chunkyda

For a few weeks now there seems to be excessive tire /road noise which is the best way to describe a recent issue with my '05 LS430 with 160k miles. I am experiencing excessive noise when going straight from around 35-40 mph and the noise increases at 55 and above. This noise is noticably louder when pressuring the steering wheel to the right, it is softer straight, and even softer turning left, but still audible over my normally quiet LS.
I have so far checked the wheel alignment and rotated the tires, no change to the symptoms described above. The mechanic noticed no obvious issues in the suspension while doing the rotation and alignment other than cracked rear lower control arm bushings.
I was thinking wheel bearings but now I guess it could be these bushings not being able to deal with the uneven loading force of turning the front wheels.

Gene01

"Growling" noise when turning could very likely be a wheel bearing. The faulty bearing is generally the one on the inside of the turn (as the force tends to separate the spindle from the hub giving more clearance).

chunkyda

That is what I was thinking but the LS430 has a HUB SUB-ASSEMBLY, FRONT AXLE, which runs more than $250 at Sewell with the CL discount...Ouch!
Are these "wheel bearings" serviceable with new grease?

Gene01

My understanding is that they must be broken (destroyed) to remove them, but don't take that to the bank. Hopefully someone with more experience than I have will post here.

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

Check this out:



And this too:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...-06-ls430.html

Bon

How old are your tires? They harden with age and begin to beat the pavement with the hardened tread as they roll. The faster you go the louder the sound. Been there, done that. New tires, problem gone. I'm a low mileage kind of guy and have seen er, rather heard, this problem more than once because my tires often die of old age.

BT3100

Yep the bearings go and you get some evil road noise. I know.. Been there.
Got an assembly on ebay for $129. Had it installed at the toyota dealer for $225 ish. But that was due to them not knowing the extent of the repair until after they quoted it out to me. Would have been about $400 if they knew the axle had to come out.
Front's are easier and could be tackled by a skilled home mechanic.
It's cold here in the northeast though.

chunkyda

Thanks for the videos and link. Looks like I will be ordering some hubs.

lexusls4

I had the same problem on my ls430. I went through and study the whole suspension set up on our ls and came to this . I notice that these car are more likely to develope warp rotor dued to the multiple piston caliper . The major factor is if we run cheap aftermarket pads and rotor , it'll cause glazed and burnt spot on the surface of the rotor . If the pads are sticking a little then you will have a noise that will sound actually like road noise. This noise will only be heard at low speed where its most pronounced . I'm actually still trying to fiqure out my delima .

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

I agree with going OEM pads. Much better to replace the pads every 30k or so over the rotors. The LS430's are a little harder on the brakes. I think this has to do with the power assist too. My LS400 got it's first brake job at 70,000 miles. Amazing considering it was driven in the city most its life.