jpcdmd

I bought a 2001 LS430 back in Feb with 29000 miles on it. I put on some chrome 20 in wheels, 20x8.5 with 34mm offset, 255/35/20 Falken Azenis ST115 tires all around. I just put the 17in stockers back on.

With the 20's, I noticed that in slow tight turns I would get a wallowing tire noise/groan from the front. This actually became quite unbearable. I also noticed a loud clunk when going over a decent size speed bump, and other smaller pops/clunks when going in/out of driveways.

Could the offset on the wheels have destroyed some parts in the suspension that fast? I live in Phoenix so the roads are pretty smooth, very little potholes, and I never hit anything really hard. If so, which parts probably went south? Strut rod arms possibly?

The tires never rubbed, plenty of clearance everywhere. Never any noise from the rear, just the front.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

With yours, it is pretty fresh so I wouldn't suspect any bushing wear or such. If you don't have any obvious signs of contact on the suspension, there may be something loose or not torqued to spec that is showing up only when the 20's are on. The suspension may not be dampening the impacts as well with the shorter and stiffer sidewall...but that is a long shot and pretty wild IMO.

I'd torque: strut mount nuts, bolt attaching the strut to the lower arm, anti-roll bar and the front suspension bolts as noted in the service manual. Short of that, it sounds like the bushings in the strut bar that the UCF10-21 owners encounter in the higher miles.

jpcdmd

Thanks... the dealer did just that and the noise went away. I guess something was ever so slightly loose. They couldn't find anything wrong with the bushings.

persian451

the general rule of thumb is that in the long run your stock suspension will be damaged as a result from custom wheels, especially 18in and higher. I always recommend upgrading to aftermarket struts or coilovers when using an aftermarket wheel setup

lexusondubs

iTrader: (9)

yes i agree whenever you upgrade the wheels and tires your supposed to accomidate them with upgraded suspension and a braking power

jpcdmd

the dealer fixed the noise by retorquing everything up front. My brother's older Toyota Camry had the same problem and he said he heard that Toyota for some reason always has problems with their suspensions doing that.

I have the air suspension on my 2001 Ultra, If I want to lower the car a little do I have to get the Teins and disconnect the air suspension, or can I just lower the air shocks somehow? I don't want to mess with the ride of the car, I like it as cushy as can be. But in the future I may want to get the Wald Exec Kit and would have to lower.

Still can't decide on tires for my new Auto Couture Supreme 20s. They gotta be QUIET!

lexusondubs

iTrader: (9)

talk to lexhost he knows where you can get a box that you can adjust the height on the stock air ride from inside the car

jpcdmd

thanks.....

Per earlier comments though, if I get the box and lower the ride height am I still at risk for damaging suspenision components (from my 20s) because I haven't "upgraded" the suspension?

lexusondubs

iTrader: (9)

no the suspension will be fine