mfalatovic

I have a beautiful 95 that is meticulously maintained. Question: I have hard performance tires on it and about 20% of the time, the suspension seems to have too much thump and not enough dampening. I know 52k miles is low but possibly the age also contributes to deterioration of the shocks, or am I am too demanding ? The car height is fine so maybe the struts/springs are O.K. ? If I should replace the shocks, any suggestions on a brand ?

RA40

iTrader: (6)

Welcome to Club Lexus!

It may also be the caster/strut bar bushings. These are well known wear probelms with the UCF20/21. Mine were making noise at 60K miles. The rear struts on mine were quite dead at 70K miles...at 10 years, I'd change the struts and have the caster bar bushings inspected.

mfalatovic

Well I finally had new struts installed and what a difference in ride and handling. Thanks for the advice ! After checking labor prices with two other mechanics ($955 and $1,100) I bought OEM struts/shocks from IronToad and took them to my regular mechanic who did the work for $300. He said the caster bar bushings didn't need replacement.

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

conrads on the job and for saving money

tyncobb

Did you say $300 labor to replace all struts???? I have a 94 LS400 and an independant quoted me approx $800 for all four (just labor) I was going to buy the parts at IronToad too. Said the labor was approx 7 hours for the rear and I tnink about 4-5 for the fronts? at $70 / hour thats about $800 labor.

How many hours did it take your mechanic....if you could call him and check it would help. I do not have a manual so I dont know if the garage is shooting straight about labor costs. Thanks and looking forward to anyione's repsonse? Tyndale Cobb

absolut

7 hours for just the rears and another 4 - 5 for the front? that guy is trying either rip you off or doesn't know what he's doing. My father and I replaced all four of my struts/springs, added an upper strut bar, and replaced my oil in only 4 hours.


btw labor costs was a wopping $18 (bought lunch). Having a father that's a lexus mechanic = priceless

absolut

Seriously though, you have to watch for people trying to rip you off. Cause you drive a lexus people instantly think that you're loaded with $$$ and will try to charge you more for stuff.

tyncobb

Thought that was high but the mechanic said thats what his manual says because the rears you have to remove the rear seat and maybe the cv joints.

I can probably do the fronts, but I dont think I could do the rears; hear the rear springs can kill you if you dont know what you are doing.

Anyway could you ask your father what the Lexus Service Manual says for hours to replace the front and then the rear struts, and then get back to me later this week? Thanks, Im jealous that your dad's a cert lexus mech and that he is still around to work on cars with you. Dad and I always worked on cars together and had a great time, but he passed on 2 years ago. Engoy being around your dad while you can. Tyndale Cobb

tyncobb

Strut Labor

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Thought that was high but the mechanic said thats what his manual says because the rears you have to remove the rear seat and maybe the cv joints.

I can probably do the fronts, but I dont think I could do the rears; hear the rear springs can kill you if you dont know what you are doing.

Anyway could you ask your father what the Lexus Service Manual says for hours to replace the front and then the rear struts, and then get back to me later this week? Thanks, Im jealous that your dad's a cert lexus mech and that he is still around to work on cars with you. Dad and I always worked on cars together and had a great time, but he passed on 2 years ago. Engoy being around your dad while you can. Tyndale Cobb

mfalatovic

It took my mechanic 4 hours. I know I am fortunate to have a honest mechanic, he owns a '99 pearl white LS. Other readers are correct, most mechanics see a Lexus and they think they can over charge for any work. Also, the mechanic who quoted me $1,100 drove the car first and then told me it rode like a dream and didn't need anything replaced but if I still wanted the work it would be $1,100. I guess an LS with a worn suspension rides better than the cars he was driving.