jasole

***Final Update Dec 2016***
My car is finally fixed. The cause of the noise was the rear spring, not the shocks. All is good.

***Update Aug 2016***
Sorry to resurrect this thread, but it's been about a year since the repair, and the noise is back! Unbelievable.

***2nd UPDATE***
Finally got my car back. The noise is gone. They replaced both rear shocks and a bunch of other stuff associated with them. 14 part numbers are listed. They swapped suspension components and disconnected the sway bar to pinpoint the noise. Finally, they had a technician ride in the trunk and put his hand on the shock top mount. He felt and heard the tapping noise. So the replaced the shock. Then they did went into the trunk again after the replacement and found it was also happening on the left side, but was not as noticeable. So they replaced the left side. All in all, it took 15 days and 50 miles of test driving to fix it. Just happy to get my car back in one peace.

***UPDATE***
The dealer replaced the rear right shock. Took them 7 days to do it because the shocks were allegedly on back order and had to get it from another dealer. Whatever. Anyways, after the replacement, now they are saying that the left rear is making the same noise. So, they have to order the rear left, which is also on national back order. Will take another week. Considering that I had already told them that I had heard the noise coming from the left side once in a while (but wasn't sure), they should have paid attention to it.
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Hello. Has anyone experienced an intermittent tapping noise coming from the rear right wheel when driving over bumps or uneven roads and/or lightly applying the brakes? This happens at all speeds but prevalent in low speeds (less than 15 mph and even going in reverse) and during warmer weather. It did not make noises over the winter. I have to assume whatever part is causing the noise needs to be warmed up.

The sound is similar to the noise when you hit the trunk release, but not as loud or high pitched. It will happen a few times after applying the brakes and/or when coming off a bump. Tap tap... tap... tap tap tap.

The dealer was told to replace the rear right shock by a Lexus FTS. Just before they were about to replace the shock, the FTS told them to swap the left and right rear suspension parts (not sure which ones). The tapping noise was still there from the same right rear side.

When there's a heavy passenger, the noise is not as frequent, which the dealer even said they verified. They used bricks for the car to drive over to confirm the noise and verified that adding a passenger makes the issue less apparent.

Anyone have any insight to this annoying issue? It's getting tiring dealing with them. Too many excuses and delays. I've been there four times already. I've spent way too many hours at the dealership.

Thanks fellas!

CrazyTrain

Funny you mention this. I hear an intermittent "bopping" sound under the same conditions. I've noticed it for about a year now, but always forget to mention it to my service advisor. Need to bring it up next time I take my car in for service. Since the noise stayed on the same side after the suspension component swap, I have a feeling that the sound is being generated by another part.

Compthis

iTrader: (1)

Is it possible it's the sway bar end link or bushing? My noise started just as you said, then started on the drivers too. Now I don't know 100% if that's the problem but when the car is on a hoist, everything looks and feels solid. You can drive without a swaybar, remove it and go for a drive and see if the noise goes away.

Helo58

I had a car (not the IS F) where the gas tank was moving around slightly but making a "clunking" noise. It only did it when the tank was full. Maybe check this out and see if there is any correlation with tank full/tank empty.

I8ABMR

Man this is frustrating when you go to a dealer and they tell you they know there is a problem but they cant fix it. They pulled this BS on me with my LS460 and a vibration issue. I told the manager , " well, should I take my 75k flagship Lexus sedan to Pep Boys, WTF !?!?"

jasole

Thanks. I will bring up that suggestion to them. But I'm not sure if that's the problem because the noise also happens without the car hitting bumps. It even does it when I reverse on smooth pavement.

jasole

Please explain bopping. My noise is a hollow tapping...similar to the trunk release sound. Almost a clicking noise, but tapping is more appropriate.

jasole

Thanks. I will let them know. I haven't noticed it becoming louder when the tank was empty.

jasole

So, how did it end up for you? Did they finally fix the problem?

ISFTOMMY

I had this it was the rear shock that needed to be replaced.

CrazyTrain

Yeah, it's similar to the trunk release sound. It's hard to explain except that it sounds like a plunger almost.

I8ABMR

NOPE !! They are trying to say it could be normal because its an F !! So pissed. I am trying to get another member to send me a video of their car idling with the AC on so they see its not normal for the rpm to jump 150 rpm every 10 seconds and drop.

I told them if they cant fix it then I want the Lexus engineers to look at it. I am so tired of the dealers who don't really do **** other than maintenance and oil changes. If it gets out of the regular easy BS they just say we don't know what the issue is and go away

CrazyTrain

Scheduled a road test at my dealership in 2 weeks. Hopefully they can pinpoint the source of the sound and repair it.

I8ABMR

In the medical field they train doctors with an old expression...." when you hear hoof steps you need to think horses not zebras". Meaning when you diagnose an issue look for the more obvious or likely. Our problem is we have a zebra kind of issue and these clowns are all used to just looking for horses .

Bigcloud

My car does this as well. And I've noticed abnormal wear in my rear tire where it is coming from. I'll look into the rear shock as well.