Are guys replacing their own shocks/struts?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 354
Likes: 46
From: North Carolina
Are guys replacing their own shocks/struts?
I've watched the walk throughs online. Clearly the springs and installs make this a tougher job to tackle on the garage floor. There always seem to be extra struggle that they snip out of the videos to make it seem easier.
If I have the $$ to pay a pro - should I have an Indy shop handle the installs?
The car has given me a lot of great miles, so I'm not afraid to spend some $$ on the upkeep!
If I have the $$ to pay a pro - should I have an Indy shop handle the installs?
The car has given me a lot of great miles, so I'm not afraid to spend some $$ on the upkeep!
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 623
Likes: 170
From: VA
I did it myself.
I was going to coilovers though so there was no need to swap springs to new shocks etc., and the coilovers are shorter so easier to get in too.
I think you could still do it yourself, the diys on this site were extremely helpful. The rears were tricky, I did the alt method of someone standing on the hub to get them out so that saved time too.
I was going to coilovers though so there was no need to swap springs to new shocks etc., and the coilovers are shorter so easier to get in too.
I think you could still do it yourself, the diys on this site were extremely helpful. The rears were tricky, I did the alt method of someone standing on the hub to get them out so that saved time too.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,186
Likes: 728
From: Texas
I've watched the walk throughs online. Clearly the springs and installs make this a tougher job to tackle on the garage floor. There always seem to be extra struggle that they snip out of the videos to make it seem easier.
If I have the $$ to pay a pro - should I have an Indy shop handle the installs?
The car has given me a lot of great miles, so I'm not afraid to spend some $$ on the upkeep!
If I have the $$ to pay a pro - should I have an Indy shop handle the installs?
The car has given me a lot of great miles, so I'm not afraid to spend some $$ on the upkeep!
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...del-ls430.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...del-ls430.html
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 623
Likes: 170
From: VA
Please take a look at the links below for DIY tips and tricks.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...del-ls430.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...del-ls430.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...del-ls430.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...del-ls430.html
Those threads were all i used when I did mine, amazing job, thank you very much for those
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 418
From: CALIFORNIA
I've watched the walk throughs online. Clearly the springs and installs make this a tougher job to tackle on the garage floor. There always seem to be extra struggle that they snip out of the videos to make it seem easier.
If I have the $$ to pay a pro - should I have an Indy shop handle the installs?
The car has given me a lot of great miles, so I'm not afraid to spend some $$ on the upkeep!
If I have the $$ to pay a pro - should I have an Indy shop handle the installs?
The car has given me a lot of great miles, so I'm not afraid to spend some $$ on the upkeep!
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 623
Likes: 170
From: VA
Do people commonly replace the coils?
In my experience, 99% of the time it's just the shock, so you're able to compress the spring on the old shock easily while it's on the shock body, and then only decompress when you're putting it in the new one, right?
In my experience, 99% of the time it's just the shock, so you're able to compress the spring on the old shock easily while it's on the shock body, and then only decompress when you're putting it in the new one, right?
Driver
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 174
Likes: 10
From: SC
I recently replaced both front struts using the old coils. The coil compressing tool rented from Advance Auto worked just fine.
Words of advice as I learned this from doing my own. Place the rubber bumpers back inside the dust cover if new ones are not purchased or come with your struts. Also, when pulling the front passenger side strut assembly out, be careful not to hit the connector wire that is attached to the harness on the steering knuckle. This wire is attached to your ABS, brake wear, and wheel speed sensors.
Words of advice as I learned this from doing my own. Place the rubber bumpers back inside the dust cover if new ones are not purchased or come with your struts. Also, when pulling the front passenger side strut assembly out, be careful not to hit the connector wire that is attached to the harness on the steering knuckle. This wire is attached to your ABS, brake wear, and wheel speed sensors.
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Moderator
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 244
From: Milwaukee, Wi
Struts are probably one of the easiest jobs to do, that from a layman's viewpoint looks very difficult. With regards to the springs, I have taken the strut assembly to a local shop in my neighborhood and had them swap the spring over from the old strut to the new one.
Easy peazy
Easy peazy
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Driver
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 153
Likes: 54
From: FL
Just curious as to why you switched from the Sport suspension to the base suspension. Eventually, I want to do the exact opposite, as in switching TO the Sport suspension.
Driver
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 153
Likes: 54
From: FL
Do you have any way of comparing the Sport side to another vehicle? Is it really that much firmer/rougher?
Quite honestly, if I could manage somehow to lower the ride height by about an inch total all the way around without effecting that smooth ride, I'd be perfectly happy. Maybe just some beefier sway bars, but that's it.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 26
Likes: 10
From: TX
which coilevers did you use and how much was it for all 4? I'm looking at the OEM sport struts + tanabe springs + mounts and that's getting close to $1000 so I'm wondering if coilever would be better
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,564
Likes: 389
From: PA
What I will say is this--on my wife's GM KYB makes a unit for $185. If you add up the price of each individual component using OE, it will easily exceed $400. No way no how they are of the same quality. So what a muffler shop does is they get that $185 part for maybe $70, charge $400 parts and $400 labor, and in reality, there was little labor needed because it was all in one. But this is your own car, why do that to yourself? I did it with my Nissan and the results were terrible (monroe quik struts from rock). Live and learn.
My suggestion on this one is use original parts (I wish it were like BMW where you have maybe 5 options from Bilstein alone all costing less than OE).
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,680
Likes: 302
I think what is being referred to (and I don't know if this car has them and I am not for them) are the "quik" struts. They are basically intended to save labor for shops, and have caught on with shade trees too since they can be dealt with as an entire unit, rather than separating the components to include compressing the spring.
What I will say is this--on my wife's GM KYB makes a unit for $185. If you add up the price of each individual component using OE, it will easily exceed $400. No way no how they are of the same quality. So what a muffler shop does is they get that $185 part for maybe $70, charge $400 parts and $400 labor, and in reality, there was little labor needed because it was all in one. But this is your own car, why do that to yourself? I did it with my Nissan and the results were terrible (monroe quik struts from rock). Live and learn.
My suggestion on this one is use original parts (I wish it were like BMW where you have maybe 5 options from Bilstein alone all costing less than OE).
What I will say is this--on my wife's GM KYB makes a unit for $185. If you add up the price of each individual component using OE, it will easily exceed $400. No way no how they are of the same quality. So what a muffler shop does is they get that $185 part for maybe $70, charge $400 parts and $400 labor, and in reality, there was little labor needed because it was all in one. But this is your own car, why do that to yourself? I did it with my Nissan and the results were terrible (monroe quik struts from rock). Live and learn.
My suggestion on this one is use original parts (I wish it were like BMW where you have maybe 5 options from Bilstein alone all costing less than OE).
Driver
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 77
Likes: 9
From: TX
I'll add my opinion. I replaced my front struts (reused the springs) in my driveway last year. I used a spring compressor from HF. Using the notes I found on here, it was not a technically difficult job, but if I had to do it again, I would find a shop to swap the spring for me. That part of the job was a little nerve-wracking and took the longest. Not to mention, put the most strain on my back since I did that part holding them with my foot on the ground while turning the nuts on the compressor.
Last edited by Longmire; Aug 20, 2019 at 06:14 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 623
Likes: 170
From: VA
In my case I used the bc coilovers. Apart from being able to dial in whatever height you prefer, you can adjust the firmness as well. I'm very happy with them.