Sorry to say, but you'll most likely be doing a mount replacement in a few years time due to your cost cutting. There's a reason why the Lexus mounts last 20+ years in these cars.

I purchased my OEM Lexus mounts for $240 through a Lexus seller, Bell Lexus, online back in May 2017 so it wasn't the $300 you speak of.

Labor for me was free since I know how to remove 17mm bolts and retighten them. It's really not that difficult of a job, just need to use your head and get creative when removing and installing the mounts.

The DIYs on here and the ones I found on the internet helped tremendously. I had air tools but in this case the clearance was not there for them so I used my box end wrenches for 90% of the job.

There are other parts of this car you can go aftermarket on, but the LS400 was originally marketed for it's smoothness and refinement and part of that was due to how isolated the engine was from the car when driving and at idle.

I wish you could experience how vibration free my 97 is with the new OEM mounts I installed. Initially I was thinking about saving a few bucks by going the eBay route but I'm glad I didn't. It's just not worth the savings especially considering how low cost this car is for maintenance to begin with. The timing belt service and these mounts are the only two expenses I've had in the 35k and 2 yrs I've owned it for. And these mounts will most likely never need replacing again in the lifetime of this vehicle.

 

A picture is worth a thousand words:
This is the OEM mount. If you use aftermarket crap, then you have NVH issues.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-1st-and-2nd-gen-1990-2000/871258-ls400-engine-mount-internal-view.html

 

There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey.

John Ruskin

 

There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey.

John Ruskin

 

We've also often heard that while these cars are affordable to buy, the maintenance will still reflect the level which these cars were targeted towards. I'm a firm believer that the red boxed Toyota is appropriate when making repairs. I can believe that for some third party makers they are simply solid rubber composite type mounts.

 

Hey John, you may be correct but the engine mounts I purchased are filled with fluid.
I do not have a hoist to lift the engine so how could I have replaced it myself? What can I use to lift the engine?
I would remove the pair in got installed and replace it with new OEMs if I could do it myself. So I am waiting for your instructions please.
Best regards,
Jude

 

The brand I used is called Motor King.

 

Jumerle,
You have to put the car on jack stands, all four corners, parallel to the ground (important!) and take the front wheels off.
You put a piece of 3/4 plywood under the engine oil pan and jack it up, undo the
heater valve on the firewall first so it can move upward a bit, or you will break that plastic part by the engine moving upward.
Lift the engine just a little and turn the 17mm nuts, I made a mistake of lifting it higher and putting pressure on the nuts, making them hard to turn. Stubby 17mm wrench is your friend for the job! Driver side is tricky, takes a while to turn the nut.
Also, one power steering hose was old and brittle and started leaking when I raised the engine. (Power steering return hose?)
It wasn't a very easy job, but not too bad.
I bought OEM mounts from Japan, a little different part number, supposedly re-designed for VVT engine. $114 a piece plus shipping.
Hope this helps.
Val

 

Thanks a million Val. Note that I am referring to the 1998 LS400.
I might try my skills at it.
​

 

Mine is 1999 LS, I did it 1,5 years ago

 

If you begin with the passenger side mount first, then remove it and then lower the engine in the void where the mount was, it'll be easier to do the driver side mount since the driver side will lift up slightly allowing for more clearance when the engine leans to the passenger side. Unbolting of the heater valve wasn't necessary for me, I just had to unbolt the power steering bracket fixed to the passenger side under the plastic intake piping where the filter sits. I have a non VVTi engine though so I'm not sure if your heater valve is positioned differently.

 

1) Did you completely remove the piece below (taken from another thread)? Did any liquid spill out?
2) Also, why remove the front wheels? I'm thinking about tackling this on for a 99, but this would be the first time.

 

I didn't remove the heater valve completely, just unbolted it from the firewall, so it moves a bit with the hose attached. Some coolant will flow out ( I think ) if you take it off.
As for the front wheels off, you will have more room to move around there, more light too.

 

Do you think this is the real deal?they claim its FACTORY OEM LEXUS 97-00 LS400 ENGINE MOTOR STRUT MOUNT INSULATOR 12361-50101


https://www.ebay.com/itm/FACTORY-OEM-LEXUS-97-00-LS400-ENGINE-MOTOR-STRUT-MOUNT-INSULATOR-12361-50101/152463073088?fits=Make%3ALexus%7CModel%3ALS400&epid=2249245935&hash=item237f81df40:g:BdQAAOSwYVlaDSDn

 

you just bought the wrong ones, my "fluid" ones are still doing great no vib up to 110 (I run out of guts there).. and it has been years