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I really do hope it works out for you. For me, the last resort is to put back my stock LCA to see if the noise is gone. But first, I will need to do an alignment just to ensure I dont left out anything.
An alignment will not fix a rattle. When the bar was off, could you pinpoint a side?
I worked at a frame and alignment shop for 6 years. You need that up on a drive up lift and get under it while another steers back and forth and put your hand on everything. Well, if you can duplicate while parked. Even if that's a no, a good frontend guy can find stuff.
Also look for red rust. It indicates movement at a point that shouldn't be moving.
An alignment will not fix a rattle. When the bar was off, could you pinpoint a side?
I worked at a frame and alignment shop for 6 years. You need that up on a drive up lift and get under it while another steers back and forth and put your hand on everything. Well, if you can duplicate while parked. Even if that's a no, a good frontend guy can find stuff.
Also look for red rust. It indicates movement at a point that shouldn't be moving.
Thank you very much for the insight. When the sway bar off, I still can hear the exact noise from the drive side. But I'll try your suggestion and hopefully I'll find something.
Thank you very much for the insight. When the sway bar off, I still can hear the exact noise from the drive side. But I'll try your suggestion and hopefully I'll find something.
Check the upper control arm body bolts. They tend to come loose over time.
UPDATE: They sent me the wrong End Links. One of the boxes was opened, End Link was used, and put back in the box. Both were drivers side End Links, so had to put everything back together. Checked the LCA Bushings, everything is good. Rattle is definitely coming from the stock End Links/front Sway bar. I will have to return these and get them to send me new ones. Kinda of sucks, but that is the price you pay ordering parts over the internet...
Another update: CARiD sent me a replacement Side Stabilizer End Link, it should come in today according to UPS tracking. Hopefully I will get some time and try to get it installed tomorrow. I really am hoping to get this rattling issues resolved before I'm too old to care...
Well I have another update. The MOOG End Links don't fit. Double checked the part numbers with CARiD, they are correct but they just don't fit. Had to order End Links from the Lexus dealer as the current End Links are worn. They are on their way and hopefully everything will be installed today. CARiD is processing the return for the MOOG's
Those are exactly what I have, same part numbers. They don't fit. I don't know if the parts are mislabeled or defective. We were able to get the drivers side on with a lot of difficulty, but not the passenger side at all. The stock End links come off and on easily. This is what an experienced mechanic who has done hundreds of these installs told me
Last edited by AMIRZA786; Jul 8, 2020 at 02:33 PM.
New stock End Links have been installed, the rattling is completely gone! It is now official they were the cause. It's such a pleasure to have my car back and to drive in silence! Now I just want to go on a long drive!!
Last edited by AMIRZA786; Jul 8, 2020 at 05:23 PM.
Cool, I'm glad you solved it. I might have to look at my end links again although I got them new from Longo Lexus. But you will never know if they come in defective.
Cool, I'm glad you solved it. I might have to look at my end links again although I got them new from Longo Lexus. But you will never know if they come in defective.
Thanks for the update.
Your issue may be something other than the End Links, it could be the sway bar bushings, the UCA being loose, front struts ECT. RR Racing support told me that due to the simple design of the LCA Bushings, he doubts any rattling would come from this component
Last edited by AMIRZA786; Jul 8, 2020 at 09:57 PM.
So did you ever compare them or see exactly what the issue was? A small burr inside the sway bar end could easily prevent the stud end of the joint from entering. You know, the old "hole is too tight issue", but if its turned 90° out of phase from the OEM, that's a form fit function issue (FFF).
So did you ever compare them or see exactly what the issue was? A small burr inside the sway bar end could easily prevent the stud end of the joint from entering. You know, the old "hole is too tight issue", but if its turned 90° out of phase from the OEM, that's a form fit function issue (FFF).
I'm just curious what the actual problem was. Thx
There were two issues:
The first was the part of the stud that is circled was too thick, so he could not get it through the Sway bar end:
The second issue was that the nuts that came with End Links would not fully thread on the studs without using an impact gun, which would strip the threads
As I mentioned earlier, my mechanic is very experienced and has done hundreds of these. If a part doesn't fit properly, he won't modify it to fit. He also told me that he has installed lots of components from MOOG, and he believes that these are just generic repackaged parts and are not actually a MOOG product. There was nothing on the End Link stamped 'MOOG". Anyway the OEM End Links from Lexus worked perfectly, now there is absolutely no rattling or noise. I drove this morning on a rough road, and absolutely no excess noise or rattles
Now that this problem has been finally resolved, a word of advice for those of you adding or upgrading your sway bars: make sure to change your End Links as well. That would have saved me two weeks of being driven crazy by rattles!
