mayad79

1998 lexus gs400 one owner 200,000 miles

Hello all,

I am getting a real bad shimmy and shake when the tires are cold, but it goes away after about 20 mins. I suspect that it is the wheel bearing, although there is no noticeable noise. The wheels are balanced and the tires are not defective.

My question:

1.) Would you recommend a repack or replacement?
2.) What is the difference?

Dealer quoted me $547 for one wheel replacement.

3.) Is this BS, what do you recommend?

Thanks in advance,

Mohamed

mayad79

I have been checking around, and it seems that I can get OEM all four wheels for 300 next day shipping.

doubledown

Is $300 for parts only and DIY or is that parts and labor?

mayad79

At Carson, its actually $256 for 2 front bearing back and 2 rear bearing back, ground shipping. This is parts only.


Any recommendations of what else to change while they are down there changing the bearings, or how much labor for just the bearings.



Thanks everyone, our forum has better info than the dealer. The collection of threads and DIYs make me want to buy a bunch of tools and the gs400 manual.

Is there a thread for a list of tools needed for a gs400

mayad79

Got a labor quote from Imports Performance in Raleigh.

labor is

3.8 front
4.6 back

total deal 700 just labor.


Mechanic doesn't think its necessary to change all.

Insists on inspection to make sure

I'll take the advice and get it inspected.

mayad79

Hello

I had my mechanic, trusted, to take a look. He test drove the vehicle and said he is almost sure that its the driveshaft. His boss drove the vehicle, saying it could not be driveshaft, and put it on the lift.

1.) Definitely not wheel bearings

2.) Not driveshaft

3.) Everything is tight, both suspension and wheel bearings

Since temp is high today, he wants to test vibration when cold. As I described the circumstances of vibration, always when tires are cold. I will leave it overnight sometime this week.

Strange

Problem is almost disappeared. Either because of the temperature is high, or when it went on the lift it centered everything (transmission), or because the mechanic ok'd major problems and its just mental.

Sorry folks, I have not got a definite answer. Thanks to everyone who has posted their info on previous posts.

RX729

Did the vibration go away...?

mayad79

The problem is about 90% gone, but the only change made is the outside temp. I will be replacing the struts with Bilstein's HD, this should take care of the rest of the vibration.

RX729

keep us updated...

johnbros01

The Materials that your Tire are made of Often cause them to be out of round if they have set for a while in a cold environment. Then as you drive it will warm them up and the Bump is rounded out by the warmth. Check on the tire materials and see if your local tire dealer agrees that this is what that tire may be known for. Just a thought given what you have said. Bearing doesn't usually stop making noise due to the temp.

johnbros01

I priced Advance Auto after Market Bearings and the Front are $55 Each, but that is not Lexus Dealer Price.

clintdaddy

I was quoted 5.8 hrs for the rear wheel bearing replacement from a shop in town.