Hello. I have posted this on Toyota forum similar to this, but with little help. Can anyone here rate the ride quality of their 92-96 ES300 or Camry? I guess since the Camry and ES300 are built on the same platform, that the suspensions are very similar. I have a 93 Camry LE 4dr, with the 3.0L V6, that the ES300 is equipped with. I have only had the car about a couple of weeks, and noticed that the car has a much firmer ride than my 91 Honda Accord LX, as well as my other 80s Camrys I had a few years ago. The ride quality is poor and the car picks up almost every small bump in the road. I am guessing that the struts are shot, or someone put on some aftemarket, heavy duty struts. The rear will press down quite a bit, but the front is almost impossible to press down. My dad was able to press down on the front and get it do bounce, but it still the struts still seem to firm to me. I wanted factory struts, but they are $130.00 each. I have heard that Monroe sensa-tracs offer about the smoothest, factory type ride of any aftermarket strut. Has anyone installed sensa-tracs on their cars? My car also looks like it sets slightly lower than other Camry's, but it looks like it has low profile tires on it, which may be why it looks like it sets lower. Is it possible that the struts have failed, which is why it rides harshly? Someone said that when a strut fails, it does not always "fail soft", but just the opposite. Any suggestions as to where I could get a good price on factory Toyota struts? The tires are also wide looking- could they be causing the ride quality to be bad? Thanks for any information.

 

Here is a photo of my 93 Camry LE V6 sedan. I am not 100% sure, but does it look like the car may have been lowered any at all? I think it is my front struts and/or tires causing the poor ride quality. Rear struts seem to be normal. Thanks.

 

Front

 

Left rear.

 

Rear spring/strut

 

Front spring/strut:

 

Nope, your car is NOT lowered at all. For the front, it looks like a 4-finger gap, and the rear, may be 3. However, the rear struts look like they are not providing the support; do you have any stereo equipment in the trunk?

For example, here are some pre- and post-lowered results.

Front, OEM:


Front, lowered:


Rear, OEM:


Rear, lowered:

 

Thanks. No, there is nothing in the trunk except the spare tire. It still has the original radio and speakers. The car is setting with the rear a little down hill in that photo, so some of the weight is shifted to the back. From the looks of it- it looks like all of the springs and struts are original.

 

Someone on the Toyota forums said they bought a 94 Camry LE that the owner had put Monroe sensa-tracs on. They said it was harsh, so had them replaced with Toyota struts and the car rides great now. I am guessing mine has been replaced with a aftermarket performance strut, since it has 211K and I am sure they have been replaced. I am planning on getting new Toyota struts installed. I will report the ride quality when the new struts are installed.