GA400

In my 91 LS400 with 218,000 miles, had the rear control arm bushings replaced today by my independent mechanic in Roswell who specializes in Lexus. The difference is amazing. In the year or so I have owned the car, I had replaced the shocks, thinking that would fix all the ride issues and a general feeling of instability sometimes. The shocks helped, but today's work is a much more dramatic change. The car now feels planted to the road. It felt worn down and loose in the rear before, and it would occasionally "wiggle" in the rear, making me fear the rear differential was unstable. That feeling is gone, and it takes bumps with much less travel, both up and down and side to side. Total cost was just under 400, about 325 for labor (the write-up says he had to disassemble the rear hub) and about 50 for parts. He was able to obtain just the bushings, I know some have said they are told by the dealer that you have to replace the entire control arm. Great investment, IMO. Now I just need to find those bigger wheels, gotta get off these wimpy 15" stock wheels.

Lvangundy

Where did he get the bushings?

GA400

Lee,

I was wondering the same thing. I picked the car up right at closing time and he was busy with other customers so I didn't get a chance to ask. I will e-mail him and post back to this thread with what I find out.

Who is the dude in your avatar? That is one extreme haircut

dunn378

yeah please find out where he got those bushings from!!! i fear my rear bushings need replacing too. also did you replace the upper bushings or the lower ones?? thanks

GA400

The lower ones only. My mechanic said all the other bushings in the suspension system were fine. I asked him to go through the car front to back checking all the suspension, that was the only problem he found.

dunn378

ok, but whenever u find out where he got them from please let us know.

GA400

You can be sure I will share the info as soon as I get it. I know from reading the forums what a comon problem they are.

dbullen

iTrader: (3)

Are these the bushings you are refering to? (I've highlighted them in red) Mine are completely worn off on both sides and it's metal against metal, and it doesn't sound too good when going over bumps. What would I call these bushings when ordering the part from the Lexus Dealership or another parts shop?

Traturn

A company called Armstrong Distribtors Inc. Does several Lexus bushing applications.

Armstrong Distributors Inc.
1820 E.Garry Ave.,Suite 224
Santa Ana, CA 92705

only email i have for them is:
diamond7001@msn.com

they have LS Rear axle carrier bushings (adus505/506)
ls upper control arm bushings (adus502)
sc3/400 lower ctrl arm bushings (adus528)
And some old ES stuff.

Rear carrier bushings can be polyurethane, and you can do the job without removing the carrier.

hope it helps

Lvangundy

dbullen - no those are 'tie rods' or 'strut tie ends' something like that..

I just ordered replacement ones for my car from carson toyota. Same thing here..metal on metal..*rattle*rattle..

dbullen

iTrader: (3)

So I can buy the bushings for those? or I need a new tie rod ?

GA400

Guys,

An update. John Minozzi is the mechanic I use, his shop is called Ozzi's, in Roswell, Georgia. I am trying to encourage him to join the forum. I think he may be a little concerned about revealing his parts sources and/or direct prices. I can respect that, I am sure he gets volume discounts and/or special mechanics prices from his suppliers. It is a very competitive business here and he has to protect the vendor relationships he has built. He didn't come out and say this, it is speculation on my part. In any case, he is a very nice guy and has always treated me very fairly. I have had a lot of work done there and it has all been done perfectly and at a very fair price.

He has asked that you contact him directly for info on the bushings, here is his site url http://www.ozzis.com/index.html

contact info;

Telephone: 770-552-5280

Fax: 770-552-5246

E-Mail: ozzis@bellsouth.net

Thanks,

persian451

so those noises everytime go over speedbupms in my 91 LS400 are the control arm bushings?

what are common suspension problems are there for the 91?