radhead25

I was told by lexus dealer that i need new rear struts and link bars? What are link bars? I was told that the estimate for replacing the struts will be roughly $1200 dollars by the lexus dealer! This is outrageous! The cost of kygb struts on tirerack.com is roughly $136 dollar. My question is what exactly do the dealers do when replacing struts and what do you all pay when replacing struts? I don't know much about struts and shocks but I do know that it does not cost $1300 dollar to replace rear struts.

radhead25

And by the way I didn't mention I have a 1999 rx300.

koolaidman

its also the cost of labor. and u might have tems

radhead25

what do you mean by tems?

nopcbs

We have a 1992 LS400 for which I bought a shop manual. When we first got it, 13 years ago, I remember looking at the instructions for replacing the rear shocks. You basically had to take apart the rear suspension. Then I looked at the cost estimate (then) for replacing the rear shocks and it was like $900...13 years ago. We have not needed shocks yet (thank God the Gen 1 LS400 is over-built with superb components), but at least I know why the replacement, if we ever have to do it, will be very, very expensive. It's the labor.

TunedRX300

Rear struts are KYB, just buy them at tiretrack.com and take to another shop to replace it. Labor is about 1-2 hours and you need a 2 wheel alignment afterward.
Link bars are control arms made of cast steel that mount the hub to the chassis, unless they are broken, and OEM rarely does, don't need to replace them.
When I was looking around install H&R spring and Bilstein shocks for my Acura, I found a shop charges $180 for 4 corners including 4 wheel alignment. What Lexus charges is ridiculous, and don't ever think a free loaner car will make up the difference. Those who says suspension is a ton of work is BS, there is no special service tool required other than a spring compressor and metric socket and rachect, the rest is loosing bolts and put them back.

Lexmex

You definitely need a shop to do it at, but like TunedRX300 said you can buy the KYBs from Tire Rack. I have had to take off the shocks and struts to put on replacement lower rubber supports (and will again when I get lowering springs) but this is not a DIY project unless you have the right equipment and a lot of patience. My uncle does this for a living down here so much easier.

TunedRX300

FWD and AWD have different rear struts. Just don't order the wrong ones. The quote I posted is for labor and alignments only. I ended up installing springs and shocks myself. Even had I asked the shop to do it for me, all parts, labor, plus alignment would still be < $1000, and I was buying the much better H&R and Bilstein sport models that are OEM suspension on BMW M series and MB AMG series.
BTW, ebay sells KYB for RX300 @ slightly cheaper price than tirerack.

radhead25

thanks for helpful hints!

SteveH

Just curious, how did they determine that you needed new struts? I too have a 99 with 65k and once and awhile I hear a noise from the rear that sounds like the springs around the strut is hitting, no heavy load in the rear and only when its real cold. Do the front struts exhibit the same indication when they go bad?

TunedRX300

Clunking usually means shock/strut is bottoming out. You will notice ride quality is getting worse.