If you want a soft cushy ride, factory replacements or the likes of Monroe or Gabriel will duplicate the original ride. The KYB GR2 and Tokico HP are higher performing units and some may be more sensitive to the changes even if very slight. The KYB AGX is a sport unit and even stiffer. I don't think it is applicable to any of the LS's though.

I've had the KYB GR2 and Tokico HP's on another car and for that application, the Tokico HP was firmer. If you are a gentle cruiser the factory set-up is perfect. If you want to "drive" the car a bit more:

The first gen has the KYB, Tokico and Koni as upgrades.
Second gen has KYB and Bilstein for upgrades.
Dunno about the 3'rd gen.

 

Hey. How would you compare the ride on a '79 Fleetwood Brougham to the ride in a Lexus LS? Softer? I'm guessing the Fleetwood Brougham had more of a bouncy, cushy ride.. I'm also guessing you felt bumps even less.. Am I wrong?

 

To try and compare an auto from '79 to '90 is a worlds apart. Tires, suspension geometry, shocks/struts, brakes...the technology is so much more. The Caddy's of that era were McPhearson and a solid axle with coils or leaf springs me thinks. Caddys of that time feel big, heavy and slow to steering input. Not to mention that typical GM steering feel of nothingness and the disconnected driving experience. Those were floaty and soft. They wallowed through turns and over bumps. This came at the expense of precise handling for lots of understeer and body roll.

The LS like others in this class, glide over the roads with the suspension reacting to the bumps and the body remaining stable. Some may think that luxury smooth rides come at the expense of good precise steering feel, not so with the current technology, the LS handles IMO remarkably well.

As dj.ctwatt mentioned, the advancing technology improves the ride while not giving up good handling. With the active suspension in the newer cars, it will be smooth yet even more responsive.

An aside to this, compare the performance stats of today's cars to those 10 and 15 years back. With cars like the Subaru WRX and Mitsu EVO were talking cars that exceed some of the past Italian and German exotics...even some current hi-po thoroughbreds may be challenged.

 

Drill holes in your struts and let the oil drain out and it should ride like a Caddie!!!!!!

 

now thats engineering at its finest.. .Lexkost Engineering

 

That describes it.
Don't ya just love that slow bounce as you drive dowen the FWY?

 

With the Toyota OEM struts on my Lexus- the ride is much better and I think that it is a ride and handling mix that most folks would be very pleased with. It seems like at higher speeds it is very soft and even floaty at times, but it still soaks up large bumps, without causing excessive bounce. The old KYB's that the previous owner had installed picked up even the smallest bump. The ride was overly firm and harsh.
I am glad I replaced them.

As a owner of two large American cars - a 1989 Pontiac Safari (full-size) station wagon (same basic body style as a 79 Cadillac in question) and the ride is not as floaty as one would think on the highway. True- the comment about the rear suspension on these cars. It is a solid rear axle, with coil springs. My car can get bouncy in the rear over a even dip in the road, but overall- it is well controlled and handling is decent. I have however seen cars just like this (full-size 1977-1990 GM cars) literally floating down the highway. I seen one a while back that looked like the front end was going to bounce into the air. I am guessing that the front struts were totally out of oil. Also- while bizarre- I was behind a early 90s Chevrolet Lumina APV minivan, that was bouncing in the back, as if the struts were completely gone. It was like the only suspension was coil springs. When a tire would hit a bump or hole in the road, it would rapidly bounce like a ball. It was actually amusing, but would be very dangerous to drive on a curvy road, or freeway. When the woman would stop at a traffic light- the van would literally bounce 15 times in the back before it stopped bouncing.
My 92' Buick has what is called "Dyna-ride" or as my father calls it "dinosaur ride", suspension. It is quite soft (air suspension), but seems well stable on the highway and handling is good- while not as responsive as my Lexus. It is the non-air suspension 90s Buicks that seem to have the super soft suspension.

I have also owned early 1970s American cars, and while many with worn shocks are softly sprung, one with good shocks have a well controlled ride and suprisingly good handling, considering these cars size and weight. My old 72' Buick Electra 225 Custom 4dr had a cloud-like ride, but did not excessively bounce all over the highway, but it did have that "slow floaty" ride to it- which American cars of the 1960s thru the 1970s were designed for.

 

Hey Guys:

Sorry I didn't reply. I was following the link from the email notification I got and it wouldn't let me reply all weekend. It just finally donned on me today that I have to enter the site from outside of Hotmail.

rybikowsky, I can understand why someone would want a stiffer ride, it's just that this is a jittery ride. I have to admit, this Lex really handles great around curves and on the freeway, but what bothers me to no end is the ride around town. You want talk about bumps throwing you all over the place? This thing is worse than a 1-ton truck around even the smallest bumps. This is not why I bought a full-size Lexus.

Furthermore, I completely agree with dj.ctwatt. I think this car's performance in some instances may actually be decreased by the way the modified suspension interacts with the frame of the car. It's almost like the harshness sets up an oscillation through the core of the car that could affect handling in some instances. Finances permitting, my first priority is changing out the rears, hopefully followed by the fronts. I'm interested to see if the hybrid of KYB's on the front and stock on the rear will be okay.

Sal, I have to tell you, there's no comparison in handling between a 5000 lb. caddy and this Lexus. However, in the case of these crappy KYB's, I almost like the Caddy's ride more below 40mph. But compared to the way it should be--the other 6 or 7 LS's I drove--the Lexus is such a far superior automobile. The Caddy was four wheels, a huge motor, and lots of leather. My LS is a magnificent piece of engineering and feels like it was chiseled out of one piece of Iron.

With the way this thing rides now, I'm just about to break out the drill and go for it. I guess you performance guys must think I suck, but I don't get why anyone would put KYB's on their LS400. It takes the car from a pinnacle of excellence and refinement down to the level of mini trucks and sentra's. Just my .02

 

LSPilot, If you live in Socal look me up and I will give you a ride in my 96LS with bilsteins and eibach and 245/40-18contiextreme contacts and you will not believe the ride..........................Look on April 18 calendar for my Meet / BBQ ...It has my address........................MIKE

 

ls pilot. You must have tried a different model kyb. then I have. Mine are only on the rear. stock on the front. To me the car has a great combination of ride and handling. No harshness no jiggling. As far as not really being perceptive enough to know if the car really handles better I grew up in the country. It was a normal thing among my peers to do point to point races over the country roads. Usually in the area of twenty miles. We all learned what made the cars handle better or worse. I had a hudson that would outhandle almost anything. I also have had a ama. motorcycle raceing license. Although for decades my favorite compitition is to race a motorcycle through, the mountains. I have no doubt that people with a motorcycle rideing background are by far better automobile drivers. Carpe diem Michael r

 

mike stop trying to pick up people and get them to ride with you, dont you have a wife? eek2: lol just kidding around with

 

Hey, I thought you needed some help with you exhaust tips?...................Be Nice to the Lexkost!! He is a sensitive Motherflower.

 

Mike-

I should have taken a ride with you at the Nov 8 meet. We have to get you one of those signs that reads "test rides".

I'll have much the same set-up as yours once it is all done. Springs and strut rods are sitting here, the Bilsteins should arrive on Thurs or Fri. I just wish there were some anti-roll bars. I've debated 19" wheels but I think the ride will start to become harsh and I want enough sidewall to deflect some of the So Cal roads. If you are moving to 19's, I may be interested in your 18" ers.

 

 

As for the sway bars I am working on a urethane replacement for them.
I am looking for 20's I will PM you when I take the 18's off ,tires also.
Mike ,will you be running the bilsteins on the high or low spring purch?