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97 ES strut bar

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Old 07-20-09, 01:25 PM
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tmf2004
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Default 97 ES strut bar

I've searched and searched and could not find a definite answer on the right bar to get. Another member had to cut his hood for the TRD which I'm not doing..

So, with that being said will the Solara 97-01 bar fit? I found a after market one on ebay for dirt cheap.. Just wanted to add a little something..

Thanks in advanced..

I know Hyperboy has one and i'm sure a few others..
Old 07-20-09, 04:49 PM
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kaldES98
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I thought that ebay one only fits 4 cylinder camrys? The 97-01 will fit but you have to bend it a little for a hood clearance
Old 07-20-09, 11:56 PM
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tmf2004
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Originally Posted by kaldES98
I thought that ebay one only fits 4 cylinder camrys? The 97-01 will fit but you have to bend it a little for a hood clearance
Thanks.. I may try it.. its only like 10 bucks plus shipping..
Old 07-21-09, 01:37 AM
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Jewel707
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Originally Posted by tmf2004
Thanks.. I may try it.. its only like 10 bucks plus shipping..
I may look for one. I wonder how much improvement you will get, let me know.
Old 07-27-09, 02:30 PM
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jasn
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post a pic when u put it on.
Old 07-30-09, 07:00 AM
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BoostedE21
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Originally Posted by Jewel707
I may look for one. I wonder how much improvement you will get, let me know.
I would expect little to none. The first barrier you'd have to cross is better (preferably polyurethane) bushings, better shocks, and springs that aren't oversprung and under damped - or in the case of the stock ones, overdamped and undersprung. Then, wider than stock wheels/tires (185's are way too thin for a car this big). After all of that, you could expect to actually get some legitimate results from a strut bar. Before that, you've just got too much suspension wobble and travel to do much good.
Old 07-30-09, 07:29 AM
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Slooooooow
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Originally Posted by BoostedE21
I would expect little to none. The first barrier you'd have to cross is better (preferably polyurethane) bushings, better shocks, and springs that aren't oversprung and under damped - or in the case of the stock ones, overdamped and undersprung. Then, wider than stock wheels/tires (185's are way too thin for a car this big). After all of that, you could expect to actually get some legitimate results from a strut bar. Before that, you've just got too much suspension wobble and travel to do much good.
^^^^^ This!
Add to that, a simple steel (or similar) bar hanging betwixt the upper strut mounts doth not a strut brace make. The construction of the bar needs to be in such a way that you can introduce tension, or bracing between the struts. A majority of the time that means it needs to be constructed ...."solidly" is a pretty good adjective but maybe not emphatic enough. It's also a good idea for it to be adjustable, to help introduce the tension/bracing, since all cars of the same make/model are not exactly alike, dependent on age, wear, tear, manufacturing tolerances, etc.

In other words, when you get this thing in the mail, if you're able to simply remove 3 nuts on each side, drop it in and tighten the nuts back down, there's a strong probability you've done nothing but introduce extra weight to your car.

I could go on...but the above post gave you a GREAT place to start if you haven't already.
Old 07-31-09, 09:37 AM
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Maxx941
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I had the solara strut bar awhile back, very little improvement if any, and it did bulge my hood abit, just a little to tall in my case, but I heard others had sucess without this problem. I didn't try to bend it at all
Old 07-31-09, 09:53 AM
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BoostedE21
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Originally Posted by Maxx941
I had the solara strut bar awhile back, very little improvement if any, and it did bulge my hood abit, just a little to tall in my case, but I heard others had sucess without this problem. I didn't try to bend it at all
Trouble is, if you bend it, or cut it and re-weld it, you've compromised the strength of the material, and you'll see even less results than before.
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