Hi everyone,

Apologies if this is not the correct forum to post this thread beforehand! I noticed that my IS is making clicking/ticking sounds while turning at low speeds (e.g., parking). It is only audible with the windows down, and there are no noises inside the car. The dealership didn't want to diagnose further since I am on lowering springs, but initially they couldn't see anything wrong. Ride is 100% fine, and there are no noises while going over bumps etc. Below is a link to a video that shows the issue. Any ideas or recommendations for suspension specialists in the LA area? Thanks in advance.

Let me guess, the lowering springs are RS-R? I can't speak to the IS on springs but I can speak to a Lexus NX on RS-R springs. I believe the noise you are hearing is from the strut mount. At least that is what the Lexus dealer and spring installer told me. Mine made the same noise. It sounds like a spring is literally coiling up when turning. Mine started that sound immediately after the spring install with only 500 miles on the odometer. Which also made me suspect of it being the strut mount. Seeing how they only had 500 miles on them. It made me think the RS-R springs were made with a softer spring. I may be wrong and completely off base, but I have lowered numerous other vehicles with springs from Eibach and H&R and not once had this problem. Hope that helps out some way for ya.

Your assumption is correct -- I am on RS-R springs, and the sound does match your description. Is there a solution to it at all, or is it just part of the deal? As I mentioned, I can only hear the sound with the windows down, but not even sure if it's something to worry about since the dealership couldn't find any other major issues. Thanks!

No solution I could find, other than put the stock springs back on. I wound up trading the NX after only 9 months as I hated that vehicle. The noise in mine could actually be heard inside the car too, but only at very slow speeds and while parking, like you said. Didn't have to have the windows down. But there were no issues mechanically that anybody could find, so it was fine. It just made the noise. But that was unacceptable to me and the simple reason I won't use RS-R springs on anything else. I know some people don't have issues, but I won't take the chance.

Gotcha - - I am actually very happy with the springs. I drove a stock IS yesterday and didn't like the "floaty" feeling. The person who installed mine only used an impact gun, so probably its just a matter of using the correct torque specs and making sure that they are sitting correctly . Thanks for the help!

I know on my 2016 IS200T F Sport I installed Tein H Techs (same drop as Blue F Sport) and had zero noises. That's the thing about having someone install, you don't know how they performed every single step and if they did. But as said, probably something to do with the front damper mount.

Maybe visually inspect it and/or take high quality photos with flash and post them up. should be able to spot any obvious defects, spring not seated correctly, for example.

It is hard to get access past the upper control arm, but I can't spot any obvious defects (a few pictures below). I am actually starting to doubt that it is the struts mounts since there is no strange sounds while only turning the steering wheel, or going through bumps etc, but I could be completely wrong. This is only a very high pitched ticking sound that can be heard once the steering wheel is fully turned, and moving back and forth at slow speed as heard in the video. No loud clunking or anything that can be heard with the windows up.

Right strut steering wheel fully turned right

Left strut steering wheel fully turned left

Right strut

Left strut