ls400beave

Hi everyone, I know what you are already thinking. Replace upper and lower ball joints. I have done that with also replacing tie rod ends. Now my lower ball joint was very bad and needed replaced. 98 GS 300 with 144,000 miles on it. Basically I get this creaking / popping noise when taking very slow turns. Basically backing or pulling into parking spaces (or driveway). It is driving me crazy and hoping someone else has had a similair issue. I am thinking it could be two other things. 1) possible sway bar bushings or 2) Tension rod bushing. This is from research I have done and I am thinking the tension rod bushing is the same as strut rod bushing? Let me know what you think. I also pasted a link below from a thread that was just like my issue but no resolution was done.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...low-turns.html

LuxuryGS3

iTrader: (12)

Check your camber arm (the LCA). Mine was showing some play and was tightened then it seemed to have helped, but then it has come back so i'm not totally sure yet on my part. I replaced my outer tie rods and LBJ's about 2 years ago, so don't think it's the LBJ's, but i'll prolly replace those anyway just for piece of mind.

My next step is to replace steering rack and sway bushings. Only seems logical that those are possible since they move when turning the steering wheel.

str8lucky

iTrader: (11)

I had same noise from LCA. changed went away.

DosyBoy

iTrader: (1)

My lower drivers side lca is bad with a torn bushing and i have the same noise, getting that and lbj and steering rack bushings done next month...

BlKTC

iTrader: (3)

i know this might be a long shot... but have you checked your brakes??

I remember one time I had a similar sound when reversing, and couldn't figure it out until I found out I needed new brake pads..

DreadGS430

Had a similar situation after i personally replaced by ball joints. I took it to my mechanic and he simply took off the nut and put it back on....

repugnante

That noise meant bad ball joints for me

ls400beave

LCA. That is it..

Sykotic336

iTrader: (1)

ahhhh i have that sound also i should replace them soon ahhhh....

GS714

Your brake pads may be getting thin, and it's could be hitting the rotor. Get the shim kit, it's may help.
My is mostly profound/heard when backing up.

If you are going to replace the LBJ, you may as well replace the LCA #2(CASTER ARM).
Unless, If you want to find out how nice the car really feel like a year later like me.

From what I been reading, these two items should be OEM.

sivikvtec

Does it happen if the brakes are not engaged?

Mine was doing this for awhile, but I had to be using the brakes for it to happen. You might want to go to a parking lot and while coasting make a very sharp low speed turn and see if it still makes the noise.

For now at least mine has "fixed itself" but I suspect it is an issue with the brakes. In the last 30k miles I have replaced the upper control arms, lower control arms, caster arms, lower ball joints, and outer tie rod ends.