cdasilva

Did you replace the trailing arms as well, I have a little rattle in the mornings. I think I am going to replace the other control arm and the trialling just to be on the safe side. Let me know if yours went away as well.

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

^ haven't done anything other than balljoints in the front. I think I'm done with this car, might just let it keep rattling, going to remove all my stuff from the trunk to confirm and I suspect some of my tools might be making some noise themselves...

pmesfun

I've had excellent results with Monroe Strut-Mate mounts, pretty cheap on RockAuto and Amazon.

What you need to do is remove the back seats and sit on a pillow/cushion while someone drives around. That is how I found the noise on my friend's ES300. If you hear near you ear, that's the strut mount or the bellow/bump stop(easy way to eliminate these being the problem is spray silicone lubricant inside the bellow). If you feel the squeak under your bottom that is either the trailing arm bushing at the knuckle or at the unibody(you already replaced the knuckle bushing). If you feel/hear along a little behind the bottom of the back seat(towards the trunk) that's probably the sway bar bushings. Easy way to make sure its not the links is remove them.(again, you already replaced them, but just FYI. I'm thinking strut mounts since you've done everything else. Also spray silicone on the control arm bushings too so you can rule them out, they usually don't make noise though.

LEX ES300

Hi pmesfun,

thanks for all the advice! and thanks to cdasilva who also posted a possible solution and everyone else who is trying to solve the issue too.

ANOTHER UPDATE from me - I have booked my car in tomorrow at a local suspension specialist shop. Hopefully they will help find the cause of the problem. Because I have already replaced most things that I have previously documented in this thread, I have decided to go ahead and order some new STRUT MOUNTS and see if this will put an end to the noise. Aftermarket strut mounts for the ES300 are very hard to come by in my country (we are basically forced to buy stock OEM ones which are expensive here!) so I have ordered some aftermarket ones from the USA.

I have gone with the Moog brand ones that include the mount, bearing, new bolts, and the rubber sleeve that covers the actual strut. Just waiting for them to be shipped. They won't be here by tomorrow for my suspension check, but at least I'll have them soon and I'll get them to replace them when they arrive.

I am praying this will be the end of it, and if not, then I will have to give up. I've thrown enough money at this issue and I already have my new Lexus LS, but I wanted this fixed before I sell the ES.

Either way this noise will be gone soon.....

cdasilva

*** Bad news, I had only replace the lateral arm that was making noise. Now the noise has returned I am not sure if the other ones are making noise or if that is not the problem. Cosidering the replaced one was making noise when the wheel was lifted and you could move with the hand from side to side almost sounding like bad wheel bearing. ¿Question for everyone, did anybody had their car rear ended? And Had anyone had their Emergency brakes replaced before. My is worn out and that could be the noise.

LEX ES300

FINAL UPDATE from me - Well, the suspension shop fitted the new rear strut mounts that I bought from overseas and after taking it for a test drive the shop made it worse!! The creaking noise was still there and one of the rear struts could be heard making a knocking noise that wasn't there before. They said the struts were ok, but they took it all apart again and one strut was still making a knocking noise that they couldn't explain. I was so mad I just went out and bought BRAND NEW factory rear struts and they offered to fit them for free becuase they couldnt explain the strut noise that had appeared.

SO NOW I HAVE BRAND NEW REAR MOUNTS AND STRUTS and whilst the ride was definitely better and quieter and the strut noise the shop made was gone, THE ORIGINAL CREAKING NOISE THAT I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT IS STILL THERE ON COLD DAYS

They have tested all the suspension parts on the hoist and they say there is no issue and they couldn't even replicate the creaking noise on the hoist (probably because the car was warm by then) . I even got under the car too and grabbed at everything and its all tight!

The only thing I haven't replaced now is the rear lateral control arms. Based on everything else I have replaced, I am suspecting that this is where the problem is. You can't buy bushings for those rear arms so you have to buy whole new arms. I will not be replacing these final parts because I am selling the vehicle, and I can't justify it.

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

Maybe it wasn't suspension? I'm sorry to hear that you never found the cause of the issue. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be to replace so many parts and never be able to fix the original problem.

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

Huh, well, I'm definately not swapping those lateral arms in mine... I can live with the noise, I'll turn up the music. They do sell bushings but they are 40$/side and Rockauto has new arms for 55$ish

cdasilva

Anybody checked theirs rear brakes, mine feels a bit loose plus I am u ser the impression the noise could be wheel bearings or e-brakes. Anyone tried that yet? I think I may do my e-brakes. FYI I did replace the regular brake pads and disks. They were really rusted.

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

^ fwiw, I had new bearings in the rear, shortly after I had the new suspension fitted - so it had time to settle, and new bearings. Still made the noise in the rear, still does. I ignore it... Will replace hopefully before winter

cdasilva

So, the brakes are not the problem... I have hear of this problem on Camry and Es300. No solutions. I am going to try to ride the car with no seats and nothing in the trunk this weekend. I must identify this noise. I don't want to have loud music in the car all the time. Specially when I come stressed from work and loud conversations across the office. My car suspension feels better than s 2011 car but the noise is going to turn my crazy.

cdasilva

List of things done and is not the problem:
-Struts( including mounts and springs/ Quick set replaced)
-Swaybar Bushing
-Rear brakes
-Emergency brakes
-Exhaust is in perfect conditions( not replaced)
-Exhaust Hangers (new condition)
- removed the bumper and its not the problem
- trunk lid
-Tags
-rear light
-spare tire
-jack
-Car seat
-Sub woofer ( stock)
-Wheelbearing
-Trail amrs ( looks/ mechanic said its fine)

FYI: I have purchased the swaybar lik and will be replacing them this afternoon as I hope. I will keep you guys informed!!!!!

cdasilva

So both sway bar links are replaced along with the swaybar bushing and its not the problem at all. The noise is till there just like before. I am turning crazy and don't know what todo. I am tired of having to listen to music to cover the noise. I need help with this.

LEX ES300

Hi cdasilva,

I'm so sorry to hear you still have the noise. As you know, I started this particular thread as I suffered with the same issue that drove me absolutely mad . Sadly, the only way I solved it was to buy a new Lexus LS430 and I've never looked back since, so I'm now over in the LS forums!

I loved my ES300 so much, but towards the end when that noise appeared I started to hate my baby and I had to admit defeat. I replaced so many things but it just didn't work. Lexus vehicles and the parts in my country are very expensive and I couldn't throw any more money at the issue.

I have no proof, but I'm still convinced that the issue may be with the rear lateral arms on both sides. Mine were checked and the mechanic said they were fine and they were tight, but it's basically the only parts I hadn't replaced and perhaps they look and feel fine but maybe they aren't in some way? I will never know now, but as parts are cheaper and readily available in the USA perhaps try that as I see that like me you haven't replaced them yet. I am also still conviced that it must be a rubber part causing the issue because mine was slighly quieter when the car was hot and it was louder when cold.

I really hope you can fix your ES!

cdasilva

I go knuts with the noise since I am usually by my self on the car on my way to work and my wife and dtr are okay with the little noise on the back. Shw calls me obsessive with any car noise. I am going to replace the Lateral arms with after market ones and do a aligment on the car. If that doesn't work I will have the control arms replaced.
I lifted the car with a local mechanic and they told me nothing to worry about, then I went to a lexus deler and they did not charge me for the estimate then Midas did not either. they said all I did to it would be what they would do to it. So I didn't have to worry about it. As my wife say why do you waste your time you have more experince then some of this professional mechanics.
if the this does not resolve the issue I asure you i will just drive the car to the bone and ride a motorcycle when warm.
thank you for the idea, about the lateral arms I replaced one now I am going to replace the remaing 3. the ES300 has the smoothies ride on the road.