Greetings.

I recently took my 08 SE V6 in to have the tire pressure sensors replaced, after our local shop informed me that they were bad (I also recently replaced the four 18-inch tires all around with Goodyears; I have the 18-inch TRD rims on the car, which was an option when the model was new), and while the vehicle was there, I was told it needed a lot of work, mainly in the area of leaking suspension/shocks/struts.

My wife and I talked it over and agreed to have the work done (it wasn't cheap, and there are still areas that need work, including rotor resurfacing) even though the car only has 57,000 miles on it (yes, you didn't read that wrong), but ever since getting it back, I have noticed that the car's ride height is significantly elevated. Even my wife, who is definitely a non-car gal, noticed it in the garage -- notably in the front wheelwells. I mean, the car always had too much wheel gap to begin with for a "sporty" SE model, which I suppose is why they offered the TRD lowering kit at the time, but you can clearly see where the car now sits higher than it did before. I really don't like it, as the 18's look small now, and the wheelwell gap is significant.

My question is: Are the things I'm seeing normal? Does the suspension have to "break in" for a while before the ride height seems a bit lower? I'm assuming the car is sitting at the stock height as experienced out of the showroom for an 08 (can't remember what she looked like when we picked her up from the dealer all those years ago), but will this eventually lower a bit on its own as I drive?

 

18" TRD rims aren't stock for the '08 so I'd like to see some pics of that!
Leaking struts do need to be replaced and I would also suspect that the ride height would increase with replacement of the struts AND springs. Whole strut assemblies are what is replaced in most situation today. These assemblies include a new strut, spring, strut bearing, and mounting hardware. All of these things combine would most likely result is a higher ride height. 57K miles is not much for the year that you have but there are too many factors to rule out as far as the difference between new and old.
Will it lower over time? Yeah, but not like an inch or anything that significant.

 

Other Camry owners have noted increased ride height with aftermarket strut assembles. Will it settle in? Somewhat but again, they do ride higher.

Check online Toyota part dealers to determine if the SE had different strut springs. Appears the SE had a different part number.

 

Thanks very much for your response.

The 18 inch TRD rims were an OPTION for the 08 Camry that year -- not stock. The stock rims were 17 inch aluminum alloys, but I popped for the TRDs and had them custom chromed.

Looks kinda like this but with tint and chromed TRDs:


With regard to the ride height...seems like the consensus is that it will not lower over time. This is disappointing; I may need to go with a lowering kit, then.

 

Thanks.

The shop told us they attempted to install a certain kind of hardware but it wasn't working for this model, so they ordered parts that were correct for an 08 SE V6 from a dealership. They assured us they were genuine for the car; who knows. I just know that this ride height is unacceptable looks-wise, so I am going to have to look into a lowering kit.

 

These kits may replace the coil spring. Make sure the spring fits the new struts.

 

Thanks again.

I don't know how I would check this outside of asking the shop or looking at the invoice (I am still looking for it; I misplaced it), but at this point I think I am just going to wait to see if it settles at all, and if it doesn't, just have a lowering kit installed (which I wanted to do to this car from the beginning but never got around to).