Potential design flaw with factory rear suspension? (WATER in boot area)

[DantKR]

Originally Posted by czar07

Sadly this car is not made at toyota. This is the sort of shit (and the chirping and all those other little niggles) that happens when you let inferior manufacturers build your cars for you.

Give me a Legacy over a Camry any day of the week.
Give me a Forester over a Rav4 any day of the week.
Give me a Impreza over a Corolla any day of the week.
Give me a WRX over a.... oh wait, Toyota doesn't make anything that compares.
Give me a STi over... oh wait.

[camelflage]

Originally Posted by ft86Fan

Like others have said, this is one confusing thread. Regarding the 2 holes in the trunk above the rear struts, is there even a plug made for them? Did ANYBODY picked up their cars with these plugs already in their car? Thanks.

The plugs for the bottom of the car are part of the PDI and are supposed to be in the glovebox / already installed when you get your car from the dealer.

The holes above the rear struts DO NOT have pre-made plugs, and the dealer will not know what you are talking about if you bring this up. It seems to me like this is an issue with a bad seal where the tophat meets the underside of the mounting point, allowing water to seep in from there. if you want to plug that hole you can find something to plug it, but i am betting on it being an issue at that tophat.

edit: every car i have installed suspension in has these holes in the strut towers, and they are almost always open / uncovered

[ft86Fan]

Originally Posted by camelflage

The holes above the rear struts DO NOT have pre-made plugs, and the dealer will not know what you are talking about if you bring this up. It seems to me like this is an issue with a bad seal where the tophat meets the underside of the mounting point, allowing water to seep in from there. if you want to plug that hole you can find something to plug it, but i am betting on it being an issue at that tophat.

I agree. I also don't see how the hole inside the trunk can allow water to go in.

[WTF]

Originally Posted by ft86Fan

I agree. I also don't see how the hole inside the trunk can allow water to go in.

I didnt say water itself would get into the car, however moisture certainly can after it collects in there.

It just appears to be quite an oversight is all.

This is how much water had collected in merely one day, on damp roads.



It's not a great picture but you can clearly see a lot of water has worked itself up there.. What if it was filthy smelly water you drove through? Then it a hot day? Your car wont smell so nice..

[ft86Fan]

Originally Posted by WTF

I didnt say water itself would get into the car, however moisture certainly can after it collects in there.

It just appears to be quite an oversight is all.

This is how much water had collected in merely one day, on damp roads.

It's not a great picture but you can clearly see a lot of water has worked itself up there.. What if it was filthy smelly water you drove through? Then it a hot day? Your car wont smell so nice..

I see, you are saying there should be a plug so that the water doesn't get in the trunk from below instead of the other way around where water get into the top mount from the holes. I got it now.

[WTF]

Originally Posted by ft86Fan

I see, you are saying there should be a plug so that the water doesn't get in the trunk from below instead of the other way around where water get into the top mount from the holes. I got it now.

I think a plug would be a 'dodgy fix'. The water should not be allowed to get into the hats AT ALL. I suggest the strut tops are insufficiently sealed.

If the water pools in there, then it means foul odour can enter the car, or when the boot/trunk gets hot, the water will evaporate and potentially cause other damage.

As mentioned, that pic was after 60km of driving, literally the morning after I bought the car, we pulled the suspension out. You can only imagine after a month of driving in the rain, how much moisture can get in there.

[camelflage]

Originally Posted by WTF

I think a plug would be a 'dodgy fix'. The water should not be allowed to get into the hats AT ALL. I suggest the strut tops are insufficiently sealed.

If the water pools in there, then it means foul odour can enter the car, or when the boot/trunk gets hot, the water will evaporate and potentially cause other damage.

As mentioned, that pic was after 60km of driving, literally the morning after I bought the car, we pulled the suspension out. You can only imagine after a month of driving in the rain, how much moisture can get in there.

^^ this. the only way water should be there is if it is coming from the trunk (boot). it should not be able to come from outside the shock body on to the top.

[WTF]

Originally Posted by camelflage

^^ this. the only way water should be there is if it is coming from the trunk (boot). it should not be able to come from outside the shock body on to the top.

There is no way the water can be getting in from the top down.

It must be coming from the road up.

The car was not driven in rain. Only the road was wet.

I think it is coming from the strut top not sealing properly.

I told Toyota, they didn't seem overly interested unless a heap of people noticed it.

[camelflage]

Originally Posted by WTF

There is no way the water can be getting in from the top down.

It must be coming from the road up.

The car was not driven in rain. Only the road was wet.

I think it is coming from the strut top not sealing properly.

I told Toyota, they didn't seem overly interested unless a heap of people noticed it.

maybe a possible assembly error from plant?

[Hielor]

Talked to the dealer again today, the plugs ( SU003-03038 ) won't be in until September 20th or later--something about Toyota working on making them, or something.

[cyde01]

Originally Posted by camelflage

The holes above the rear struts DO NOT have pre-made plugs, and the dealer will not know what you are talking about if you bring this up.

i don't get it. if that's the case what are these?

from post #84 in this thread.

[camelflage]

Originally Posted by cyde01

i don't get it. if that's the case what are these?

from post #84 in this thread.

interesting. ill have to check tomorrow and see if the fr-s we just got has them. first time ive ever seen that.

[cyde01]

Originally Posted by whataboutbob

Just got back from the dealer who found the plugs for the holes in the trunk above the struts.

Here's photos of the grommet in place, and the bag that it came in with the part numbers.



2012-07-25_11-44-41_548 by adventures with bob, on Flickr


2012-07-25_11-43-45_82 by adventures with bob, on Flickr

he even has toyota part numbers.

[camelflage]

Originally Posted by cyde01

he even has toyota part numbers.

ok, i see. must have missed it first run through. im still surprised though, ive changed suspensions on hondas, lexus, nissan, toyotas; and ive never seen plugs like this. maybe its not really new, but its new to me.