Strut mounts
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Strut mounts
I need two front strut mounts. I know that I have to have an alignment done. Toyota wants $ 550.00 to install including the alignment. Is this reasonable?
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Thanks much. I think I'm ok with their price then considering that it includes an alignment also. I know I could pick up the parts on line for half of the retail price listed above. I'm considering just ordering the parts and taking it to an indie to do. This doesn't seem that it's the type of thing that must be done by the dealer. Can any good mechanic handle this?
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Also, would it make more sense just to get the entire strut and replace the whole thing? My car has 130K miles on it, so it's gonna need some new ones at some point.
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You might consider trying to cultivate a long term relationship with a good local indie shop that specializes in Japanese cars. Like having a good plumber or CPA, these trusted relationships going forward can save you a lot of aggravation and $$. Otherwise you'll be at the mercy of the dealership for repairs such as this. Do some comparison shopping. They'll probably be around $250-350, and less if you bring the parts but remember most shops depend on parts markup as part of their profit. KYB shock mounts are about $60 each on ebay and pretty much OEM quality. You could become a DIYer but this takes some commitment. There is a decent investment in tools and unless you find it somewhat enjoyable to wrench, it may just become a chore.
After the dealer gets in there, they may tell you the shocks need replacing. I'm willing to bet they'll also nick you for new bumpers (#5) ~$15 each and new insulators (#4) ~$30 each. It adds up quickly.
130m on your shocks is pretty good service. They are probably due. If you are going to drive the car for awhile, might as well enjoy it with new shocks. There is a bit more additional work to change shocks but the majority is done just to get to the mount. Again a quote from a few indies will help you decide. The call from the dealer, mid repair, will probably cost you into 4 figures.
What symptoms do you have and I take it the dealer did the diagnosis?
glenmore
1990 LS400
1991 300CE
2000 C280
After the dealer gets in there, they may tell you the shocks need replacing. I'm willing to bet they'll also nick you for new bumpers (#5) ~$15 each and new insulators (#4) ~$30 each. It adds up quickly.
130m on your shocks is pretty good service. They are probably due. If you are going to drive the car for awhile, might as well enjoy it with new shocks. There is a bit more additional work to change shocks but the majority is done just to get to the mount. Again a quote from a few indies will help you decide. The call from the dealer, mid repair, will probably cost you into 4 figures.
What symptoms do you have and I take it the dealer did the diagnosis?
glenmore
1990 LS400
1991 300CE
2000 C280
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Thanks Glenmore,
The DIY thing is not for me mainly because I just don't have the time and tools. I did take the car in for a second opinion today. Basically, I'm getting a loud clunk from the lower part of the front suspension when I brake hard or go over bumps. As it turns out, the strut mounts may not be the problem at all. Here's what they say are the problems now, which I visually inspected with them:
1) Worn sway bar bushings
2) Worn lower control arm bushings
3) Worn engine and transmission mounts
Basically, the common suspension and mount problems with an LS this age. I'm not convinced that the engine and trans mounts need to be done right now, but I'll see what they quote me and check back here. I'll probably break this work up over the next few months and just get the bushings done on the sway bar and the LCA for now.
The DIY thing is not for me mainly because I just don't have the time and tools. I did take the car in for a second opinion today. Basically, I'm getting a loud clunk from the lower part of the front suspension when I brake hard or go over bumps. As it turns out, the strut mounts may not be the problem at all. Here's what they say are the problems now, which I visually inspected with them:
1) Worn sway bar bushings
2) Worn lower control arm bushings
3) Worn engine and transmission mounts
Basically, the common suspension and mount problems with an LS this age. I'm not convinced that the engine and trans mounts need to be done right now, but I'll see what they quote me and check back here. I'll probably break this work up over the next few months and just get the bushings done on the sway bar and the LCA for now.
You might consider trying to cultivate a long term relationship with a good local indie shop that specializes in Japanese cars. Like having a good plumber or CPA, these trusted relationships going forward can save you a lot of aggravation and $$. Otherwise you'll be at the mercy of the dealership for repairs such as this. Do some comparison shopping. They'll probably be around $250-350, and less if you bring the parts but remember most shops depend on parts markup as part of their profit. KYB shock mounts are about $60 each on ebay and pretty much OEM quality. You could become a DIYer but this takes some commitment. There is a decent investment in tools and unless you find it somewhat enjoyable to wrench, it may just become a chore.
After the dealer gets in there, they may tell you the shocks need replacing. I'm willing to bet they'll also nick you for new bumpers (#5) ~$15 each and new insulators (#4) ~$30 each. It adds up quickly.
130m on your shocks is pretty good service. They are probably due. If you are going to drive the car for awhile, might as well enjoy it with new shocks. There is a bit more additional work to change shocks but the majority is done just to get to the mount. Again a quote from a few indies will help you decide. The call from the dealer, mid repair, will probably cost you into 4 figures.
What symptoms do you have and I take it the dealer did the diagnosis?
glenmore
1990 LS400
1991 300CE
2000 C280
After the dealer gets in there, they may tell you the shocks need replacing. I'm willing to bet they'll also nick you for new bumpers (#5) ~$15 each and new insulators (#4) ~$30 each. It adds up quickly.
130m on your shocks is pretty good service. They are probably due. If you are going to drive the car for awhile, might as well enjoy it with new shocks. There is a bit more additional work to change shocks but the majority is done just to get to the mount. Again a quote from a few indies will help you decide. The call from the dealer, mid repair, will probably cost you into 4 figures.
What symptoms do you have and I take it the dealer did the diagnosis?
glenmore
1990 LS400
1991 300CE
2000 C280
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Thanks Glenmore,
The DIY thing is not for me mainly because I just don't have the time and tools. I did take the car in for a second opinion today. Basically, I'm getting a loud clunk from the lower part of the front suspension when I brake hard or go over bumps. As it turns out, the strut mounts may not be the problem at all. Here's what they say are the problems now, which I visually inspected with them:
1) Worn sway bar bushings
2) Worn lower control arm bushings
3) Worn engine and transmission mounts
Basically, the common suspension and mount problems with an LS this age. I'm not convinced that the engine and trans mounts need to be done right now, but I'll see what they quote me and check back here. I'll probably break this work up over the next few months and just get the bushings done on the sway bar and the LCA for now.
The DIY thing is not for me mainly because I just don't have the time and tools. I did take the car in for a second opinion today. Basically, I'm getting a loud clunk from the lower part of the front suspension when I brake hard or go over bumps. As it turns out, the strut mounts may not be the problem at all. Here's what they say are the problems now, which I visually inspected with them:
1) Worn sway bar bushings
2) Worn lower control arm bushings
3) Worn engine and transmission mounts
Basically, the common suspension and mount problems with an LS this age. I'm not convinced that the engine and trans mounts need to be done right now, but I'll see what they quote me and check back here. I'll probably break this work up over the next few months and just get the bushings done on the sway bar and the LCA for now.
With my suspension noise, I started with shocks and it wasn't cured until I had also done sway bushings and strut bar cushions.
Good luck,
glenmore
1990 LS400
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Exact same symptoms I had on my 96. My issue was strut rod bushings (cushions), and I replaced them myself. A decent shop will put it on a rack and show you the damage to the bushings.
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I got my bushings and strut rods in and am having them installed tomorrow. I got quotes from two indies. One wanted $ 700+ just to install the parts (claimed this would require 10 hours) while the other guy quoted half of that for the same thing. Obviously, I went with the cheaper guy. Hopefully the clunking that's driving me nuts stops tomorrow. I plan on taking pre-emptive action on the motor and trans mounts later this summer.
One thing I found however was that I could not purchase strut rod cushions separately. From what I was told, they're part of the strut rods. I ordered everything from mylexparts.com and the rods ran about 200 for the pair.
One thing I found however was that I could not purchase strut rod cushions separately. From what I was told, they're part of the strut rods. I ordered everything from mylexparts.com and the rods ran about 200 for the pair.
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