On a scale of 1-10 for a rookie how difficult is this job?

 

its alot of work because you have to drop the whole sub frame a few inches to get that bolt removed...10

 

Thanks for the quick reply. Do you know if its similar to the 2 gen in this video?

 

Yeah same as the video. you should be able to do it with your car on jack stands with a jack under the wheel/suspension your changing the control arm on.

I wouldn't say this is a 10 job, looks much more like a 5-6, but if you've never done it before you might struggle pulling that cross member down enough, hence why he's lifting it up and down trying to find where he has enough room to pull it down beyond the stud.

 

Should I replace the arm or just the bushings? Anyone have a diagram or know part numbers for arm and/or bushings?

 

for OEM lexus 4867030140 (left), 4866030140 (right) for the entire lower control arm #2 that you're looking at. Looks like they run about 215 bucks each side brand new with no discounts.

To rebuild them, it looks like SuperPro makes polyurethane bushings and they are distributed in the US by FIGS. Thankfully Figs has a build out for our car that shows the different mounts and how to replace them.

FIGS - replacing front bushings on jzs147

These bushings run about 125 dollars for the pair (both sides); but they are going to be a lot stiffer than factory and translate more road noise and "feel". If you are going for 100% luxury ride, stocks with the rubber will be softer and absorb more vibration. Both will last a very long time.

 

It looks like the entire subframe mounting spot is rusted and falling apart on the underside. Are you sure it will even hold the control arm in there much longer? Might consider welding or having a shop weld a plate on it to strengthen it.

 

Not rusted I'm in sunny SoCal so we don't get much rust in these here parts. Turns out I lent the GS to my sis and she heard a noise when turning took it to a home mechanic and he told her the price to replace the arms and the work involved. Was way too much for her so the dude suggested putting some gunk epoxy or some crap. Anyway that would be the tanish looking crap which I need to remove.

I got the subframe dropped on Saturday and removed both arms. The hardest part was getting to the steering collar bolt with a plain ol wrench with not much space to turn it. Got the old bushing sleeves off today using a sawzall to cut the sleeve at 12 and 6 o' clock then used a chizel and hammer and it came out pretty easy.

Now I'm just going to clean up the bushing opening lube it up and press em in.

 

One more thing before I press them in. I believe I read somewhere here while doing my research for this job that the openings on the bushings (marked with red arrows in the pic) have to go a certain direction. I believe they said it was for the caster adjustment maybe?