Toyota Camry rear wheel play/movement

[Matt]

Got an old 2000 Toyota Camry and when i pull the back wheels back and foward i can feel play/movement which at first i thought was a wheel bearing, but with the car jacked up the movement/play disappears, i even put the car back down and its gone until the car is driven/moved a few meters (till the rear wheels go back into shape/place so to speak)

Everything seems tight everywhere, its got me stumped.

Any solutions/things to check?

Thanks in advance!

Topic

[college man]

has to be the wheel bearing/hub.unless one of the bolts
that hold it on are broken.see if this link helps.

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/107-camry-solara-lounge/235838-rear-wheel-bearing-r-r-how-why.html

[Roy French]

Hello Apache,
I’m not sure if this helps you or not, but I recently had a similar issue with a 2002 Tauras. It turned out the strut was coming apart inside. When I jacked it up, the spring would decompress removing the play. Try looking at the strut when you rock it back and forth.

[Matt]

The struts are pretty soft and i was going to replace them soon anyhow, and i think there is a fraction of play in them but hard to say because of the up and down movement when the car moves also.

Ill replace them this weekend and let you guys know 😀

[EricTheCarGuy]

Struts won’t cause play as they are not an ‘active’ part of the suspension. What I mean is that they control suspension dampening and movement, they don’t ‘locate’ the wheel. I honestly don’t have an explanation for you as this one has me kind of stumped. Is it more of a noise than movement? Could it be that the movement is coming from the front and not the back? Outside of that perhaps theres some things in this video that could help.

[Roy French]

I agree that under normal conditions a strut wont have play. If it comes apart inside, and the rod is no longer connected to the hydraulic piston, you will have all sorts of play. It wont be apparent unless weight is on the strut compressing the spring. The one I worked on was so bad, I noticed it had rear camber while standing behind it. I wish I had taken it apart to see what broke inside.

[spelunkerd]

I’m having a hard time understanding what you mean by back and forward movement of the rear tires. A video would clarify exactly what you mean, and might bring out some fresh ideas. If you jack the one side up and leave the other side on the ground, does the movement still happen? If you press on the tire alternating at 12:00 and 6:00, does the tire wiggle sideways?

[Matt]

I replaced the rear struts finally (both soft, one was leaking, no strut cushions/bump stops left – also replaced).

Movement is still present, i have noticed when i was working on the car that the left side sway bar bushing is worn out and has some play in it so ill replace that soon as well – would this be a part of the issue?

This issue does not seem to be the bearing but it feels similar, when the rear wheels are lifted off the ground there is zero play/movement in the wheels and i cannot make it happen.

When the car is flat normal on the ground if i pull pretty hard on the wheels back and forward (out away from car to pushing towards car from the top) at first nothing but as the car starts to sway left and right (as the weight of the car starts to wobble the rear a bit) you can feel it.

Again when the rear is up, zero play either side, when its down again at first its tight (wheels/body in a higher position), as soon as those rear wheels/body return to there normal angle/position a bit lower theres play.

Ill try to make a video soon

[Matt]

http://youtu.be/83mz9g40CZk

sorry about the squeak from my hand on the tire and the handbrake

also note at first no play until the back of the car starts to rock left and right more

and yes that’s me grabbing and pushing only the top of the tire

[EricTheCarGuy]

Like I mentioned in the suspension noise video you might want to ‘feel’ around the suspension parts to see if you can feel the noise as much as hear it. Also based on that noise I’d be looking for orange dust around joints and bushings. That usually indicates a loose part.

[James]

I would agree it’s not a strut issue. I just replaced all 4 struts on my truck (and to be honest didn’t notice a single change in the way she drives/handles) My suggestion would be an upper or lower balljoint or control arm bushing?

if it’s a balljoint you’ll here a very distinct kind of clunking when you hit a small or sharp pothole. a control arm sound would be noticeable more if you drive slowly over a large speedbump that compresses/extends your full suspension.

[Matt]

After replacing the rear struts and sway bar bushings there is zero noise and still get the same play (both were worn anyhow, was hoping once it was out i could see the whole lot a bit better, didn’t help at all)

I cant find the play but its there, i might lift the car up taking the weight slightly off the rear suspension and then lift it up from just behind the rear breaks of one side see if i can find it that way.

Heres the rear suspension design
http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/jchill/2010-03-03_152507_camrysus.gif

[ridinred24]

My suggestion would be to have a good buddy slide under there and look for the movement while your moving the tire in and out. To me that seems like a balljoint issue but looking at the diagram you posted it seems to be all bushings. Good luck and keep us posted!

[EricTheCarGuy]

I know this may seem too simple but how about the tire pressures? If they’re low it can cause a ‘loose’ feeling.

[Author]

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