Local toyota dealer looked at my 108K mile 05 LS430 today and told me both lower control arm bushings were cracked and the passenger side was leaking slightly.
I verified the leak when I saw a dime size spot on my garage floor. He called Lexus and was told that the vehicle has hydraulic lower control arms that were only used on the LS430 for 2 years. Is this correct?

 

Because of this forum, I figured I'd try Toyota, and at least in my case, have found them to be expensive and unknowledgeable. Lexus wants over $1,400 for the LCA job, because they replace the arms and realign the car. One of the justifications of replacing the arms is that the smaller forward rubber bushing is not available separately.

From this forum, I learned that the way to go is to replace the rear lower bushings, part # 48655-50012. Right now, on eBay, OEM is $100 for a pair, dirt cheap. I paid $62 each. The list price is $113.29 each.

An indie shop will do the job from anywhere from $200 to $300 labor, so you're done @ $300 to $400 (assuming you can get the pair of bushings for $100), instead of $1,400+ at the Lexus dealer. My Toyota dealer wanted $700 in labor WITH MY PARTS, I told them that's out of line, I was thinking $150. I asked can I email you with more details so you understand the job, the guy said no, that's ok, just let us know in the future when we can help you. They clearly do not understand how a LS430 is setup, at least my local dealer. And why would yours say the arms were used for 2 years? 2001, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, that's 6 years?

Just search eBay for 48655-50012 and have an indie install....$100.98 a pair as I type...good luck.

 

I was given a quote of $750 for replacement of both arms and alignment which I thought was reasonable. I've done business with the owner of the dealership for 30 years. His Lexus dealership is 300 miles away but he does own 5 Toyota dealerships
and one happens to be where I live. I was just curious why Lexus only used hydraulic control arms for only 05 and 06 models or if I was being BS'd.

 

If the person has known you 30 years, I would doubt that he would BS you. He just doesn't know what he's talking about, like my Toyota dealership. Knowing what you're talking about, and being successful in business, don't always go hand in hand.

Since each arm lists for $306.39, each rear bushing $113.29, times both sides, that's $839.36 in parts alone. Add labor and alignment, and my Lexus dealer wanted $1,400+. Would be interesting to know what parts your dealership would use, because if OEM Lexus, $750 is a steal. If they're using Mevotech arms etc., not really.

48620-50050 right
48640-50050 left
48655-50012 times 2

 

Parts were ordered from Lexus is what I was told.

 

If $750 and they're using two new Lexus control arms and two new Lexus rear bushings, that's a steal and I'd be looking at doing more work at this dealer. Probably check the motor mounts and shocks too based on age, they're charging just over 1/2 price retail, which imho even an indie cannot do....

 

From what you're describing, it's just the bushings that are being replace and it's a common repair.

$750 OTD doesn't surprise me at a Lexus dealership, but it's about $120 on parts and takes 1-2 hours to replace and align. So they are making good money on it.

I had a local shop do it as I don't have a floor press, I think I paid like a $100 for them to install it. It's very straightforward.

This is a job any shop could easily handle as long as they had the parts. I certainly wouldn't waste 300 miles driving each way to a specific Lexus dealership for the job. That's over 10 hours of driving.

Also, it's not an "emergency" to get these replaced when they start leaking.

My advice is find a new dealer that is closer, this guy is definitely not giving you any sort of worthwhile discount to make that trip necessary.

 

Lexus has been using same bushings since 2001 LS430. Definitely nothing special about 2005 and 2006. $770 is high price for this job (including alignment) but expected price from a dealership. If you buy parts online on ebay and let an indie shop do it, it should cost about $350-$450 including alignment.

You should only need 2 quantity of p/n 48655-50012 (the bushings).

 

Toyota is a mystery to me....they are new car dealers, yet they install customer provided parts....why? I was also unimpressed by their unfamiliarity with the LS430....they kept comparing my car to an Avalon...one big difference, RWD....

imho, Lexus will NOT install 2 bushings only, and your parts. Again, I was quoted over $1,400 for the complete job, which is 2 arms, 2 bushings, and alignment.

Toyota told me ok, we'll install your parts for $700? I asked where is this number from, I was thinking $150? They said well I looked it up and that's what we get (labor) on an Avalon.

Again, indies get $150 to $300 labor, they have to press the bushings out, then back in...add $120 for your own OEM bushings, and you can barely be over $400, and you get what you need....alignment can be done anywhere, I have the Firestone lifetime now...

 

Not true. From service history. This recommendation is from 2010 and the car is still on factory bushings.

71531 MILES
SERVICE: DECLINED REPAIRS
DESCRIPTION: DECLINED REPAIRS ~ ~NOTES: RECOMMEND LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS: $660 ~ ~RECOMMEND FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT: $129

 

Interesting, this would imply Lexus dealerships (and likely Toyota) does whatever they want a la carte (this is the Midas business model). So you don't like what one dealer tells you, you drive to another. If an indie is $420 at the high end, then $660 at an authorized dealer is not unreasonable, they have lights, snacks, employees, and likely provide a loaner. I think $350 for this job is in the sweet spot.

Also, alignment prices are all over the place, $89 at my Lexus dealer (not that I would pay that), yet much higher in Naples FLA

edit: meaning when the Lexus dealer I went to quoted me (multipoint inspection), they did not say you just want to do the bushings, that's cheaper, $700. They said the front small bushings do not come separately so this job requires the entire arm is replaced, i.e. over $1,400