mizak82

Hey guys,

FRAT.

brought my car to my dad's mechanic the other day for its 100k mile check up... I have a clicking noise in the front end when I make a full turn on any sort of incline or decline.. I told him I believe its the drivers side outer cv axle.. He said in his 15 years he's never seen a bad axle that boot wasn't torn... Asked to do a diagnostic with a stethoscope or something.. I said ok... long story short, 550 dollars later new ball joints, a flushed tranny, a broken key, and now I need an alignment.. but still the clicking noise.. fml..

He also said the thumping noise in the rear is my struts and recommended new Monroe shocks and struts all the way around.. I said this forum unanimously chooses KYB GR-2, being that it is the OEM manufacturer for these cars.. I then said i see them online for around 100-110 a piece and mounting brackets for 50 a piece.. He then said he won't sell them to me that cheap, he needs to mark them up to make money.. I said you can make it up on labor but I'm not going to overpay you for parts I know the price of.. I then said, what if I buy them and bring them to you.. his quote was that is like bringing a steak to a restaurant.. I said you make money on the labor, Im paying for the skill.. If we were talking about tires and you tried to mark them up 30% you would never sell a tire and would be out of business very quickly.. Needless to say he isn't going to be doing my shocks.. (also recommended tires, which i just bought on discounttiredirect.com, and having tire kingdom put them on tues)..

I think the guy is a rip off.. I had him do my timing belt over the summer, cost me 1150 dollars.. what bothered me was he used Gates timing belt kit instead of OEM.. not the biggest deal but the kit was 189 online and he charged me 360 for it.. Now that is cheaper than the dealership, but I still feel I'm getting ripped.. My dad and his girl think Im wrong and this guy is legit.. I said I want a mechanic who is a single guy, not married with kids.. too many damn mouths to feed..

So as an FU, I am going to do the shocks and struts myself.. Ive done everything else on this car, i just live in a condo place that frowns on working in the parking lot, so I will go to a buddy's house to do it.. I was hoping for an inventory from you guys of what I need...



-4 shocks and struts, (2 front, 2 back)

-4 mounting brackets (can the old ones be reused?) does it have to be OE they are like 100 a piece where as KYB is like 50?

-I can reuse the springs, but do they have a kit where it comes all in one, (strut, spring, mounting bracket all together?) so i don't have to pay for a spring puller? I didn't see one...

-am I missing anything else?

Im obviously going to do the front cv axles while I am at it, so I can fix it once and for all..

thanks for your time..

JAB

use OE mounts, not KYB.

2KHarrier

Well, as you know there are a couple of really great threads on here that discuss the strut topic to no end..

I installed new Struts I bought off eBay for 170.00 delivered

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Full-set-of-Replacement-Shocks-Struts-for-1999-2003-Lexus-RX300-/261710042276?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3ARX300&hash=item3cef2254a4&vxp=mtr
and I've been loving them for over 7 months now. I did purchase the OE mounts, as prescribed, and have not had a single noise/problem since May when I finished.
I went to a neighborhood mechanic and had him swap over the springs, only because I didn't want to damage anything trying to swap them over myself. He charged me 20 bucks per strut to swap over the mounts, bearings and springs.

Here's Lexmex's thread on his strut swap... AAA+++ write up.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...yb-gr-2-a.html

As far as the mechanic, I'd find someone else. There's way too many guys out there that do quality work that don't overcharge..

mizak82

harrier,

I followed that thread... I was just basically wondering if they sell a complete kit, with the spring,strut,mounts all connected as one.. or I have to buy each part separate.. I would need to find a mechanic to swap them for me as it would probably be easier that way...

hypervish

They don't sell a full strut assembly (aka. quick strut) for the RX300 unfortunately.

+1, on the recommendation of OE strut mounts only.

kalali

The package referenced in the earlier post mentions FWD only application. Is that true?

hypervish

The FWD and AWD struts for the rear are different. However, the Sensen struts are offered for AWD RX300's as well.

They are cheaper on RockAuto, you can get all 4 for $113 plus shipping.

Although if you are planning on keeping the RX for more than a year or two, I'd suggest going with KYB. According to things I've read on other sites these Sensen struts aren't good for many miles. Which isn't surprising, considering the price.

2KHarrier

So far, I've gone roughly 8000 miles, and all is well. We'll see after another 10K....

hypervish

Keep us updated!

mizak82

where is the best place to purchase the oe mounts? the dealership tried to rape me.

bufferdan

I had the sensen struts on ours...after two years the rears were totally blown out in maybe 20k max. I still have the fronts on but think they are shot also. They will not respond to emails about warranty also not that id want another set to put on Would not recommend.

mizak82

Im def getting Kyb struts.. I just want to make sure I get everything I need before i go to get them put on..

so basically

2 front struts

2 back struts

2 front oe mounts

2 back oe mounts

4 bearings as well?

Several feet of the polyurethane hose for the base of the spring...

am i missing anything?

thanks..

bufferdan

The front mounts have the bearing in them but not the dust cover boots which you will need. The rear mounts have the boots connected and dont have/require bearings. There is really no need for hose on the springs but if you like it thats fine

mizak82

any advice on the OE mounts? do I really have to go to the stealership?

just quoted from lexus..

front mounts: 138.00 x 2 = 276.00
bearings: 59.39 x 2 = 118.78
rear mounts: 209.55 x 2 = 419.10
KYB struts: 105 x 4 = 420.00 (lexus wanted 300 plus per strut)

totaling 1,233.88 for parts plus labor...

Baetke

Try cross-referencing to Highlander parts. I have saved 1/2 to 1/3 on other parts I found compatible between the RX and Highlander.