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Which Struts Did You Replace First, Front or Rear?
*See POLL Above!*
Front?
Rear?
Still on Originals?
Don't know/remember?
Replaced all at the same time?
Also: mention if you Tow, or your is loaded with crap because you're a hoarder. Or if you drive alone, or always cart around your entire family of 5 everywhere you go.
Reason I ask is because I think my Rears are going (75K miles) but I thought my Fronts would go first. I don't tow, and I'm usually the only "Load" in the car, plus maybe a 75lb electric scooter.
Last edited by spinellib; Feb 21, 2025 at 10:09 AM.
Front?
Rear?
Still on Originals?
Don't know/remember?
Replaced all at the same time?
Also: mention if you Tow, or your is loaded with crap because you're a hoarder. Or if you drive alone, or always cart around your entire family of 5 everywhere you go.
Reason I ask is because I think my Rears are going (75K miles) but I thought my Fronts would go first. I don't tow, and I'm usually the only "Load" in the car, plus maybe a 75lb electric scooter.
I did exactly what you shouldn't, I did one rear one front will do the other two shortly. RX330 170k miles those two were most leaking. All said the car is very front heavy biased so they're likely to go out first.
I did all four of mine at once on my RX. I've done pairs before on friend's cars and it always doesn't feel right having one side feel fresh, really highlights how worn the other axle is. I'm always extremely picky about my cars, especially suspension. This RX has never towed, and I'm usually the only person in the car. However, I do a lot of parts runs or dump runs with this car, sometimes in excess of 1000 lbs. Having new suspension and Eibach springs on there, it is remarkable how little it sags and how it doesn't bottom out despite that weight.
However, I do a lot of parts runs or dump runs with this car, sometimes in excess of 1000 lbs.
1/2 Ton?!?! That's like classic F-150 payload.
Originally Posted by Leeper
I did exactly what you shouldn't, I did one rear one front will do the other two shortly. RX330 170k miles those two were most leaking. All said the car is very front heavy biased so they're likely to go out first.
For our cars, they're so old, it doesn't matter, Just fix what needs it the most & Go.
(I wish I could do that -- I'll admit I'm too fussy and obsessive.)
I still can't believe how well it handles all that weight. I take it easy to not unsettle what's inside, but the car itself felt fine apart from the transmission wanting to shift a little later to save it from the load. You'd think with how stiff those springs are, it would ride rough when empty, but not really! It feels firm like you'd expect out of a BMW or so, but not overly harsh at all. It still rides better than our '14 RX which would have been sagging like crazy!
I replaced the front struts w/ KYB's (using the oem springs) as a front one was seeping & I figured it'd help w/ a little w/ anti brake diving. I surprised that Toyota didn't include a electronic brake force distrubution. Looking at the little link on the right rear control arm & finding its for the afs height adjustment depending on the load of the vehicle. Adding a gen2 Highlander brake package did help somewhat w/ anti dive, thanx to the bigger diameter rear rotors. I could add a Baer brake adjustable brake proportioning block as I've done on a couple of Mustangs & a Camaro yrs ago, but I didn't want to mess w/ Toyota anti lock as this brake system is totally diffeerent then what I'm use to.
The ABS module / ECU controls the brake distribution on these (EBD). I always wonder what people who track their Toyotas do or if they just leave it alone.
The ABS module / ECU controls the brake distribution on these (EBD). I always wonder what people who track their Toyotas do or if they just leave it alone.
The system sure doesn't do anything 'bout brake dive thou.....
Probably sends more power up front than anything to be more conservative, I can see Toyota pulling that off on their cars. The brake dive on mine is really good though, not much dive under braking and not a lot of squat when flooring it either. It's a lot better than any stock Camry/ES350 I've tried. The Eibach springs had a lot to do with that, but I'm sure some shocks with some proper anti-dive built in would work a treat (or swapping to coilovers which is on the list).
I did all four links and the front and rear sway bar bushings too. I swapped the rear mounts and kept the stock front mounts and put in new OEM bearings into them.
The aftermarket front TRW mounts I got were so crap that the studs snapped when I went to go torque them. For some reason no one can make a good aftermarket front strut mount for these cars.
I replace the rear end links when I did the rear brakes last yr, Just need to do the front ones next....I've also hauled 18 boxes of Luxury vinyl flooring, when I did the kitchen/dining room, which lowered it, just needed the front the same height......LOL
I ended up changing all 4 corners (long story) and went with fcs quick struts all around. I've also changed all 4 corner, sway bar links as well (mevotec supreme). So far so good. I may have to change one of the front, strut mount top plates. Other than that it rides okay...much stiffer then stock. The rest of suspension is stock.
Which Struts Did You Replace First, Front or Rear?
