dentalstud

Toyota Dealership recommended these for my 60,000 mile service:

Rear Differential (every 30,000): $59.95
Brake Fluid (60,000): $109.95
Power Steering Flush (60,000): $99.95
Fuel filter (60,000): $99.99
Drive belts (depending on how many; 60,000): $66.95-$140
= ~$500 before taxes

I was also told that I didn't need Coolant & Transmission replacement until the 100,000 mile service.


If anybody has done these, please provide any advice regarding:
-if i can do any of these myself to save money OR
-if i can have these done at an independent shop (i buy the fluids/parts from toyota/lexus) for cheaper OR
-if i was told correctly regarding Coolant & Transmission replacement OR
-if i don't need any of the above OR
-if i left anything out that you think needs service

Thanks for the advice/comments!!

steviej

iTrader: (1)

First off, the GS350 has electric power steering so there is no fluid to replace. There is an immediate savings of $100.

Rear differential is suggested and can be done easily if you have a lift, if not is can be tricky to get at and still have the car angled for proper draining.

Accessory belts should be changed every 5 years or 60k miles but if they ain't squealin' or slippin' then it is totally personal preference on them. These are always easy to do.

I flush the brake fluid every 30k miles. My brake pads needed replacement at 54k so I totally flushed the system at that time. If you have 60k on the clock when were your pads done or are they soon to be due. If they are due, then you could defer the brake fluid flush to that time. This is actually very easy to do if you have the garage and tools.

Correct, the coolant and tranny fluid need not be touched at this time.

I thought the fuel filter was another one of those looooong term items, but could be wrong.

Most independent shops can handle this stuff. Coolant and tranny I would leave to Lexus or Toyota when the time comes, I have read there are tricks to doing it correctly.

Air filter is very easy to do by yourself. I change this annually.

steviej

XxGoKoUxX

hey steviej, i heard u can't bleed the brakes on our vehicles (i have an 06 gs430) like regular vehicles.... is that true or am i imagining things?

dentalstud

steviej,

thanks for the response...it's good to know that i don't have power steering fluid to replace..also, when i was talking to the tech at toyota, he told me the same thing about the drive belts and if it passed inspection, it would not need to be replaced unless worn/cracking

also, I was showed a diagram of the fuel filter which is located inside the fuel tank and if he were to drop the tank to get inside, I might as well replace the fuel pump...he explained that it really did not need to be replaced and was one of those items that you did not need to replace regularly or only when it went bad

steviej

iTrader: (1)

I have a 2006 GS300 and brake bleeding is conventional.

I hear your concern. I do know of many cars now that bleeding the brakes screws up some sensors, so the dealership has to bleed the brakes and update the computer at the same time. I am aware of this on some VWs, Audi's, MB's but I don't know which Lexus models this applies to.

steviej

steviej

iTrader: (1)

sounds like your $500 quote just became alot cheaper.

steviej

EyeKutr

iTrader: (5)

I am confused, why is there no power steering fluid?

ivanz

Because an electric motor shouldn't need any fluids.

XxGoKoUxX

LOL... electric motors need oiling tho, dont it? jk jk

BinaryJay

Steering rack has an electric motor to turn the wheels. Traditional steering racks use hydraulic pumps. When you change power steering fluid, all you're doing is replacing the fluid that gets pressurized.

With an electric motor, there is no pump and no fluid. This is pretty much the direction all hydraulic components will eventually move to in cars. I'm pretty sure the only thing stopping the brake system from going electric is some kind of government regulation.

I'm pretty sure even drive by wire (are these cars officially "drive by wire"?) was not legal until recently?

Tuptut

I disagree. I am pretty sure of the following :
GS's have electric motor for power steering instead of hydraulic pump mounted on the belt - Correct.
But they still use the power steering fluid to push the rod in either direction to turn the wheels.

burny

listen, draining the coolant is the easiest one of all of them. While you are doing it, replace upper and lower radiator hoses.

JSM1284

There is no steering fluid in a GS.