6G Celicas Forums

I considered that a few months ago and started looking into Suspension Technique sway bars. I liked the price but when I started reading member reviews, I decide they were more than I need. This is the girlfriend's Celica and it's being built 70% comfort, 30% performance. Based on what I could find, members were saying the sway bars took a bit hit on ride comfort so I decided to leave the factory sways.



Chris mentioned that as well. If I recall correctly he said it was either drop the subframe or the fuel tank. I've looked under the car but never really paid attention. I don't know how much work it is to drop either one. I can handle torching the old bushing out and pressing the new one in, but I suspect that dropping either the subframe or gas tank are more than I'm really willing/able to do at the moment. I still have a lot of research to do. I'll probably PM Dustin or Stef later and see if I can get an elaboration on what exactly Stef had to do at the shop to get the bushings in.

the one I am trying to get over, which is for many celicas, is why only on slow speeds like getting out of a parking lot or reversing, how would it make a knock when not much pressure is being placed on the suspension. I then assume when you are going faster and hitting good bumps it does not make a sound. i think thats my exact problem too. i am soon to be narrowing down the issue. as Ive replaced a lot of parts, i am even getting exhaust hangers to make sure its not moving around or wiggling and hitting something. I just cant put my finger around why only on slow when not much load or tilt on the car and not on fast speeds and bumps.

If the pop is due to the arm binding, there are two factors at work. One is that at speed you're less likely to notice a small noise/vibration. The other is that if the suspension is moving quickly it doesn't have time to bind -- the force is applied in such a small amount of time that at the point the arm starts to bind it's already moving past the point of releasing. Think of a squeaky door; ever notice the hinges are a lot louder when you close the door slowly than when you close it quickly?

makes sense, would the bind be more likely due to bind of macpherson strut design? or just worn out other sus?

The suspension arm would bind because the bushing in the suspension arm is worn. Thus the long dissertation on replacing the bushing.

i might have to get to this point one day, cus i kinda still hear some sounds on the rear right, im no rush so, whenever I get to it. But the right side's condition and feel looks exactly like the left side that does not have any sounds. IDK i'm gonna keep on driving till I can pinpoint it. I might just go to the junkyard and get the full arms off of a good conditioned celica that has good bushings on it rather than dealing with the bushings.

This post has been edited by trdproven: Jul 15, 2012 - 11:10 PM

Little update, I've got the bushings now, so I'm almost ready to order the last few bits and get started on this. Just to confirm from the diagram on the first page, I will need:

Four of the long bolts that go through the lateral arms (90901-09001, 90901‑19001)
Four nuts (90179-14019)
Washers (90201-14017, 90560-14022)

Anything else I'm not immediately seeing by glancing at the diagram?

It should be noted that my clunking has gotten slightly worse in the past couple of weeks. Not so much that it's clunking more at low speeds, but now the same sound can be heard at higher speeds, more from the left side when I'm going faster. The sound I hear the most sounds as though the nuts that hold the strut in at the top are loose and that it's the strut itself moving around, but I have checked, rechecked, triple checked, and checked them some more. The sound I'm getting is like three or four light knocks, independent of the one big thunk I get when going over bumps. Like the coilover has done its work and the impact is causing something else to knock. I'd get a video but regrettably, it's a noise you just have to be inside the car to hear.

This post has been edited by richee3: Jul 29, 2012 - 4:51 PM

Having a similar issue:

Low speed bumps causes a clunk. Going to check sway bar links as the culprit, but they were installed recently so I highly doubt that's it.


I can replicated the noise by pressing down on the rear on either side, but it sounds like it's coming from the rear left.

Is it only when you hit bumps unevenly? And no noise if both wheels hit at the same time?
If so, most likely endlinks or sway bar bushings.

I can press down the car anywhere to replicate the noise, as long as I press down on the rear. I'm gonna check the endlinks, see if that's it.

Syaoran, that sounds like sway bar bushings to me. I've seen quite a few posts where people heavy a mystery knock and the bushings look good, but the sound went away with new bushings.

I suppose I could update my particular problem. The sound has mostly disappeared from the right side of the car and now primarily comes from the left. I can't replicate it at all. It's still the same noise but it's getting louder. I'll probably be selling the TRD coilovers soon in lieu of something softer, and I'm tempted to put the stock suspension back in just to see if anything changes. The struts definitely are not blown, nothing seems to be wrong with the coils, but all signs are pointing to the coilovers themselves being the culprit. I just find it odd that when I hit a bump, I get the one big thunk that is to be expected then I get three or four light knocks.

I'll look into that, since they're easy to replace. I'm guessing any sway bar bushing as long as they're 16mm will work right? Or is that the wrong size?

Kinda odd that your issue might be coils... being TRD and all...

Did OP ever find the solution?

I am having almost the same problem. I haven't heard a *clunk* noise over bumps though. My problem lies when I brake. Clunk is coming from the rear passenger only. I hear the clunk almost when I am fully coming to a stop. I don't brake aggressively either. I don't carry anything in the trunk. I took out the jack just to cancel out things hitting the frame of the car. Spare tire is tight in place.

I haven't replaced any suspension part yet but I am replacing the rear sway bar end-links soon along with the sway bar bushings.

Check your caliper pins. When they dry out they tend to make a popping noise when braking. All you have to do is remove the pin boot and pop the pin out clean and grease it.

I did indeed. It was defunct coilovers. I agree with Travis, you might want go check those pins.

Thanks for the tip. I'm actually replacing all brake pads/rotors
soon, those pins will be on the list to.