Steering sounds & vibrations
#1
Steering sounds & vibrations
Hope someone can help, I’m going nuts with chasing down this issue.
quick background. I’m a DIY’er with the help of my cousin who is a mechanic.
I’ve replaced all 8 control arms, inner & outer tie rods, & sway bar links 8k miles ago.
2 months ago I replaced the inner tie rods again because that’s what the alignment shop recommended after I had weird sounds coming from suspension.
went a week ago back to them because sounds & vibrations
they recommend forward lower control arms be replaced & inner tie rods again.
today I replaced the lower control arms, inner & outer tie rods under 1 year warranty.
guess what I still have the same issue.
Now I’m being told it’s possibly rack & pinion or ball joint or steering joint?
when the car is on & I move the steering wheel left & right you can hear clunking sound & while driving on uneven pavement you can feel & hear a louder clunk, & from time to time the traction light flashes on & off
Help me! I don’t want to deal with my local Lexus dealership, but I might have to if I can’t solve this annoying problem, hopefully someone can chime in & help.
quick background. I’m a DIY’er with the help of my cousin who is a mechanic.
I’ve replaced all 8 control arms, inner & outer tie rods, & sway bar links 8k miles ago.
2 months ago I replaced the inner tie rods again because that’s what the alignment shop recommended after I had weird sounds coming from suspension.
went a week ago back to them because sounds & vibrations
they recommend forward lower control arms be replaced & inner tie rods again.
today I replaced the lower control arms, inner & outer tie rods under 1 year warranty.
guess what I still have the same issue.
Now I’m being told it’s possibly rack & pinion or ball joint or steering joint?
when the car is on & I move the steering wheel left & right you can hear clunking sound & while driving on uneven pavement you can feel & hear a louder clunk, & from time to time the traction light flashes on & off
Help me! I don’t want to deal with my local Lexus dealership, but I might have to if I can’t solve this annoying problem, hopefully someone can chime in & help.
#2
Check all the bolts on all the suspension parts and make sure they're all tight. Also check to make sure your sway bar bushings are tight. Take your time. I had similar symptoms with a shop saying they couldn't figure it out and this fixed it for me.
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MobbinVIP (06-22-19)
#4
I would also check bearing assembly. Your "sounds" are very familiar to when my bearings went out. I also had to press in new ball joints on my steering knuckle. Lexus only sells the steering knuckle as an entire assembly part, and online it's like $400-600 per side depending on where you find them, but you can search for more info on the forum (including great instructions) and order the ball joints for around $40-75 (again depending on where you go). No lie, it's a ***** to do them, and don't attempt unless you have patience. You go too fast and you can skim metal out of the lining (don't ask me how I know this). Good luck
#5
Also verify your torque settings on your control arms, especially the uppers. Sometimes the ball joints spin and people inadvertently don't tighten them to the right level.
#6
Thank you everyone for chiming in!
Update:
I went to a shop that works on Toyota/Lexus, told them to look it over. After a test drive & looking under the car they came back & told me, my air suspension was shot, my sway bar bushings are bad(not the links) & that I need an alignment. I called BS on the air suspension.
I went back the shop that had done the alignment & told them alignment is off. They said no problem & redid the alignment. alignment showed the toe was off, I guess the morons forgot to tighten the nut.
After a correct alignment, the sounds & vibrations are significantly improved. Although there is still some sounds & vibrations, especially when driving & the wheels are turned, its nowhere near as bad as before.
I'm thinking of removing the sway bar & links completely to see if that is where the sounds & vibrations are coming from.
If that's it I'll just buy new bushings & links to finally fix this annoying issue!
Update:
I went to a shop that works on Toyota/Lexus, told them to look it over. After a test drive & looking under the car they came back & told me, my air suspension was shot, my sway bar bushings are bad(not the links) & that I need an alignment. I called BS on the air suspension.
I went back the shop that had done the alignment & told them alignment is off. They said no problem & redid the alignment. alignment showed the toe was off, I guess the morons forgot to tighten the nut.
After a correct alignment, the sounds & vibrations are significantly improved. Although there is still some sounds & vibrations, especially when driving & the wheels are turned, its nowhere near as bad as before.
I'm thinking of removing the sway bar & links completely to see if that is where the sounds & vibrations are coming from.
If that's it I'll just buy new bushings & links to finally fix this annoying issue!
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colombianc
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03-07-11 01:26 PM