MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

Ok...new KYB GR2 shocks are incoming, as well as DF210 springs. Should I just go to the dealer for struts? How much should this set me back?

And I read that replacing the ball joints is only like $60 if you already have it all apart?

Thanks so much for all of the replies.

scuba21

this happend to me few months ago i was like wtf. is going on my car never feel this ruff...

sometime the front breaks calipers get stuck,, they will not go back all the way when u break ... make sure they do .. my mecanic use a blow torch to losen them up and re grease them ...

just lift ur car and rotate the wheels and feel if they ruff ...

raytseng

By itself, the balljoints+tierods may typically cost 2hours, it's up to the mechanic how much of a discount they will give you since they have stuff apart already.

However, you will be able to save on alignment.

McKrevice

iTrader: (1)

how do you like the tires? I am about to buy them for my new rims....but 250.00 each is a hard pill to swallow for facking tires....especially when they are 245/45/17.

farkas

iTrader: (5)

No!!!!! Do not go to the dealer for the struts.....I doubt if they sell KYB's anyways. They will have Lexus OEMs and who knows what they are. Before you buy anything, Decide who and where it is going to get repaired at and see if they have any problems with you supplying the parts. If not, order away as you will save a lot by going online and getting the parts. GL and let us know what you find was the problem. BTW the upper strut mounts are a separate item to buy if you buy struts.

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

I actually like these tires a lot better than the Michelin Pilots I had before and they were very highly recommended and rated. I did not pay that much though. I bought them through Branon Lorenc, our tire rack specialist a few sub forums down, and paid like $760 for all four delivered to my door. I would check with him if I were you.

Good luck

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

Thank you sir! I appreciate all of the insight. Do you have any recommendations about where to look for struts online?

Thanks.

raytseng

Do a search for the question here where to buy shocks or struts and you'll get some hits from other CL people.
You can also just put in the kyb part number (once you get that) into google and you'll get some hits to compare. I don't think there is much need for loyalty to a particular store for this part.

That being said, you can use tirerack as a baseline for the big retailer.
Also, don't forget about ebay especially if you have an ebay/paypal coupon.

That being said, I recently ended up getting bilstein shocks from eshocks.com which was cheapest for me, after considering shipping and state taxes, but they don't seem to have kyb.

RON430

If you have a 2003 with the original shocks/struts, they are probably in need of replacement. This is a performance site and ride is very individual specific. The second gen GS is sort of schizophrenic. The stock suspension was annoying floaty and I really don't remember the ride tha much but once you do anything to it, the ride gets a lot harsher. The GS3 is also quite a bit different than the GS4 in my experience. Bilstein Sports are at the ragged edge of what I want to live with on the GS4 while they were awful on the GS3. To say that the GS3 wound up with a ride like a buckboard is an insult to all the buckboards out there. The HDs were markedly better and combined with the stock springs make my wife's GS3 overall a much better balance of ride/handling than my GS4.

There is good news and bad news about new shocks. Most times when a shock/strut is shot, it has leaked its fluid. So it doesn't do the damping that it should on the spring. Nine times out of ten, new shocks/struts will firm up the ride as they are once again working instead of the blown ones that aren't doing much of anything. There are instances where the new shocks/struts do improve ride but from the little experience I have, it is usually the other way around. People tend to not complain too much as the new shocks/struts control the suspension and often do reduce harshness but the ride is normally not as "soft" as a vehicle with blown out shocks/struts.

Whether you use the dealer or not, the suggestions about possible suspension failures is something that you need to have sorted out. And from my perspective, don't get too wound up with price. Whether it is the dealer or an independent, a good suspension shop is worth every penny you pay. My advice would be to not play internet doctor and tell them what you think is wrong but go in and tell them the ride has gotten noticeably harsh and you want them to go through it soup to nuts and make sure there isn't something broken or loose that can ruin your whole day. If they are good, they won't charge you for a wall job.

I've had my 2k1 GS4 for seven years now (ugh) and I am in no great hurry to replace it although I will in the next year or two depending on the new models. Also had my wife's 2k3 GS3 since new. And I have Serenity's on my car and will probably switch the GS3 over to them when the Michelins finally wear out or begin howling too much. If you are a performance enthusiast, you have a certain opinion on the GS. Mine is that it is neither particularly quiet nor in possession of ride/handling that I really want. I went through a lot of shocks and stabilizer bars to get both of them to where I am happy enough to not be in a big rush to get rid of either one and the reliability has been typical Lexus. But if you want BMW ride/handling suppleness, get a bimmer and make sure it doesn't have run flats.

Either way, good luck. I hope you find something that gets you where you want the car to be.

farkas

iTrader: (5)

Try these sites. I have done business with them all and had good results.

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index....cted_year=2003

http://www.thepartsbin.com/catalog/?...Lexus&md=GS300

https://www.rockauto.com/dbphp/dbpage

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

Ron,

I sincerely appreciate the detailed and informative post. I think you hit the nail on the head in that last part- I drive my car lately and think "This thing doesn't handle well enough to justify the rock hard ride...nor does it ride smooth enough to justify floaty handling."

Overall I tend to lean towards comfort but like a car that I can feel when I want to. I think the GS meets my needs quite well overall, as I am not looking for 3 Series driving feedback, nor an LS 430 cloud-esque ride. After reading through almost all of the suspension threads on here since last night I think I am going to bring my car to Lexus and have them attempt to diagnose the hard ride and noises from the front end, just to be sure.

My plan at this point is going to be to put the following on the car

Tanabe DF 210 Springs
KYB GR2 Shocks
New Ball Joints
Daizen Sway Bushings
Daizen Steering Rack Bushing Kit

I have chosen these because I do want to lower my car slightly and the Tanabe springs seem to be the best option for what I am seeking. I have also read that the KYB shocks are closest to the OEM ones and will last longer and work better in conjunction with lowering springs. I figure that since I am going to have the car apart it would make sense to just swap out the ball joints as well.

It also seems like a number of members have installed the Daizen sway bushings and do notice a slight improvement in handling/cornering. They are a cheap mod too. I emailed TM Engineering about them, a vendor for the bushings, and they also recommended Daizen Steering Rack Bushings and said they work extremely well with the Sway Bushings. Are they just trying to upsell me or is there some legitimacy to this?

The last component of the suspension will be the struts or upper control arms. Those I will have to get diagnosed by Lexus, I suppose.

Thanks again Ron, and to everyone else who has chimed in.

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

Thanks buddy! I just ordered shocks so I guess it will now depend on what Lexus says about the struts. I greatly appreciate the links

CK6Speed

iTrader: (1)

What struts are you talking about? I myself may be confused, but shocks and struts are often used to describe the same thing. If you have KYB shocks coming in already, you don't need struts as you'd end up with double the shock/struts you need. Unless you are talking about the shock/strut top hat (Or Upper strut mount that some have called it above) that may be worn down?

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

I too may be confused

If shocks and struts are the same thing then I'm about to be a happy man because I just ordered KYB GR-2 shocks.

So...because of this...I won't be needing struts?

farkas

iTrader: (5)

Shocks/struts are the same thing. Struts are just the new term that is used for shocks now because they come with plates and platforms built into them and they actually replace most of the suspension whereas shocks used to be connected to the suspension and work with it. Sounds confusing....