I have a 2014 Lexus IS350 AWD

I am looking to replace the front lower control arm bushing with GSF version due to the inner tire wear problem I have been having since I just bought new tires I already bought the parts 48075-24010 and 48076-24010. The dealer said to install caster bushings (is that the same thing? Just want to make sure) it will cost 360 + another 160 for an alignment. Is that kind of steep or in line with what dealer would charge? I had good experience with the dealer, they do all my maintenance, I would pay more to make sure nobody mess up the suspension on my car, but is 360 a bit steep? As far as I can tell it's a direct swap and shouldn't need any pressing. Also I just did an alignment on the car ~500 miles ago, I wonder if another alignment would be needed here.

If anyone can recommend a trusty worthy Lexus shop in the Chicago area I would be glad to check them out also. Thanks in advance.

 

Here's a video on how do it yourself. Also, it would be wise to get an alignment done after they're installed. Just to make sure you're still good. Some shops will do a check and if the car is still in alignment, they won't charge you. That has been my experience at least.

 

Agreed, I installed mine myself with the help of a YouTube video, it was a very easy pretty straight forward install. I have access to a lift so it make the job faster (took about 45 minutes to install both), but I'm sure I could have done it in a driveway with jack stands with a little bit of extra time.

If you are truly not comfortable, or able to, preform this job yourself, then I think the quote you got is a little high. I am unsure if it is just a market price difference in labor between where you and I live, or if they are charging more hours than what is actually needed. Even going very slow and taking their time, they should be able to knock the LCA bushing out in an hour, 1.5 hours max if you have some seized up bolts or something, so that labor price they quoted is either very expensive labor per hour, or charging for more hours than needed, in my opinion.

Also I can find many well rated alignments shops near me to do an alignment for anywhere between $70 and $100, so their 160 seems high. My car was in perfect alignment spec after installing mine, so it wasn't even needed, but it's not a bad idea to have it checked.

 

The dealer is ripping you off!! I bought the bushings and had them installed at a local Toyota dealer and they charged me .75h of labor (which is about 90$/hour so I paid 68$ plus a few shop fees) and said no alignment was required since the car was new and the way they mounted the bushing should have had zero impact on the alignment. With taxes and all, it was just about 85$ canadian

Now if you havent had an alignment in a while and putting new tires as well, it wouldnt be a bad idea but you decide for yourself

 

Bushings I bought on Toyota Hollywood website (cheapest), think it was around $160 shipped. Paid 3rd party mechanic $100 to install, it's a direct swap. Even I thought $100 was too much, should've been like $50 cus he did it in like 30 minutes lol

The mechanic initially thought it would be more intensive to swap but I told him it's direct swap, he listened to what I had to say and obviously wanted to see it for himself because he was a bit surprised when I said it was a direct swap.

No alignment needed

 

Echoing everyone else in the thread, the stealership is ripping you off. I had mine installed at a shop for under an hours labor and got an alignment done. Be warned though that some people have reported the problem even after swapping to GSF bushings. YMMV
Usually, people recommend Figs 90 Duro or the RR Racing USRS to be certain.

 

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One of the problems with what dealers and some shops charge is they go by "the book" rates which includes taking off the front wheels and stuff. But that's all unneccesary as it can be done by just unbolting the parts connected.

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Do it yourself

 

I've got the RCF/GSF bushings sitting in my house because I just haven't had the time to do it myself - which I plan to do. I got quoted $535 from a private shop and never called them back. I'm not paying that kinda money in labor when the bushings were only $113 including shipping.

 

the labor price seems fair actually.

if you're anything like me ... i put a lot of premium on having piece of mind of the work backed by Lexus.

 

alignment is definitely needed after this.

someone suggested this to me .... not unlike letting your springs break in a little before doing an alignment ... apparently, its a good idea to do the same for LCA's.

 

It shouldn't be more than one hour's labor to install, and it takes maybe 20 minutes for a shop to do it.
I had my regular mechanic do it.

 

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That particular suggestion isn't practical for a large number of people. Many of us don't have a good location that's safe and practical; have an appropriate jack and stands to hold the car up safely; don't have the physical ability to manuever under a car; or even lack the basic understanding of mechanic work. None of those (or lack of) reasons precludes a desire to have any work done on anything other than by a person accomplished in that area.

So for many folks, doing what you do best (and perhaps for a living) and paying someone with a certain expertise to do what you can't is using good judgement.

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Hear, hear.

 

Thanks all for chiming in, I do appreciate the advice and insight. I think I will hold off and just try to find a local mechanic that can take care of this for cheaper.