ur2slow1

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 ????

gmacrae

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.

Kansas

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.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

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

ur2slow1

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.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

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

Neofate

iTrader: (1)

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.

ur2slow1

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