Strut Replacement
#61
Advanced
@ 49
I have the Bilsteins now for several months
I am very satisfied with them. Car feels more planted. No spongy, mushy ride. It now corners flat - the beafier rear sway bar might have something to do with it - The ride is quiet and not jarry. The feel is - solid might be the expression.
I do not have the privilege to compare various springs/struts set ups like the Tanabe, Monroe, Strutmaster, BC racing, etc. I just went with a system I was familiar with from the BMWs I had before and they came through with the same feeling on the LS. I never had a problem with Bilsteins over the decades
I have the Bilsteins now for several months
I am very satisfied with them. Car feels more planted. No spongy, mushy ride. It now corners flat - the beafier rear sway bar might have something to do with it - The ride is quiet and not jarry. The feel is - solid might be the expression.
I do not have the privilege to compare various springs/struts set ups like the Tanabe, Monroe, Strutmaster, BC racing, etc. I just went with a system I was familiar with from the BMWs I had before and they came through with the same feeling on the LS. I never had a problem with Bilsteins over the decades
#62
Lead Lap
iTrader: (1)
@ 49
I have the Bilsteins now for several months
I am very satisfied with them. Car feels more planted. No spongy, mushy ride. It now corners flat - the beafier rear sway bar might have something to do with it - The ride is quiet and not jarry. The feel is - solid might be the expression.
I do not have the privilege to compare various springs/struts set ups like the Tanabe, Monroe, Strutmaster, BC racing, etc. I just went with a system I was familiar with from the BMWs I had before and they came through with the same feeling on the LS. I never had a problem with Bilsteins over the decades
I have the Bilsteins now for several months
I am very satisfied with them. Car feels more planted. No spongy, mushy ride. It now corners flat - the beafier rear sway bar might have something to do with it - The ride is quiet and not jarry. The feel is - solid might be the expression.
I do not have the privilege to compare various springs/struts set ups like the Tanabe, Monroe, Strutmaster, BC racing, etc. I just went with a system I was familiar with from the BMWs I had before and they came through with the same feeling on the LS. I never had a problem with Bilsteins over the decades
Do you have oem springs on it ?
Is the ride lot worse than oem or just more planted ?
I have had bilstein on my sports cars over the years and the have been great
#63
Advanced
The Bilsteins I have are coilovers, the springs are integrated in the shocks, that is they come as one unit and are matched specifically for the car.
The springrate matches the weight of the car, suspension travel etc.
The system is DESIGNED for the car not just a fit-for-all
the part nr. is: Bilstein B14, 47-086401. This is the part nr for a 2001 Lexus Ls 430 .
Cost was US 1050, free shipping. The supplier told me it is a special.
Each B14 is made car specific; it is imperative you check the exact year and model.
I changed from air to coilover. The air felt too mushy for me.
I also left a two-finger gap between the top of tires and fender. This allows me to get a hosenozzle to clean the wheelwells. The tiresize remained 17"; the Lumaraii Morro wheels with its 5-star design also helps keeping the wheels clean
The springrate matches the weight of the car, suspension travel etc.
The system is DESIGNED for the car not just a fit-for-all
the part nr. is: Bilstein B14, 47-086401. This is the part nr for a 2001 Lexus Ls 430 .
Cost was US 1050, free shipping. The supplier told me it is a special.
Each B14 is made car specific; it is imperative you check the exact year and model.
I changed from air to coilover. The air felt too mushy for me.
I also left a two-finger gap between the top of tires and fender. This allows me to get a hosenozzle to clean the wheelwells. The tiresize remained 17"; the Lumaraii Morro wheels with its 5-star design also helps keeping the wheels clean
Last edited by semar; 02-07-16 at 09:26 PM. Reason: additional info
#64
Lead Lap
iTrader: (1)
^
Thank you
I see online prices in the $1400 range for the bilstein coilovers you mentioned
I am not sure what the stock finger gap is
I will have to check
I have the oem 18
Would it be possible to share your supplier ?
Just checked
4 finger gap front
3 finger gap rear
Thank you
I see online prices in the $1400 range for the bilstein coilovers you mentioned
I am not sure what the stock finger gap is
I will have to check
I have the oem 18
Would it be possible to share your supplier ?
Just checked
4 finger gap front
3 finger gap rear
Last edited by ryanSC300lover; 02-07-16 at 10:01 PM.
#65
Advanced
Prices for Bilstein coilovers are varying. I saw them as high as 1700.
The supplier was THMotorsports
As I mentioned before I got a deal on them. Since they are car specific it could be they wanted to clear stock.
You probably noticed that the gap between the top of the tire and the fenderlip is quite large in stock setting.
The Bilstein coilovers allow you to lower the car up to 2". This would set the car just about to the top of the tires and would not allow you to get anything into the wheelwells to clean. Dirt would accumulate; in rainy weather it becomes mud that does not dry out fast enough leading eventually to rust situations especially around the fender lips.
It might look "cool" but is not practical. That is why I left the gap large enough to get the waterhosenozzle in.
The supplier was THMotorsports
As I mentioned before I got a deal on them. Since they are car specific it could be they wanted to clear stock.
You probably noticed that the gap between the top of the tire and the fenderlip is quite large in stock setting.
The Bilstein coilovers allow you to lower the car up to 2". This would set the car just about to the top of the tires and would not allow you to get anything into the wheelwells to clean. Dirt would accumulate; in rainy weather it becomes mud that does not dry out fast enough leading eventually to rust situations especially around the fender lips.
It might look "cool" but is not practical. That is why I left the gap large enough to get the waterhosenozzle in.
#68
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Texas
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Hello all first post on the board. I need to replace the rear shocks on my 2004 LS. The OEM part number is 48530-59845 with a price of $198. I found some on Ebay for a 2001 to 2006 LS that are OEM with part number 48530-80130 for $128. Is there a difference between 2001and 2004 base suspension? Really appreciate any info.
#69
should be alright as long as you replace both. I believe you will find that you have the $198 shocks now. some people think they can feel a difference. the labor will cost you more than the shocks anyway.
#70
The Bilsteins I have are coilovers, the springs are integrated in the shocks, that is they come as one unit and are matched specifically for the car.
The springrate matches the weight of the car, suspension travel etc.
The system is DESIGNED for the car not just a fit-for-all
the part nr. is: Bilstein B14, 47-086401. This is the part nr for a 2001 Lexus Ls 430 .
Cost was US 1050, free shipping. The supplier told me it is a special.
Each B14 is made car specific; it is imperative you check the exact year and model.
I changed from air to coilover. The air felt too mushy for me.
I also left a two-finger gap between the top of tires and fender. This allows me to get a hosenozzle to clean the wheelwells. The tiresize remained 17"; the Lumaraii Morro wheels with its 5-star design also helps keeping the wheels clean
The springrate matches the weight of the car, suspension travel etc.
The system is DESIGNED for the car not just a fit-for-all
the part nr. is: Bilstein B14, 47-086401. This is the part nr for a 2001 Lexus Ls 430 .
Cost was US 1050, free shipping. The supplier told me it is a special.
Each B14 is made car specific; it is imperative you check the exact year and model.
I changed from air to coilover. The air felt too mushy for me.
I also left a two-finger gap between the top of tires and fender. This allows me to get a hosenozzle to clean the wheelwells. The tiresize remained 17"; the Lumaraii Morro wheels with its 5-star design also helps keeping the wheels clean
#73
Advanced
I have the amount only in C$ at the moment, I could dig into my files to find the US$
All were bought from RockAuto, mostly Moog parts.
Are you converting from air? If not, you have all the mounting hardware already
All were bought from RockAuto, mostly Moog parts.
Are you converting from air? If not, you have all the mounting hardware already
#74
Are you up in Vancouver? I'm in Bellingham, WA. It would be cool if a PNW lexus meet-up happened this summer haha.