Question for LS Experts
 

I've got a 2000 LS400 w/ 88K miles and here's my problem: When driving over uneven pavement like traintracks or on a gravel road you can literally feel a clunking/rattle or "jiggle" through the steering wheel. These words are the best I can use to describe it. Any ideas ????

Im no "LS Expert" but there's a few things you should get checked out with the car up on a hoist.

Steering rack bushes
Lower control arm/wishbone bushes
Steering rack/tierod ends/knuckles
Upper control arms (sealed/greased rose joints where they attach to the body on 95-2000 LS).

These are pretty common causes for slack/loose steering feel in many cars - a decent mechanic should be able to track it down without too much labour involved if you don't feel like getting under there yourself.

Steering rack bushes are worth doing regardless - urethane replacements are cheap and make a nice difference. Just beware when using urethane bushes in the suspension though, they can make the car squeak/creak if they're not lubed right.

Probably the stut rod bushings -- usually the first front end component to go on a 98-00 LS400. Search for recent threads. The ones on my 2000 LS400 were replaced at 86,000 miles -- that ended the clunking and vibrations and made the car feel like new.

first guess would also be dead strut rod bushings. MAYBE LBJs as well but its a bit more rare.

Sounds like I will start with Strut Rod Bushings and see if it corrects the problem. Does Lexus sell just the bushings ? If not, then do I have to go with Poly ones like those from Adus or does someone make simple rubber ones ? Thanks for your time and knowledge guys.

lexus doesnt sell just bushings, but you can get ADUS or the rebranded CarsonTuned (also adus) bushings.
honestly, just buy the bars, they're not too badly priced (~$120-130/each, need 2) and they won't squeak like the poly bushings do when its cold out :doh:

Good answers here -- the noise you are hearing is likely 80-90% the bushings being referred. With the mileage it wouldn't hurt to go ahead and replace them even if they aren't the cause... which I somewhat doubt.

Puredrifter really knows what he's talking about. :)

Sweet, thanks a heck of a lot guys...... I'll let you know how it turns out.