Toyota Solara Project, Part 1

TRD is making a lot of noise here in the States with its U.S.-division TRD U.S.A. With a plethora of performance and suspension components available for both early and late-model vehicles, TRD's popularity will continue to grow over the upcoming years amongst all Toyota owners. Even though I haven't had the chance to see it, I'm told that our Project Solara is pretty fresh. Fresh enough, in fact, that the guys at TRD found it in their hearts to soup-up the suspension on our project car by adding the company's own line of lowering springs and high-performance struts.

The TRD lowering springs are progressively wound for comfort and performance while lowering ride height by approximately 1.25 inches to create an aggressive look. The lower stance reduces body roll and provides tighter tracking during hard cornering, all while maintaining proper suspension geometry to ensure even tire wear. The TRD performance struts help reduce body roll and cornering stability even further, in addition to providing more consistent wheel control. The strut body features a nitrogen-pressurized mono-tube to prevent oil foaming and damping loss. It can adapt to all types of road conditions through its self-adjusting rising-rate shock valves.

Follow along as Bob Garner at TRD installs both the performance shocks and lowering springs onto our Solara. You can purchase these parts through your local Toyota dealer or by calling TRD U.S.A. directly.

Sleek and aggressive looking, the Toyota Solara is a great platform to which you can add a number of performance accessories. Just look to TRD U.S.A. and your needs can be fulfilled.
Sleek and aggressive looking, the Toyota Solara is a great platform to which you can add a
The TRD lowering springs are progressively wound for comfort and performance, while lowering ride height by approximately 1.25 inches to create an aggressive look.
The TRD lowering springs are progressively wound for comfort and performance, while loweri
The TRD performance struts help to reduce body roll and cornering stability even further and provide more consistent wheel control.
The TRD performance struts help to reduce body roll and cornering stability even further a

First, raise and secure the car on jackstands. After you’ve removed your wheels, it’s time to move toward the inside. The Solara is designed so that the rear suspension can only be accessed and worked on by removing the interior panels. Lift out the rear seat cushion. Remove the seatbelt anchor by unbolting the 14mm screw that holds it in. You’ve already removed the seats, lift out the carpeting, as well. Remove the seatbelts with a 12mm socket, and that should cause the rear panel to pop out. Remove it.
First, raise and secure the car on jackstands. After you’ve removed your wheels, it&#
Now for the hard part. Move your attention toward the front suspension and loosen the 14mm nut for the antiroll bar, then unbolt the brake hose retainer with a 12mm socket.
Now for the hard part. Move your attention toward the front suspension and loosen the 14mm
Disconnect the ABS line with a 10mm socket wrench, and let the ABS line slack. Unbolt the two 21mm lower shock bolts carefully. Once you have removed the shock bolts, pull the spindle down.
Disconnect the ABS line with a 10mm socket wrench, and let the ABS line slack. Unbolt the

For the upper mount, you will be removing the three 14mm nuts that hold the strut in place. Have a friend hold the strut brace while you do this, because the removal of the last bolt will cause the strut to drop once it has been removed.
For the upper mount, you will be removing the three 14mm nuts that hold the strut in place
Make your way back to the rear lower suspension and remove the two bolts that keep the antiroll bar in place. Disconnect the 12mm and 10mm nuts for the brake line and the ABS. The ABS line will have an additional 10mm nut that needs to be removed. Once you’ve done that, let the spindle slip down. Here’s where removal of the interior comes into play. Lift the rear package tray to get to the rear panel by unclipping the three factory clips. Use a 12mm offset wrench to remove the three top nuts on top of each shock tower.
Make your way back to the rear lower suspension and remove the two bolts that keep the ant
Make sure that you keep everything aligned when assembling and installing your new TRD suspension. You will be using a new nut for the shock hat, which can be installed by removing the bumpstop (the top nut is internal). Torque down the new top nut to 38 lb-ft.
Make sure that you keep everything aligned when assembling and installing your new TRD sus

You will also be installing a vibration isolator onto the shock hat. The isolator takes out unnecessary air space by stiffening the spring rate. You will only be doing this step for the front suspension, as the rear does not necessitate the usage of a new isolator. TRD provides the tool needed to compress the rubber isolator into the shock hat. Tighten it down and pinch the isolator while inserting at the top of the mount. Use silicone to aid the install. Do not use WD-40. Align the rubber plate boot with the help of the arrows on top of the plate and compress.
You will also be installing a vibration isolator onto the shock hat. The isolator takes ou
The installation of the rear TRD suspension will be in the reverse order of removal. It’s recommended to have a friend sit inside the passenger compartment to help you line up the strut.
The installation of the rear TRD suspension will be in the reverse order of removal. It
For the front strut, push in on the top rotor to help the alignment out slightly. You will still need to have the car professionally realigned and the camber adjusted by a specialist.
For the front strut, push in on the top rotor to help the alignment out slightly. You will