Heineken

Ok. I'm pretty sure I have the serviceable struts, being a '92. The question is, do I "service" them and replace the strut cartridge or replace the entire assembly?

What would you do? The time has come. Thanks!

lig

I'd like to know more about this too. Had to prop up the hood today with a broomstick while changing the spark plugs.

Ghetto!

Heineken

Well, actually the hood struts are out too But I was referring to the struts/shocks that dampen the front suspension. Tokicos, Konis, etc..

What do people normally do on the 92-93.5's or whatever cars that have the serviceable struts?

I'm thinking just replace the thing with a nonservicable unit.

lig

Sorry! Misread your post. I had the shock insert replaced some time ago with Tokickos...

lig

Heineken

No prob.. so you replaced just the cartridge? Not the entire assembly?

Also, I checked at Autozone. They want $38 a strut for the hood lifters (for Camrys). That's close to Toyota price, if not the same. I will prolly go to Toyota for that item.

LarryParker

Hey, Beer Man,
I just had mine done today. 4 Tokikos. I guess it was just the cartridges, although I've never heard that term used before. As you look at the brake-strut assembly with the tires off the car, that black sleeve containing the old strut/shock (not sure which is correct) got removed, but only temporarily. The guys pulled out the old strut/shock from the sleeve, and inserted the new, blue, strut/shock in the black sleeve.

lig

I didn't replace the entire assembly - only the shock cartridges. Already replaced the springs with Eibachs for a slight drop.

Thanks for the tip on the hood lifters - it's fine when the car is level but my driveway points downwards into my garage and on a downslope they don't quite get the job done. Usually I just turn the car around though.. hehe

Heineken

ok it seems that everyone is doing just the cartridges so that's probably what i'll do. i noticed that when you do the entire assembly (the '95-96 part) they have different part numbers for front left and right.... and also for rear left and right.. as though the left side has special valving vs. the right side.

LarryParker

Yeah, I don't know why each corner has its own part number for later years. But I saw the boxes mine came in, and for our 1992 ES300's both fronts had the same part number. Both rears also had the same part number.

Brando

When you guys get your struts serviced do they have to compress the springs to change them out? I was just wondering if I could change them out myself without compressing the springs. Also, I jacked up my car the other day to change the rear brake pads and some red circular foamlike stuff fell out from the rear shock area. And now the car creaks from the rear when going over bumps. Would this be a shock bushing or something?