Are there significant difference among coil spring conversion kits?
 

I have a 98 Lexus LS 400 and the air spring suspension has to be replaced. Strutmasters touts that they are much better quality springs and struts and they only do suspension systems. There are others that are cheaper but are they worth the savings?

All the conversion kits are terrible quality, better off buying KYB Shocks and new mounts/boots/bump stops, and a set of used springs (CHEAP!) and installing that. Factory ride and longevity.

Another member asked the same question, my response (and the origina question) are here: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...-assembly.html

Thanks for the reply. Would the following represent a complete conversion kit for front and back from KYB except for the MOOG 81677 rear springs? The local Tech college is installing this as one of their projects so want to make sure I have everything. The local auto parts store said the kits include everything needed to convert suspension over and ordering KYB would be more expensive and may not include everything needed.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...b05f2a1190.png

Ignore the autoparts store guys.Listen to the excellent proven advice the owners here give.Then do what they say.There is no better advice on the planet for these cars than right here. :agreed:

Yep that looks fine, though I'd go with used factory springs rather than Moog. They are of exceptional quality and don't really sag with age. Because of this they are dirt cheap at most wrecking yards.

Something to check on your parts list is the rubber parts that go at the top and bottom of the springs.
I did this all on my '91, and for that car, this part number should get you started: 48157-50010

They call that the "insulator." The original Lexus part comes with that rubber pad and the boot/bellows thing integrated into one part. From the photos in your list, it looks like the KYB might be just the bellows without the pad part. I know your '98 will not be exactly the same as mine, but you might want to double check on that part. Maybe KYB would expect you to reuse the pad and attach the bellows part to your existing one.

Other than that, your list looks good and is what I did on my '91 - all a combination of KYB (struts and mounts) and Lexus parts on all 4 corners.

If you are at all budget conscious, and it is easy for you to do the work, you might find that when you get in there the original parts are still good. That's what I found on my '91 with 170k miles at the time. But I replaced everything anyway since I was already there.

Also, on my car, it had springs originally and still has the same springs, at almost 200k miles now.