Agent$mith

iTrader: (2)

Recently I got this annoying noise coming from the front of my car. Can anyone help me diagnose the problem? Most are OEM Lexus parts except for the UCA and sway bar end links from Moog.

Here is a video I made:

2001 Lexus GS300
135K Currently

115K Changed:
Lower Ball Joints both sides
Outer Tie Rods
Steering Rack Bushing
LCA Bushings
Castor Arm Bushings
Sway Bar Bushing

130K Changed:
Moog UCA both sides

135K Changed:
Moog Sway Bar End Links
PS Fluid Flush
Caliper w Bracket replacement on both sides

I'm thinking it's the sway bar that probably needs grease, but not sure.

Thanks guys,
Johnny

SpectraBlu

iTrader: (1)

What about the ball joints?

Agent$mith

iTrader: (2)

Ahh when I said LCA, I meant lower ball joints. I had them replaced 15K miles ago.

Behemoth7

Your video doesn't help much, I can't hear it. When do you get the noise? Over bumps, when turning, etc.?

marshun

what kind of lower ball joints? if they were the moogs with the grease fitting on there, you should have greased it before putting load on the joint.

just another note, i have seen some randomg lbj's that didnt have much grease in them right out of the box. when i say some i mean 2.

i also cant tell a thing from the video

Agent$mith

iTrader: (2)

I used Lexus OEM lower ball joints. I only used moog for the UCA and sway bar end links. Sorry about the short clip. It's literally the first sec of the video. It happens from stop to go and when turning without adding gas to pedal. :/

marshun

have you jacked up the car and looked?

still cant see/hear anything in the video? or is it that triple popping noise?

Agent$mith

iTrader: (2)

My mechanic had it on his lift as he sprayed lubricant. I wish I had a lift so I could check for myself whenever I wanted since it makes things easier.

Yep. It's within the 0-1 sec of the video as I accelerate from a stop marshun. It sounds like something is being compressed and then released like a creak. I'm thinking it's the strut boots or the sway bar bushings needing grease. I have l-tuned shocks and springs in which I used the original boots on recommendations from clublexus members.

Behemoth7

Is it the exact same sound when turning and from stop and go? I hear it now in your video.

I would have your inner tie rods checked, along with perhaps strut mounts, engine mounts, anything you haven't replaced yet. Your sound does not sound like sway bar bushings to me.

Agent$mith

iTrader: (2)

Yep the same sound turning and from stop and go either direction. Sounds like creak from something being compressed. I've been spending hours searching through club lexus and reading about the dreaded suspension noises we have and try to isolate.

I believed when he changed my sway bar end links where the boots were cracked, he said the inner tie rods looked fine. How would bad inner tie rods sound? I thought when it's engine mounts, you would hear vibrations when you are idle or shifting from Park to Reverse.

Strut mounts may be a good idea, but expensive to replace. Can I spray lithium grease on the strut mounts through the engine bay and see if that penetrates? You are right though Behemoth7. I've replaced everything but checked those 3 areas. :/ I hate throwing money hoping it fixes the problem when it doesn't.

Behemoth7

Bad tie rods would be clunky or squeeky when turning, and strut mounts can't be remedied by anything but replacing. Motor mounts can cause all sorts of issues, it depends if they leak fluid or are torn or worse broken in half. Could cause creaking, clunking, vibrations, rough idle.

I would just have all of them checked out.

Agent$mith

iTrader: (2)

Update: It turned out to the be the UCA on the driver side due to the rubber bushing being cracked from the previous installer.

Just wanted to help future forum searchers.

silverbul

Check your brake caliper brackets. For some strange reason the 2 bolts gets loose & allow the bracket to move & shift. Results is clunking & creaking noise. I took my bolts out & used lock washers & retighten. So far so good no clunking or creaking

marshun

wow. i wonder how he even cracked those bushings. crazy.