sorka

Is it possible for shocks to last 200K miles? We have 194K on our SC400 and it still has that tight steering feel that most cars lose by 100K miles. Granted, this car *really* has been almost entirely freeway driven.

I've seen a lot of posts saying that shocks can't last more than 40K miles or so. I've done the bounce test on them every 20K miles or so since 60K miles and they always dampen within the first bounce on all 4 corners.

Could they be bad and I just don't know it yet?

Oh, and the current shocks are the originals. They've never been changed.

The reason I ask is I'm about to get an alignment after replacing the tires and I don't want to have to get another alignment if my shocks will need replacing.

qtb33

Possible....yes. Likely no. It depends on the driver and where they are driving.

However freeway driving is much easier on a car than stop and go city driving. If your happy with them then don't replace them. If your worried about them going out and then replacing them after your alignment, replace them. Though you could have had this worry for the last 100K miles and it didn't bother you then, so it probably shouldn't now.

The type of failure your shocks will see will probably be from a seal or something of that nature getting old and becoming brittle. If you drive like me then they'll suffer from a loading stress and actually wear something out.

Regardless of level of abuse they see 200K is quite impressive
Good luck

THE_CEO

Technically the toyota shocks are designed to last the life of the car...i have replaced my rear shock..but have yet to replace the front ones...at 145k...

CEO

-J-P-L-

i believe mine are original at 198,500 miles. It still drives like a Lex should too.

dwebb99

iTrader: (17)

I have 190K on my 92 SC300. Shocks are original and still feel tight.

BLK13X

I've got the stock Tokico shocks on mine with lowered springs, still rides nicely although I would like a tiny bit more stiffness (don't know what shocks to go with).

I've got 175k kms on the clock.

siaxazn

i replaced my oem shocks with coilovers after 180k miles one of the rears were leaking. but the rest was fine. just the rubber boot was ripped and worn.

Ice350

iTrader: (1)

Hey, if anyone is looking for shocks, I have a set of Tokico's. Practically new for $200.

oleewellsr

I have 223,000 miles on my 92 SC 400. It had 10,000 miles on it when i got it in 1993. the shocks are fine so I have not changed them and will not change them till they go bad.

hellasboy

my left rear one went out at around 100k (noticed that the car was leaning to the left when I looked at the car from the back). It still handled fine but now that i'm around 110k i'm noticing handling differences and a lot more squeaks (specifically in the last 1k).

i know i know... i'm going to replace all my shocks and springs soon. but i first need to take measurements and see how much lower my car is because of the worn suspension compared w/ oem height (body kit and CO roads don't agree with each other). i'm either going with eibach/tokico or a supra tt setup.

sorka

A worn strut should not cause lowering as it is the spring that controls the height.

TrueTexan

The life of a Lexus is quite long! I'm confused now. I just swapped my 2009 Bamboo RX350 for a 2009 Brandywine RX350 and was about to check with the mechanic just to have it checked out. Sounds like I won't need to ever worry about my struts now. The Brandywine has 40K fewer miles on it than Bamboo, which gives me at least an extra five years of driving!