brianatae

Hi all,

This is the first time I'm posting here about my 2003 ES300. It has been making a terrible clunking noise whenever I go over the smallest bumps lately, and I genuinely do not feel safe sometimes as the car seems to "slip" when making turns as well. The struts 110% need to be replaced. My mechanic said he'd be able to replace all 4 struts for $1100 (including labor) - is this a good price?

I also was told by a colleague at work that I should ask my mechanic to use "KYB GR 2" struts. Do these work well with the ES300? If I"m going to be paying this much money, I'd prefer to get great struts at a reasonable price.

My Lexus currently has $214K miles on it and has never given me an issue. It's awesome and I don't want to get rid of it just because of strut issues.


Thanks in advance!

lostape45

If you read about what others have tried, the KYBs are more stiff than the stock struts. I would recommend sticking to the stock struts which you can order off of Sewell Lexus or you can find them on eBay. Since you are used to such weak struts now, you will find the new struts to be stiffer even if they are stock, and if you switch to KYBs, it will be even more stiff. Also you will want to replace your strut mounts and sway bar bushings and end links. I'd imagine this would cost you at least around $1000-1500 in parts depending on where you get them, plus labor. Granted this will be more expensive than what your mechanic quoted but I'm willing to bet he will be using quick struts which do not ride very well. For the extra money, you will get your original stock ride back. Completely up to you, but after replacing the struts on my 01, it was a whole new car, so worth it to me.

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

Ask what parts he's planning to use. There are a lot of choices when it comes to struts.

Oro

Do a search, there are a LOT of discussion on Lexus specific, kyb aftermarket, monroe, just struts vs. quick struts. Many have problems w/Monroe quick strut mounts, so read up on it and make sure you order (or they do) what you are comfortable with.

80es300

My 2 cents, before you go off and do a major struts job, read thru the below thread. I had similar creaking/clunking noise on speed bumps and all the mechanics told me to change the struts and mounts. I just tried changing the bushings mentioned in the below thread and the sound is gone. I have a 98 es300 and so I would be surprised to hear a 2003 struts already gone to the point of making clunking noise.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es3...ngs-fixed.html

lostape45

The OP said their car has 214k miles and if those are the original struts, they are in dire need of replacement. They said the car has bad body roll through turns as well.

Oro

Yes, I read the same thing into that. Body roll is a near certain sign of very shot struts. 214k is likely 50k past the replacement point, even with easy highway miles/mixed use (ours was).

That link about trailing arm bushings that 80es300 posted is, however, educational and worth noting. I do not mean to dismiss the value of his post.

lostape45

I didn't mean to dismiss the value of his post either. It would be a good idea to check the trailing arms as well but that would be after replacing the struts/mounts.

pauloil

my ES 05 needed new struts at 100K, and it made a huge difference.

80es300

pauloil,

What struts did you use? Kyb or oem? What all did you change when you did the struts - struts, mounts, springs, anything else? May I ask how much it cost you.
I might have to do mine soon and so want to get an idea.

Thanks

Oro

I did our 02 this summer. Check my posts, I listed pn's and cost. I did only struts, boots, sway bushings (a waste, don't bother), and rear springs. KYB excel/GR-2 (same thing) and moog springs (rear only). Re-used mounts, insulators, etc. About $460-475 total I think. Super happy w/results. A few thousand miles later now, it has settled in nicely. Did not need to have front end aligned because ride height was identical.