have the oready struts and man these are junk. Last time I'll ever use quick struts unless it's a junk car that I will get rid of.
Amen, Kevin! I agree with you completely. I, too, installed the quick struts on my Camry, and they were junk and caused more problems than I had before. I kept my OEM springs and reinstalled them with KYB struts. Now, my car rides smooth, no wandering and no clunking.
@@frugaldiy1And every last one of the quick struts and like 1 hundred and something miles and they are already junk. And some of them were junk as soon as I put them on. I had struts from 1Aaauto and I didn't even drive them much like a mile or 2 and already junk. And Monroe they where clunking and all the first day I got them. After all them quick struts, I finally gave up on them. And I did get a 2nd set of struts from the ones listed above under warranty but they were a pile of junk too. And the oready struts I have now, same thing. So I'm getting OEM parts. But thanks for the video.
Great very professionally taught step by step
thank you for this vid. I was having issues with compressing the spring and your vid was key in resolving..you just got a new fan!!11
Best video on complete strut rebuild. Amazing explanation. I'd hire you I a second...
Great video, thanks for putting it together. May take me longer by myself but this video helps a ton.
I have one of these cars, I have a 2nd gen one too. Your videos are great. I used to have a 79 corona (20R engine) too.
Thank you, Carina. The early-year Camrys are stalwarts. I've had a 1st, 2nd and 3rd gen and love the all. I'm glad you enjoy my videos too. :)
One piece of advice is taking the strut nut off. If you take an impact gun to it and hit it one quick turn or so, you'll break it loose without having to mar up or grab onto the shaft of the strut after you've compressed the spring. Makes it WAY easier and zero chance of destroying the strut shaft by marring it up with the teeth of whatever you are holding onto it with.
I see the logic but if your replacing the strut does it really matter if you mar the shaft? Your going to put in a new one. I could see if your replacing a broken spring on a newer strut then yeah.
Great explanation, thank you
Thank you, and you're certainly welcome! ;)
I have a problem - when the wheels turn to the right or left, the upper screw rotates and sometimes the upper screw opens.I had the same problem more than once, the only screw in the head of the hydraulic jack is rotating..
One the best video and Great explanation, thank you !
How does the car ride with the new shocks but OEM springs? I did quick struts but didn't change the spring. I find that the rear feels wobbly but the front feels solid.
My Camry now drives with firm suspension, tight and controlled steering, no wandering on the road and drives like a dream. I, too, first installed quick struts on the Camry, and it was a complete disaster. The rear was immediately spongy and wobbly (that's why I kept my OEM springs), and the front struts soon did the same. The Camry wandered on the road, squeaked and the steering felt loose and sloppy. Quick struts are a waste of money and time, and I'd never use them again. The tensile strength of the springs was the issue. The tensile of the OEM springs is unmatched by the fake-news quick struts. I'd go with OEM springs and a good quality strut. You'll be happy you did. ;)
Thanks for the video. Really helped on my similar project.
I have 1994 Camry SE and am replacing the front struts with KYB parts. I purchased KYB SM5173 which is the spring seat kit. But I don't see that on your installation or any other videos out there. My old struts have the SM5173 so just wondering why this isn't on most. Maybe the SE suspension is different?
KYB also has a complete strut package, which I assume is what you're calling a "quick strut" (strut, spring, top mount, etc.). KYB calls it a "Strut Plus." Any thoughts on those?
Hello, James. They're called "strut assemblies," and I don't like any of them. I took off strut assemblies from my car (you see in the video) because they were utter, complete garbage. When I put them on my car, they were bouncy, caused a clunking noise, caused my car to wander on the highway, steering was loose and so on. I have absolutely nothing good to say about strut assemblies--nothing. The apparent issue with the assemblies is that the tensile strength of the assemblies is weaker than OEM springs--hence, garbage. Save yourself a headache and use your OEM springs on some new struts. I like KYB for may car. FYI--with the KYB struts and OEM springs, my Camry drives like a dream now. ;)
@@frugaldiy1 I appreciate your opinion. It was the correct for you, but I took the "other road" and I think I made the right choice in my case. Today I replaced the front struts on a friend's 2004 Camry with 198,000 miles that he purchased new. It still had the original struts and they had failed in about every way possible (except that the springs had not broken yet). We both felt that KYB "strut plus" complete strut assemblies would be better than reusing his OE springs. The only reusable parts on his old struts were (maybe) the springs, and after 200,00 miles I figured they had probably lost some tension causing his front end to sag slightly. The old strut top mounts and bearing plates were extremely corroded and unusable, the dust boots were torn, and the bump stops were turning to dust. We decided it was just not feasible or economical to try to reuse his OE springs and I didn't feel safe compressing them. Your video was helpful and the installation went pretty easily except for those stubborn sway bar link nuts. I also had a problem with the OE bolts that fasten the brake lines to the struts. They were a tight fit and the threads got chewed up when removing them and I didn't want to reuse them. So we took a trip to the hardware store and purchased a better grade of a longer M8 bolt with a flange and decided to also employ a second nut against the strut's weld nut for a "jam nut" effect. After installing the new struts and allowing the car to settle with some road testing, the Camry's front end had risen one inch. That reinforced my feeling that we had made the right decision in not reusing the OE springs. The owner says it drives like it is new again, there are no more strange noises, and he feels much safer. I compared the overall strut dimensions and the diameters of the OE and the KYB springs and they are identical. The KYB strut assemblies come with a lifetime guarantee.
@@jamesmcallister3004Can you provide an update on how the KYB Strut Plus are holding up?
@@ddk80They are holding up perfectly. The Camry is a daily driver and the owner (my friend) is 100% satisfied. He says it rides like a new Camry.
@@ddk80I should also add that the owner also wanted his rear struts replaced as there was some noise, so we did those next, using KYB Strut Plus replacements. This returned the Camry to "like new" ride height and handling with no more wallowing and weird noises. It's been about a year and he reports no problems with the KYB units.
@3:53 I saw you marked the spring but I didn't understand how you use it later? May you please clarify?
As reference of the correct orientation of the strut.
@@frugaldiy1 do you mean up and down?
Great video, thank you
Were you able to get a refund for those quick struts? I am going through the same situation. Thanks!
How are those strut mounts holding? I replaced the struts only. Now i feel like a clunk or binding so now I have to replace the strut mounts
Mine are holding up wonderfully. My Camry drives like a dream now.
@@frugaldiy1 how many miles on the camry if I may ask
At first I was wondering why change such a clean strut....Then Monroe.
Yep! ;)
I'm trying to get OEM struts and springs from now on cause these aftermarket quick struts are a pile of junk. Every last one of them I tried, even Monroe was a pile of junk like clunking and riding rough. I have the oready struts and man these are junk. Last time I'll ever use quick struts unless it's a junk car that I will get rid of.
Amen, Kevin! I agree with you completely. I, too, installed the quick struts on my Camry, and they were junk and caused more problems than I had before. I kept my OEM springs and reinstalled them with KYB struts. Now, my car rides smooth, no wandering and no clunking.
@@frugaldiy1And every last one of the quick struts and like 1 hundred and something miles and they are already junk. And some of them were junk as soon as I put them on. I had struts from 1Aaauto and I didn't even drive them much like a mile or 2 and already junk. And Monroe they where clunking and all the first day I got them. After all them quick struts, I finally gave up on them. And I did get a 2nd set of struts from the ones listed above under warranty but they were a pile of junk too. And the oready struts I have now, same thing. So I'm getting OEM parts. But thanks for the video.
I agree with you, Kevin. I'd never us those pre-assemble struts again--complete garbage!
I agree with this lady. Either go ALL OEM or use OEM springs and after market parts. I have done both ways but I have ALWYAS used OEM springs.
@@jjthefed Great minds think alike, jjthefed. ;)
Are you the girl from 1A Auto?
Sounds like her
Definitely not
exelent