Newbie here!Was wondering how much to budget for the timing belt replacement.Water pump will be done at the same time.What else should I figure on doing?Fluids look good!The only problem I can find with my 95 is some brake shudder when I apply hard.This car has sat for a few years.Appreciate your help

 

are you having it done? if so ~1100 at the dealership or ~600-800 at a good independent.

brakes need to be cut (rotors)

 

I have a 98 LS400 with 80,000 miles and still running the original timing belt. Should I wait till 90k to have it changed ? Also when to change the spark plugs?

 

i would do it at 90, just because otherwise u run the (rare) risk of it snapping, and since the 98 is interference, you would kill the motor.

 

Does it matter now the belt is ten years old but the milage is only 80K? I'm driving only about 3000 miles per year, so I don't have to worry about it for another 3 years at least. Is there a way to inspect the timing belt condition?

Yes I'm aware of the interference engine design.


Anyone has a reference for a good trustworthy Honolulu Lexus independent mechanics? Thank you so very much.

 

PD/Thanks for the info.I figured the rotors needed a cut.Car is amazing!97000 miles and still feels like a new car.

 

You might want to try a Toyota dealer if you're going to go the dealer route. I'm having my done at my local Toyota dealer for $ 850. Lexus wanted $ 1600.

 

I would say around $600, but I know this website called www.lexls(dot)com. And it it has a step by step guide on how to replace the timing belt and water pump. It would certainly save you lots of money, and if your a newbie, it would probably take you a couple of days, probably a weekend. This weekend im going to replace the radiator, so I'd look into doing the repair yourself if you don't want to spend around $600.

 

if your brakes shudder, you probably need to replace the front rotors. I just did mine yesterday, and a pair of rotors cost $50 bucks, and the installation took me 2 hours because Im a newbie myself. Go to www.lexls.com for a step by step tutorial on how to swap the front rotors. It tells you to swap the brake pads as well, but if their is still a lot of pad left, I wouldn't bother replacing the pads.

 

Thanks for the info.I was actually going to check out a Toyota dealer in Lakeland.My girlfriend's brother has a friend who works as a service writer there.

 

Thanks for the input demonboy!I am up for the rotor work but the timing belt is going to be left for the professionals.I still have nightmares of my long departed 84 Regal that I decided to play mechanic on.I replaced the timing chain with the help of a friend.I still can't figure out where all those leftover bolts and screws that we had when we buttoned it up went?Thank god it ran!

 

timing belt & water pump isn't that bad... a buddy and i did mine in about 6 hours. not bad, considering we've never done a V8 before.

 

I am not a DIY so had it the following done at a reputed independant for 2500CAD(hi taxes!)
Timing belt(including pulley etc)
Water pump
plugs
wires
distributor cap

I probably paid too much but I wanted to have it done right..

 

i got my lexus friend to do it for me. since i would be peeing in my pants if i tried it myself. seems like a very very long task. it took him 6 hours to do. since you have to rip up a lot of stuff. i think from the dealership it cost about 2,000+. which is the price of installation w/ labor.