Strut Replacement
10-10-15, 09:11 PM
#46
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
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On the first post about Bilsteins, I don't know if anyone has said this, but Bilstein makes a lowering kit for the LS430, which is kind of pointless in my opinion, on a big luxury car. Go with KYBs, they supply most of the OEM struts/shocks for Toyota/Lexus. I've had good luck with them on a Toyota Sienna, but then again, that's a bit different.
11-15-15, 01:09 PM
#47
Observations 2006 Front & Rear Struts
Make sure you get ALL the parts to do the job. Irontoad has a good diagram for all the parts you need. Rockauto is missing pieces for the rear strut assembly on their website. Also, you will need to pull the door trim and pillar trim to free up the package tray enough to allow you access to the top of the strut. You don't need to remove the package tray. There are bolts concealed behind the head rests and behind the arm rest that secure the seat back in place in addition to the four at the bottom of the seat back. The arm rest has a plastic shroud that is spring clipped in place so you can just pop it out to access the bolts anchoring the upper center section of the seat back. There are a total of 4 bolts. Also, to remove the seat belt retainers on top of the seat back you need to stick a small screw driver into the hole on the back side to release the spring clip while you pull up on the top loop. Lastly, it helps a lot to have an impact wrench with a 10" or so extension and swivel to break the nut off the bottom end of the strut by angling in from below about halfway between the strut and the rear differential.
When working on the front struts put the impact or breaker bar on the nut. Don't try and turn the bolt. The nut has locking grooves. So turning the bolt is really hard to do without rounding off the shoulders. I disconnected the sway bar link from the sway bar end and just swung it out of the way to gain access to the strut nut. You will also need to disconnect the upper control arm ball joint. This is a tapered bolt so you need a press to pop it apart. If you replace the upper control arm don't over torque the bolts or you will bind the joints. Torque to 39 ft. lbs. only. The castle nut gets torqued to 64 ft. lbs.
I do not have air suspension. Original struts and upper control arms went 250,000 miles. They should have been changed at 100,000, but car rides on highways most of the time so the wear wasn't terribly noticeable unless it was hitting big bumps. Pretty impressive all things considered. I replaced springs as well. All stock stuff.
When working on the front struts put the impact or breaker bar on the nut. Don't try and turn the bolt. The nut has locking grooves. So turning the bolt is really hard to do without rounding off the shoulders. I disconnected the sway bar link from the sway bar end and just swung it out of the way to gain access to the strut nut. You will also need to disconnect the upper control arm ball joint. This is a tapered bolt so you need a press to pop it apart. If you replace the upper control arm don't over torque the bolts or you will bind the joints. Torque to 39 ft. lbs. only. The castle nut gets torqued to 64 ft. lbs.
I do not have air suspension. Original struts and upper control arms went 250,000 miles. They should have been changed at 100,000, but car rides on highways most of the time so the wear wasn't terribly noticeable unless it was hitting big bumps. Pretty impressive all things considered. I replaced springs as well. All stock stuff.
11-15-15, 07:26 PM
#48
Advanced
Bilstein makes the B14 coilover for the LS.
It is an adjustable suspension kit that allows you to lower (if you want to) or will retain the stock height.
By lowering the car you lower the center of gravity, the car drives more planted. If you need the higher setting (wintertires) it can be done within 1/2 hr.
They also make a B16 which adds additional damping possibilities.
The products are first class quality and offer a lifetime warranty.
TotalCost was C$ 2450.-- incl the wheelalignment
It took the suspension specialist 5.5 hrs to make the swap (I was watching all the time) including the changeover from stock swaybar to the Sport swaybar with all applicable new swaybar links
Nothing from the airsuspension can be used. You need all new components from the stock set-up
It is an adjustable suspension kit that allows you to lower (if you want to) or will retain the stock height.
By lowering the car you lower the center of gravity, the car drives more planted. If you need the higher setting (wintertires) it can be done within 1/2 hr.
They also make a B16 which adds additional damping possibilities.
The products are first class quality and offer a lifetime warranty.
TotalCost was C$ 2450.-- incl the wheelalignment
It took the suspension specialist 5.5 hrs to make the swap (I was watching all the time) including the changeover from stock swaybar to the Sport swaybar with all applicable new swaybar links
Nothing from the airsuspension can be used. You need all new components from the stock set-up
11-21-15, 07:16 PM
#51
Driver
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: MN
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11-22-15, 09:17 AM
#53
How long is stock standard suspension expected to last?
11-23-15, 07:59 AM
#55
02-07-16, 11:20 AM
#57
The ride is great. I would recommend them to anyone. Monroe and KYB are each only about $5 or so different in pricing unless you get 3 for the price of 4 like I did. That aside, I likely would have went with Monroe regardless. Sometimes I don't want to "follow the heard" and try something I think would work just as well. I've had luck with Monroes on other cars so I was confident they'd work out fine and they did.