Toyota - Camry :: Replacing Lower Control Arms?

I have been told by a couple of mechanics that the bushings on the lower control arms on my 95 Camry are worn. They recommend replacement of the lower control arms and ball joints.Is this a repair I can do myself? I have reasonable mechanical competency. I figure that I will have to rent a tool at the auto parts store for the ball joint, remove a few nuts and bolts, and bring the car in for an alignment once I get the parts installed.Now my wife is adamantly against me doing this myself. She thinks that I am going to mess this up, the parts will fail at high speeds, and I will die in a fiery crash. She apparently has more confidence in the repair shop grease monkey than her engineer husband. So is she right? Is this a repair which is best left to the shop?

View 7 Replies

Camry :: Vibration While Braking At Highway Speed - Replace Control Arms Or Rotors?

I have an 03 Camry LE I4 with about just under 100k miles. Recently, under semi hard braking at highway speeds, the steering wheel will shake quite a bit to the point that I don't feel safe braking hard. I initially thought the brake rotors were warped, but those were replaced less than 2 years ago somewhere around 80k miles. I've taken it to many shops and here are the verdicts they've given me:

1. Rear drums are warped which is the problem (I don't think so...)
2. Control arm bushings need replacement (coming from shop who did brake work before)
3. Ball joints need to be replaced
4. All rotors should be resurfaced

What should I do?

View 9 Replies

Camry :: 2002 Solara V6 / Check Engine Light Affecting Tracking Control?

I own a 2002 Solara V6 with over 300,000mi. The check engine light is on and affecting the tracking control. The dealer cannot find the cause without replacing many parts costing lots of money.

View 2 Replies

Toyota - Solara :: 2005 - Replacing Struts Cause Brake Failure

I just replaced my Toyota Camry Solara 2005 Front Struts on Thursday to pass State Inspection. On Friday we had a mild snow storm(2 inches) and when taking a turn, the brake didn't work properly and the tires slipped and my car went over the curb and hit a pole. I was going at about 30 mph. My tires are a little old but since they passed the inspection on Thursday I'm guessing that they weren't that bad. My question is did replacing the struts have anything to do with this or was this just my distracted driving...

View 6 Replies

Golf IV R32 :: Adjustable Control Arms Are Squeaky / Creaky

I have Bluewater adjustable control arms, they have been on the car for about 22 months, and for the last few weeks they have been squeaking and creaking like a bastard, over any imperfection in the road.

We had the car up on the lift, and twisted the control arms, and it's definitely coming from there. I'm not the best mechanic in the world, pretty far from it, so is there a way to remedy this without replacing them? It sounds like I'm fornicating in a 1986 Caprice every time I hit a bump.

View 18 Replies

Ford F-150 - 1997-2003 :: Lower Control Arms Replacement?

Replacing lower control arms? I've read a couple places that you don't need a spring compressor. Anything else to look out for? 2000 F150 4.6L 2WD 288,000 miles....

View 3 Replies

Lexus LS 2007+ :: 2008 LS460 - New Control Arms / Bearings Are Wearing Out

Dealer told me needed new control arms as the bearings are wearing out. Was quoted a little over $3k. Doesn't really bother me bc it only makes a clicking noise when I apply brakes hard but concerned about safety issue. Surprised a car like this would need new control arms with only 70k miles on it.

View 14 Replies

Passat (B5) :: 1999 - Lower Control Arms Breaking At Ball Joint?

My daughter has a 1999 Passat 4cyl.... In the last year I've had 2 lower control arms at the front ball joints just break away. Lucky it has been when she was either stopping or at very slow speed.

On inspection this looks like a very unsafe design flaw. The aluminum control arm is strong except for the light metal around the ball joint it's self. If one of these let go at speed it could be fatal!!

What causes the break other than normal wear and is there any signs before one lets go?

View 3 Replies

Pontiac - Grandam :: 1996 - Struts And Control Arms Bolts Size

I need to replace both the struts and the control arm but I don't have a socket to fit, what is the correct size socket I need ....

View 9 Replies

Ford F-150 - 1997-2003 :: Ball Joint Replacement / Control Arms Are Not Correct

I'm halfway through replacing the ball joints on my '03 F-150 4WD. When I pressed the new lower ball joint in, it's snap ring groove is ~1/8" above the top of the lower control arm surface. These are Moog 8695T joints. I've taken them in and compared with another new joint at the parts store and they seem to be correct. This implies that the control arms are not correct- they're too thin where the joint presses in. The old joints sat the way they should, with the snap ring flat against the arm. The old joints are definitely different than the 8695T's- they are shorter from the shoulder of the joint to the snap ring groove. I'm guessing that now I'll have to replace the lower control arms, as well.

View 11 Replies

Passat (B6) :: Changing Lower Control Arms / Driver Side Bolt Is Hitting Transmission Oil Pan

I changed the Passenger side with no problem , the driver side bolt is hitting the transmission oil pan. I am thinking of loosening the mounts and try to jack the pan up to get that 1 clearance or worst case drain the transmission take the pan off remove the bolt and put in fluid in. If I drop the the transmission pan is there a filter in there? also how much transmission fluid does it hold.

[IMG] ....

View 2 Replies

Toyota - Sienna :: 2006 - Struts Of Wrong Size Causing Damage To Lower Control Arms?

Had after market front struts installed by a non-dealer shop on 2006 Toyota Sienna. Dealer service dept diagnosed two months later that the struts were one inch too long and caused damage to the lower control arms. A director for training for the other shop (one of 80 + shops) completely discredits the dealer shop's theory about the relationship between the size of the struts and the damage to the control arms, while admitting the error with the struts. Both sounded credible as I have very limited mechanical background.

View 19 Replies

Golf IV R32 :: Upgrade Stock Suspension / Adding Adjustable Rear Control Arms To Eliminate Tire Wear

So my strut mounts are shot and I wanted to add adjustable rear control arms to eliminate tire wear. So thinking of going with Bilstein HD's with the stock springs. Oh and BTW want to keep stock ride height since it is my daily. The only option I would consider for springs would be the euro version of the stock springs.

View 4 Replies

Camry :: 2004 Solara - Both Airbag Lights Are On

I have a 2004 Solara and both airbag lights are on. The red dash light and the passenger sensor says off. It is giving codes B1785 and B1650 which I am told are air bag module codes.

View 3 Replies

Camry :: 2002 Solara - Oil Smell When Heater Is In Use

About a year ago after I got my oil changed I assumed they spilled oil when filling it at the shop. I actually had smoke coming through my vents at first. The smell has been there intermittently ever since but only when the heater is in use, not when AC is used. What could have been the cause? What should I check? Is there a cabin air filter that should be changed?

View 6 Replies

Camry :: 2007 - Solara Wheel Size

I have a 2007 Toyota Solara SLE Convertible. Three of my wheels are bent due to hitting various potholes over the past year as well as hitting a curb. I want to replace these wheels with other wheels of the exact same size so that I can use the tires that I already have (since I just bought them) and so that they do not rub on any other part of the wheel well or hub. I have concluded that the size is 17" x 7", that they 5 lug nuts at 114.5 mm. However, I cannot determine how to measure the offset. I have read multiple threads about which offset they are (some say 45 and others say 50). I just need a definitive answer so that I can replace them seamlessly. Its a BUMPY ride right now.

View 2 Replies

Camry :: 05 Solara - Cannot Fill Up Tank Without Stopping

As title says, I cannot fill up tank without pump cutting off every few seconds.

View 2 Replies

Camry :: 2005 Solara Engine Light Has Been On And Off

Since I've owned the car, which i got in December of 2013, the engine light has been on and off. The previous owner, who drove it off the lot in 2004, was a family member who took it to a mechanic multiple times. Multiple mechanics said it was the gas cap. I replaced the gas cap back in February 2014. The engine light still comes on and occasionally goes off.

Here's some information I've gathered driving the car since then

Straight highway mileage tops out at 28 MPG. Only city/town driving yields about 19/20 mpg, so the gas mileage is okay

Last weekend, I drove around on maine roads for the whole weekend, spending about 90% of the driving time doing 50+ on roads. The engine light successfully went off and stayed off for the longest period of time since i've owned the car.

The rust situation on the car is extremely minor, except for some rusted fittings. Frame rust and general surface rust is non existant except on certain pieces that can be replaced (struts, tie rods, ect) However, there is one piece that looks shitty, which is the spacer between the exhaust header out of the engine and the engine block.

The code the car puts out is either a catalytic system failure or catalytic system operating below threshold. There is a new catalytic converter in the last 3 years, so I highly doubt that's at fault (not to mention the engine light manages to stay off for the yearly inspection and it passes emissions no problem).

View 6 Replies

Camry :: 2006 Solara 3.3L Cranks But Won't Start

I have a 2006 solara 3.3L. I bought this car about 4 months ago and it was running fine. Couple weeks ago I try to start the car and it would crank but won't start. I checked the fuel rails it was getting but somehow not starting... What can be the problem?

View 1 Replies