RX - 1st Gen (1999-2003) Discussion topics related to the 1999 -2003 RX300 models

Ride quality??

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Old 12-22-10, 09:51 AM
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IndyRX300
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Default Ride quality??

Anyone else feel every bump on the road? I am almost certain that I need to replace the shocks and struts on the vehicle with it having 136k on the car.

Any suggestions on replacement parts that would be more forgiving but not comprimise safety on the car?
Old 12-22-10, 11:23 AM
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MASSMINI
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Fronts, back, or both? I've got 105K and it seems my rears are going.
Old 12-22-10, 12:03 PM
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IndyRX300
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I will likely replace all at the same time. Just want a softer ride. i realize its and SUV but I was thinking the luxury part of the car would be the ride
Old 12-22-10, 02:30 PM
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Carver
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You can search it but everything I've read here indicates that the available aftermarket parts simply aren't in the same league as OEM.
Old 12-22-10, 07:06 PM
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RX300TC
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Originally Posted by IndyRX300
Anyone else feel every bump on the road? I am almost certain that I need to replace the shocks and struts on the vehicle with it having 136k on the car.

Any suggestions on replacement parts that would be more forgiving but not comprimise safety on the car?
It's funny, I was going to ask the same exact question. I'm the original owner of my ride, and while it does handle fine, it seems that after >100k miles it no longer has that "Lexus ride quality" to it.

I'm just wondering if there is a reasonable/expected life for the suspension components?
Old 12-22-10, 09:15 PM
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salimshah
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If you have not been carrying excessive loads (which causes permanent compression of springs) and there is no torn bushes then there is an easy way to check suspension.

Go to each corner and press the end down with all all your might and let go. With good suspension, the end should go above the start point and then come down to near the start point and stop. If it continues to go down and then bounces up then the strut needs replacement.


"feel" of the driven vehicle has a lot more to do with the the tires and tire-pressure. Your seat cushions may have lost some tension too.

Hope it helps.

Salim
Old 12-22-10, 09:42 PM
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IndyRX300
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Thanks Salim. Car has brand new michelin tires all the way around it. I would guess that the previous owner never did the suggested maintenance at all. The outside of the car is 95% showroom condition. Inside looks like it was used at a hog farm. Since I cleaned the IAC I have went from 14.3 to 16.5 mpg and counting. Wife wants a black on black 300 or the pearl white. Ours is currently gold or beige. But it is clean.
Old 12-23-10, 08:02 AM
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thomas1
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mINE has 186k miles and i am about to replace the front A arms and ball joints to see if the ride comes back to normal....I also suspect the drive shaft supports are drooping also...AWD... Shocks were done at around 114k miles....
Old 12-24-10, 09:34 PM
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Every RX i see for sale if advertised by honest people all claim to have noisy front left shocks including mine which is leading to premature tire wear. I assume it is not the shock itself but the tie rods or the bushes. I believe the shocks have been replaced as i did get the original fronts boxed in kyb aftermarket boxes and have the new rear kyb still new in in the boxes. Just wondering If anyone has replaced the shock with recurring problem. I understand that others claim that aftermarket is not better than original i will dispute this with any car and rather than blame the changed parts blame the parts not changed.
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