gumbytech

Need help.

I have read the forums and have found that the strut brace/bar pictured here will work for my ES300 (97 V6). I ordered a TRD brace from a 99 Solara and it did not fit (hood interference). Can anyone identify the strut brace pictured and give me info on how/where to purchase. Toyotaparts4u.com is telling me that the 3piece TRD brace (aftermarket ) is the only brace available and that an OEM single piece brace (as pictured) doesn't exist. I have emailed the picture to them to see what they think. Any help here is appreciated. TIA. Dan

Kohinoor

iTrader: (22)

the oem brace is from the solara.. i dont have the part #, but you can buy it from any toyota dealership

wanna sell me your trd strut brace?

gumbytech

Thanks for the Solara OEM confirmation!! I just got back from my mechanic and he agrees.

I got the strut brace from toyotaparts4u.com for $94 and no shipping (since they had initially shipped me a front sway bar instead of the strut bar). They are going to pay for shipping and give me a full refund to send both back to them.

I talked with my mechanic today, who has Toyota and TRD experience and he confirmed that the TRD brace for the solara would interfere with the hood (as it did) and that the brace in the picture in my first post was the OEM solara brace and he thought it would fit. As this forum has indicated it will fit without hood modification.

So hopefully I can get toyotaparts4u to figure out the solara OEM brace part number or I'll have to shop for it somewhere else.

Thanks,
Dan

MCV20

eheh.. that is my car / engine bay

let me confirm with you, yes that is a toyota solara stock strut bar.

gumbytech

great, I didn't recall where I found the working example. Thanks, MCV20.

Any chance you can find the part number for that brace? Will be interesting to see what I hear back from Toyotaparts4u tomorrow.

3rdelement

iTrader: (1)

thats a really good looking bar. any idea if that one would run on the 96es with no problem? or if there is a different part number?

bumfighter

THIS MIGHT BE A STUPID QUESTION BUT I HAVE TO ASK IT CAUSE I HONESTLY DONT KNOW ............................HOW DOES A CAR BENIFIT FROM INSTALLING A STRUT TOWER BRACE ....IM ASSUMING IT GIVES SOME SORT OF STABILITY .....BUT CAN YOU ACTUALLY FEEL IT WHEN YOU INSTALL IT .............DOES IT MAKE THE RIDE FEEL BETTER ?

lexusk8

The stock Solara strut bar only fits in the MCV20 chassis. The '96 ES has an MCV10 chassis. Therefore, it won't work

You can run a search in this forum and look for other '92-'96 ES with strut bar modifications done.

ssultan

It definitely has advantages. I've noticed a difference in my handling already...it's not a HUGE difference but I definitely feel it when taking turns, around bends. Also, I'm noticing that an increasing number of newer cars come with the strut bar already installed. Why else would the manufacturers spend the extra bucks if it didn't have handling pay offs....

Kohinoor

iTrader: (22)

it stiffens up the chassis a bit

MCV20

yes you will feel the difference on the handling. The steering will more repsonsive..

bumfighter

What Year Solara .................if I Decided To Buy One Dont Ya Need A Year And Model Number

sur4dude

Anyone know the solara year?
Also does anyone know if it'll fit a 99 ES.

gumbytech

I think the 99-01 Solara fits the 97 ES300.

I still have not found out the stock Solara part number. The strut brace that was shipped to me was the TRD version for the Solara and it is too tall. I attempted it to be sure and it interfered with the hood when closing.

The OEM Solara brace is what we need and is pictured in my first post. But toyotaparts4u.com did not answer several emails that I sent to them (with the picture) asking for help. They did credit me for the incorrect TRD brace however.

If anyone knows the Solara OEM strut brace part number please post it.

Dan

MCV20

why not go to the dealer near you, they should have knw it...at least they can show you the parts no.

btw the stock brace cost about $160 CAD