Toyota Repair: suspension, smooth highways, kyb gr

Question
I have a 2000 Avalon with 65000 miles on it.  I just bought it recently.  I cant believe how hard it hits bumps in the road.  Like the seams in the road, it hits them really hard and makes a "thunk" noise.  It rides very smoothly on smooth highways or roads.  The road i live on has alot of seams and bumps and man the pounding is annoying.  Any ideas.  I just replaced the tires and they have 32lbs. of pressure.  Any other ideas.  I have had it into a reputable Toyota mechanic for brakes and they checked the whole car over for me and didnt say anything was amiss.  Maybe this is the way this car is supposed to ride like.  Im used to a cadillac deville and it floats.  Thanks in advance.  Alan

Answer
Not really. The Camry patlform is basically how a Cadillac should really ride. If they weren't built with piece of SH*T parts, with SH*T build quality, with shock/strut units so weak they can't control the soft springs that bounce because they rebound so much.
Whew run-on sentance!


The clunking is most likekly sway bar bushings & end links if it's coming from the rear of the car.


While it's alittle early, you really only get 10 years out of a suspension regardless of how you drive it, or who makes it. Goes for any vehicle. By that time, struts/shocks are blown & leaking. Springs are starting to weaken, and all mounts, bushings & links use some form of rubber for isolation. The rubber wears out.



Is the stock suspension even in the car to begin with? Sometimes it can be hard to tell. I would probably replace the springs & struts with good aftermarket parts (Check www.toyotanation.com for what Camry platform owners go for for aftermarket suspension parts) You can normally find weak drop springs that'll ride softly, and get rid of the famous 4-5 finger Camry wheel / fender gap at the same process.

Or just put OEM Toyota springs on it.

OEM struts are re-bradged KYB GR-2's by the way. Many people make the mistake of using cheaper struts, or non quality struts. I.E. Monroe. While you would think the GR-2's on a Camry are mid-tier struts. They're actually high quality. Atleast the equal of Monroe's 3rd level Sensatracs (Their highest quality strut).