Maskvich

Hello Everyone! I recently purchased this car and I love it. One issue I want to get advice on is how to get better stability for the car. What i mean by this is, I want to get more confidence when entering slight turns at highway speeds. I just did a two hour drive through the white mountains in NH and I would get that minor panic feeling when taking a sweeping turn at speed limit speeds (70mph). The car feels like it rolls a bit and i loose that feeling of confidence. I have driven many large cars and I am looking for the confidence I get from something like a BMW 540 or an Audi A6. Bushings? Swaybar? any advice would be much appreciate it as I want to use this car for long drives up and down the east coast.
Thanks!

rkw77080

Here's an excellent write-up on LS430 stability...
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...al-review.html

To reduce body-roll, you should consider replacing the standard rear sway-bar with a sport sway-bar (14mm), or stiffer. I installed an Ultra Racing brand rear sway-bar, found on ebay, that is 19mm thick. I've had it for above 3 years and I'm very happy with its performance.

bradland

I'd start with some poly bushings for the sway bar. A heck of a lot cheaper than replacing the bar itself with basically the same end result. Also consider new end links as a stiffer bar is worthless if the links are weak. There are plenty of suspension components that could potentially be replaced but the sway bar bushings and end links are relatively inexpensive and easy to replace.

tallcaguy

Sway bars are a great suggestion. If you want to do a little more, replace the stock struts w/ the OEM "Sports" version or do aftermarket. I've got the Sports Suspension. I'd call it "luxury firm" but it doesn't roll as much in corners.

Jabberwock

installed the rear "Sports" version sway bar on my LS several years ago and it helped. If I had it to do over again I'd install an even larger rear sway bar if one was available.

Daspyda

iTrader: (1)

Tires are the number one thing to look at. If you want the twisties, you gotta have a tire that is aggressively treaded with slightly elevated pressures. The trade-offs? Noise and wear.

How fast do you want to go? How much money do you have?

Johnhav430

I saw Audi A6 and BMW 540 mentioned, I'm wondering if the expectations should be set, meaning modifying the LS430's suspension isn't likely to yield comparable handling imho....and people with BMW 5's call their cars boats when compared to 3's....even M5 drivers can't shake the large car feeling when compared to a smaller car. Keep in mind the LS430 does .73 on the skidpad....they said it's one step up from silk underwear

p.s. nice! I just came across the .73 is on 17's. At least that's a little something extra since it seems most ride on the 245 18's...

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...s-ls430-page-7

Maskvich

I don't want to race it around corners, I am just looking for 'confidence' on the sweeping highway roads. I don't like the sense of body roll because it messes with my nerves...I hope you guys understand that feeling. I like the idea of a stiffer sway bar. One question - How can I check to see if my 2004 LS430 has a sports package? It was Nav and ML sound system, no air suspension.

Johnhav430

Cars with sport supsension have rectangular badges on the front fenders

http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/ptsjapan/...5/d5985d5c.jpg

Maskvich

Thank you - defiantly don't have that badge

bradland

Call a dealer and give them your VIN to verify. My 430 has sport suspension and NO badges on the fender. You can also crawl underneath the rear end and measure your sway bar. The standard is 13mm and the Sport version is 14mm. A couple open end wrenches or a dial caliper will tell you...

tallcaguy

Just crawled under the car w/ a couple of wrenches. The sports sway bar is 14 mm so that's an easy way to check.

FILTHEE

Have you checked suspension/steering parts for wear?

Johnhav430

Why would the badges not be there, was there a delete option like on the euro cars? Lexus can email a build sheet, that is the end all, clearly states what's on a vehicle...right down to port installed options/accessories...

RRocket

I'm not trying to sound derogatory in the least, but I think this is more of a mind thing than a car thing. My other car was a Porsche 911. And I can hustle my LS through certain corners nearly as quick. Once the LS takes a set, it will go exactly where you point it...and I'm on the standard sways.

Like others have said give the thicker rear sway a try and see how that works for you.