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This product review refers to the following suspension products as installed on a 1996 Camry LE 4 cyl.
Monroe 171958 Quick-Strut Complete Strut AssemblyMonroe 171957 Quick-Strut Complete Strut AssemblyMonroe 171979 Quick-Strut Complete Strut AssemblyMonroe 171980 Quick-Strut Complete Strut Assembly
Moog K90313 Rear Sway Bar End Link Kit
Moog K90253 15 mm Rear Sway Bar Frame Bushing
In another century and another life I was a professional mechanic, but with the last two decades' more complex automobiles, I keep it simple. The Monroe Quick-Strut assemblies are simple to install and come with adequate install directions, although for my own comfort, I bought a used Haynes repair manual. Unless you are willing to pay a lot more for something exotic, buy the individual parts to make-up an assembly and do a lot more work requiring more specialized tools, Monroe, an old and respected aftermarket auto parts supplier, gives you all the pieces properly assembled at a "bundled price" you can't beat. For an older high mileage cars like mine, springs, seats, bumpers, and strut bearings are worn and fatigued (especially springs) and need replacement. Replacing all four struts, the sway-bar bushing and links has restored my old Camry to its new-car ride.
You will need an assistant to help you lift the 25-pound assemblies into the fender wells and attach the top three nuts on the struts. Before installation, checking the top strut compression nut for proper torque is a good idea as suggested by another reviewer. Mine were fine out of the box. I used the old nuts, but think the new nuts supplied are probably ok. Torquing to specifications is mandatory and if done properly, locktite should not be necessary. I highly recommend the use of a click-type torque wrench over a beam variety and you will need one that torques above 200 ft lbs. My local O'Reilly Auto Parts loaned me this tool on my credit card and you may be able to find a parts store in your area that will do the same. Penetrating oil on the nuts and bolts, especially on the underside a day or so before you go to work is an excellent tip from another reviewer, particularly in climates where salt is used on the roads.
After installation you will need a four-wheel alignment. Today this is a completely computerized laser-beam operation, so with the Camry's simple adjustment set-up I took the low bid (about $72). Check for discount coupons. If your car has been in an accident, you may need someone (a real mechanic) who knows how to deal with an "out of specifications" situation.
Finally, if after all is said and done, you have a knocking sound from the back when you go over bumps, it's most likely the rear sway bar bushings and/or the sway-bar links. Disconnecting the sway-bar links and wire or tape them to the sway bar and drive the car. If the knocking sound is gone, then this is your problem. Replacement of bushing and links is four bolts, four nuts, and a small amount of vegetable oil (not petroleum grease) to lubricate the bushings.
Tools: 12 mm, 14 mm. 19 mm. 22 mm sockets, ratchet, ½ inch breaker bar, extensions, hammer, punch, 200 ft lb ½ inch drive click-type torque wrench.
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I installed two new quick struts in the rear of my camry, willing to pay the premium for the ease of instillation for having the entire strut preasembled for me. They went in fine, but when I took the car out for a test drive there was a terrible knocking from both sides. Not thinking for a second that it would be a problem with the struts, I removed the wheels again and checked to see if anything was tight.
After a lot of wasted time I finally found a couple posts for other cars that had similar problems that came from Monroe not properly tightening the top strut nut to anywhere close to 60ft/lbs. After fighting my way to gain acess to the top nut I found that it must have just been put on finger tight.
I would have given this product 4-5 stars if they had put it together right and not made a 1hour job take 5 hours. You pay essentially an extra $25-50 for them to compress the spring and tighten one bolt, which is apparently beyond them. Monroe should be embaressed with the quality of there assembly.
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no problem after 1 month of use i installed this strut by myself with only problem being removal of old strut bolts which i needed a air gun
Honest reviews on Monroe 171958 Quick-Strut Complete Strut Assembly
Bought these for a 95 Toyota Avalon and couldn't be happier with how simple the installation is. It is literally an 30 minute job needing the following tools:
21mm socket
19mm socket
14mm socket
12mm socket
10mm socket
Jack Stand
Jack
If you can do a simple brake job, you can install these struts too.
ps. you might want to change your brake pads while doing this job you will already have them out.
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This product does what I hoped it would, eliminate the annoying metal on metal clunking noise coming from the rear suspension non 1992-2002 Toyota Camrys. I have owned 5 of these cars and they have all had this problem. Lots of internet speculation from the rear sway bar bushings to rear control arms to rear strut mounts. I tried all of the above "fixes" but no help at all. The problem is the the strut is completely worn out and allows the coil spring to move around and make metal on metal contact with it mounting cradle. There is no way to fix other than replace the strut. This strut kit is a all in one remove and replace package that ensures all items are new and drastically reduces install time. If you have a impact wrench and hydraulic jack, you can accomplish this job on both wheels in less than 1 hour. Well worth the money!
