Guys this is why I started this thread-
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...5450010-a.html
Energysuspensionparts.com sells a LCA bushing for all LS400 years from 90 - 2000 with the same part number. This would lead me to believe the diameter of the bushing hole is consistent, even if the arm itself changes slightly over the years,
Lexus sells a LCA bushing 4865450010 that can be seen in the parts diagram of 94 LS400's. I'm still very curious about this but it's obviously guessing so hopefully someone can help us find an answer...

 

Since I have a 12 ton shop press and the capability to do this, I went ahead and ordered those bushings ($28.72 shipped) to replace the old ones. Sure enough, when I went to a local brake shop and asked for an inspection, they let me look underneath the car and I found out that the lower arms weren't centered anymore where the bushings are located. They were sliding on the metal sleeves, so I'm certain that's what's causing the clunking, with them most likely moving front to back during moderate bumps and while turning.

The bushings get here between March 6-9th, so I'll start on the job right after that and take pictures of them to let you know the quality. I'll also take measurements of them with a digital caliper and post up the dimensions in case anyone is wondering.

 

I didn't comment in that thread since people were talking about strut rod bushings and mixing things up, going off topic. So if anyone were to refer or search for a LCA bushing thread, they would get a more direct answer in this one.

 

I took a video of my driver side lower control arm. Sure enough, there is visible play when I move the wheel from side to side holding at 3 and 9 o'clock consistent with the clunking I'm hearing.

For some reason photobucket won't accept my video, so i've got it posted to my facebook

https://www.facebook.com/10034083/videos/10107561353608651/

 

The suspension in my 97 LS400 is still good & I plan on keeping mine for a long time so I went ahead & purchased the Febest bushings for the LCAs & genuine Lexus' bushing for the front arms. For those interested in buying the Febest, they're about $14 each. I've just got the bushings a few weeks ago & the rubber looks good. They look like well-made bushings.

 

I am ordering mine today

 

I use OEM bushings if I can find them.
I drilled away the rubber with a battery operated drill.
I then very carefully sawed almost through the metal outer bushing metall and used a chisel to crack it and then hammered it out gently.
For pressing it in I made a simple press with a cheap hydraulic jack, 4 threaded rods , washers and nuts and some wood. I used cheap sockets as press tools.
These bushing use a nifty inexpensive design where they are quite a lot of over dimension.
The steel is annealed and very soft. This means that they deform when pressing them in with well known force and go in with a few tons of force.
I think that 5 tons definitely would be enough. I built a 20 Tons press to be safe also for bigger jobs. Cost was about 80$.

Mikael

 

I was able to remove my LCA this evening. Took me about 2 hrs for both sides as well as removing the front shocks. I was happy to have them slide out without having to undo the UCA, just had to disconnect the bottom sway bar mount to the LCA and swing it up and out of the way to allow for enough clearance after undoing the bottom shock mount bracket bolted to the LCA.

Both my bushings were shot. The driver's side would wiggle back and forth after the strut rod was unbolted.

Also, I saw that this number was stamped on the old bushings outer lip 48654-50020. I think you can only purchase them from a supplier in larger quantities (300 units +) hence the reason for getting the Febest ones.

Here are pics of the condition
Driver side






passenger side




strut mount


broken bump stop




Here are pictures of the new bushings, I forgot to bring my digital caliper, so I'll get measurements tomorrow

 

Unless someone can demonstrate the OEM lower control.arm bushings were also produced in China, then I'm not buying...

 

When you search that part number that was stamped on the Lexus bushing, 48654-50020, all you find are suppliers in China that produce this bushing for Toyota.

It is possible that Toyota would outsource bushings to be produced by a supplier to their standards. Same as this company would, "Made in China for FEBEST GmBH" Not only that, but these bushings are specifically made for the LS400 UCF020 Front LCA, so that gives me more confidence in installing these on my car.

Go ahead and spend the $500+ for new LCA, I'm certainly not doing so. To me, it is very wasteful to throw away perfect control arms just to get a new bushing. If Lexus would've been consumer conscious and provided a replacement bushing like they do for the SRB bushings, I would've been more than happy to purchase and install those, but they do not.

The quality of construction of this bushing is excellent, no burrs of any kind, no rubber material excess where it shouldn't be, and the machining of the sleeve and surface finish is very smooth throughout the center. If you look at my photos of the old, you'll even see the new ones also have the same identical rubber protrusions as the Lexus ones. I'm using those features as a frame of reference when installing these to locate the bushing properly. I don't know if it'll make any difference or not, but if they made those relief cuts in the rubber for a reason, I assume it would be of some importance.

I'm not going to directly compare my old bushings with these new ones since the old ones have almost 300k miles on them and are worn in every dimension. All of the local dealers near me also would need to special order those control arms, which I'm not forking any money to do so.

 

WHOO, Losiracer, I am with you... I dont care what yodaone does or says... he spends his money his way and I spend mine my way .. I'll be 83 in June, so I am not looking for another 100k.. just "no clunking"

thanks for the great photos... wish I could still do the work.... (slight bit of envy, but not coveting) good luck bud....

 

banshee365..

question..can you call me..912-439-0223

tia

jaxscuby

 

This forum is replete with member postings suggesting issues using aftermarket parts...

Replacement struts come to mind..

Yes the OEM supplier is KYB, but their aftermarket struts unacceptably harshen the ride and KYB passes this off as necessary to accommodate suspension settling and wear.

Im this instance the OEM ($$$) is the better option

I am not discounting anyones efforts however this supplier couldn't answer questions when I queried them on their suspension components...

While the pricing is cetainly attractive, due dilligence makes sense here.

With the hundreds of parts purchased from Lexus, I have yet to encounter replacement parts labeled " Made in China"...

What is printed on parts tag is "Made in Japan" This inspires confidence.

It is possible Toyota's OEM imports this bushing from China and inserts it into a control.arm made in China and through the add-value process is able to badge made in Japan...There is scarcely anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse, and sell a little more cheaply. The person who buys on price alone is this man's lawful prey.John Ruskin,

 

Well, I got the bushings in finally. I struggled a little bit due to the shape of the control arm and the way the bushing is made. In order to press them out, I had to chisel away some of the lip on the other side that covered the control arm, you'll see in the pictures. I had to do this in order to be able to support the control arm while I pressed it out.

I first tried using a bearing and seal press kit to get the old ones out and a 2" OD exhaust pipe coupler, but the bearing/seal kit didn't have exactly the right size and when pressing a new bushing in, the stainless steel exhaust coupler ended up collapsing. So for plan B and the second control arm (an hour or so later) I used a 34mm rented socket, which barely cleared and was able to press against the outer sleeve of the bushing perfectly and slide along with the old bushings through the control arm. To press the new one in, I used a 39mm socket, but had to cut off the rubber excess sticking outside the bushing in order to have a nice even, non flexible surface to press against. I'm sure people are going to say something, but I worked with what I had available. I'm thinking maybe a thinwall 39mm socket might do it and be able to clear that rubber, but all Autozone had were axle sockets which tend to be pretty thick walled. My 12 ton press was more than enough to get the job done.

The dimensions of the bushing are perfect, it sits exactly in the LCA as the OEM one does and I had no problem sliding it into the subframe of the car when installing.

Pairing this along with my new KYB front shocks and Strut mounts made my car very tight and somewhat more precise feeling, there is no more play in the steering and it has a lot better response to steering inputs, braking inputs and doesn't nose dive as much as it did before. And best of all! No more clunking! That completely went away and is fixed! The ride is a lot more controlled.

Pics:














New bushings pressed in

 

Received this message from Lexus;

"Just got off the phone with our parts hotline and, unfortunately, they are coming up with the same thing. It's no longer a good part number in their catalogs or any of their systems, either. I did mention that the bushing you came across is being made in China and that threw up a red flag with the rep. Because, as I mentioned earlier, our parts are made in either Japan or here in the states and the rep confirmed that as well."

Just to clarify that the bushings are NOT from OEM Lexus supplier ("made in China")

Good luck to all.