2005 with 207k miles. Yesterday while driving through a parking lot, I drove over a speed bump (small raised strip of asphalt in a parking lot, not a speed HUMP), and heard/felt THE CAR "BOTTOM OUT" when rolling over the speed bump!!! It was a sickening feeling, like hitting bottom when on a ship LOL! I confirmed the worn out shock (front left side was where the loud THUD came from) when driving over the 2nd speed bump in the same parking lot, around 3mph.

My question is, besides both front shocks, what else should I have replaced? I would imagine I should have both rears replaced also, along with all the appropriate hardware/bushings/etc related to all 4 shocks. But what else, suspension wise, should I have the mechanic replace? I will likely take it to the dealer. Would you replace the coil springs also, or just the shock/struts?

Again, it has 207k on the odometer. I've been delaying replacing the rear wheel bearings/hubs until something else came up. Well, this just came up! The rear wheel bearing(s) have been slowly but increasingly making noise, so the rear wheel bearings/hubs will be replaced when I take it for all 4 shocks.

I plan to keep the LS for several more years. I've never had any suspension work nor bushings replaced. I did have all motor and tranny mounts replaced around 150k? The steering wheel does feel a little "loose" like it has some slop/play in it, when driving highway speeds.

I'm ready to spend/put a couple thousand bucks into the LS, as I've really had very good fortune of not many things breaking on it. I've been good with replacing fluids like power steering, rear diff, ATF drains and fills. I've also replaced water pump and spark plugs around 100K, but am on the original alternator and radiator!

Thanks for ideas.

 

What brand struts are you considering? The sway bar end links are probably due and already 1/2 removed when doing front struts. Strut mounts are also probably worn out although the coil springs are probably still fine especially if the car is sitting level. I've had good luck with KYB struts and mounts on my ES330 as well as moog sway bar links all from RockAuto.

 

I'm trying to keep it as stock as possible, so KYB is in the running. I'm also looking at some "Lexus parts" websites and 1 strut is about $260, which I'm ok with. What about the ball joints? I never ever hear folks on this forum even mention the ball joints. I would think they would have needed replacing even before 100k miles? On truck forums, they're discussed all the time.

 

Good thread. To save time, you can go to pages 4 and 5:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...s-430-a-4.html

 

Def replace the lower ball joints.
Easy job with a profound effect.

 

I just did my front and rear struts. Here is my take - people SWEAR aftermarket quick struts are not great. So I used google / lexusparts / toyota parts - to price shop for OEM struts. Also I bout aftermarket shock mounts/boots for the fronts. also tie rod ends. THEN I went to FB marketplace and bought an old OTC spring compressor tool- its beefier than rental compressors and I used used my impact. But after the fact I can say swapping the springs - was a PITA. Just call a meineke or independent mechanic shop and ask if they would swap the OEM spings for you for a few bucks. - the install is not crazy.

FINALLY my biggest sage advice- double and triple check which strut is going front and rear. Dont ask why :-D Just trust me to verify with part numbers front and rear.

Then get an alignment - its very satisfying to have that great ride back and as a DIY!

 

I have KYB shocks and mounts, waiting to be installed by an indie, and aftermarket boots, they are simply out of this world OE. I kinda wish I could spend for OE shocks, I think it's money well spent. Lifetime warranties on exhaust and shocks really are ones where people can't call the mfg's bluff, I saw online, not even with Bilstein. Just have to hope lifetime warranty equates to a ok product...wonder if the subwoofer should be replaced when rear shocks are done.

I want to keep this vehicle indefinitely since it seems to have free XM lol. Had to replace the antenna a couple of years ago so now I always get the antenna flashing and no metadata. Currently trying Spotify in my wife's, the free version with premium features. It's way better than XM imho...

 

Everyone's economies of scale are just that, so if you can't swing OEM every time, then you don't, simple as that. There are other great products. Ultimately, these are not Ferraris.
I do believe you will never purchase a strut as good as the original, and even though KYB made the originals, that does not mean that the KYB aftermarket is the same strut they put on the LS430. It is all about the spec that Toyota contracted for these. (I authored a thread once about this, Google "clublexus OE vs. OEM" if interested)
Then think of mileage and age. I replaced my fronts at 18 years and my rears at 20 years, and I did use OEM, but did I need to?!?! Do I need 18 and 20 years out of the next set?

 

@CA2WALS430 Did you replace them "just because" they were old, or did you actually know one or more were leaking/blown? I had been thinking over the last couple years that I'd refresh the over 200k miles of old/tired suspension parts at some point in time.....but what really made me put thoughts into action was when my front left bottomed out when going very slow over a speed bump in a parking lot!!! (Bell Lexus has a special going on, and I'm loading up the shopping cart right this second!)

Back to your LS...what made you get this work done? How significant of a difference did you feel between the old and new strut/strut related work?

I am also reading the link that you posted for me...and feel really good with the part #'s that I currently have in my Bell "shopping cart", as they match with the part #'s that you and @funcrusher discussed! Am I overlooking the part #'s for the shock "dust boot" and the front "bump stop"? Did you guys replace those also?

Currently, my shopping cart has:
2 (non-air) shocks <--Bell has 2 different part #'s...48510-59805 is for "older" version?....48510-80131 is for "updated" version and in my cart. What the hell?
2 shock absorber mounts
2 lower ball joints
2 steering tie rod ends
-------------------------------
ABOVE TOTAL = $1233 (free shipping)

 

John, I know you're in PA somewhere...how close to the DE border are you? And tell me more about the XM that you THINK is free? You've had the car for like 39 years now, and you're not sure if your XM is a paid subscription or not? LOL! I don't believe it, because I believe you were on TV for those super shoppers who use coupons and rebates and go shopping and the vendor/store usually ends up OWING YOU $$$$ lmfao!

 

My fronts had a beginning gradual leak, and so, like you, I took advantage of a Bell sale (please note there is a code on the strut itself you need to see and note before ordering so you get the right one, I think it is letters or numbers? Can't recall, but other threads here refer to it. SLC dealer did the labor.) Originally I only ordered struts. Summer of 2024 I ordered all the other stuff and did a full rebuild on the front (dealer did the labor).
On the rears, one actually burst and dropped a small puddle in my garage, so I went and paid full pop at the dealer.
Yes, there was ride quality difference, but on choppy old slab-pavement it will still hit the bumps. On highway and suburban asphalt, it sails.
Thanks for looking at that thread. Good info in there. I have no idea what to tell you on the new/old thing? Zoikes. Email Dan at Bell, he may have insight, been working there a long time. I did not order the dust boot or bump stop, don't know what those are.

 

I don’t think I did the dust boots/bump stops either. That part doesn’t sound familiar at all. I did my suspension overhaul at 141k just because I was putting lowering springs on and planned on putting new tires and aftermarket wheels on right after. The car still drove pretty smooth but I wanted to start fresh and not have to worry about it later