2005 LS430 with poor ride
Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 108
Likes: 42
From: MA
2005 LS430 with poor ride
I purchased a 2005 With 17,000 miles last November. Except for a few minor issues (hood strut replacements, paint scratches) the car is in great condition. My only problem is with the ride quality, ,not soft over road bumps. Car has standard suspension. Car has 17” wheels and that helps a little but still could be better. I’m wondering, even though car has low miles could could shocks still need replacing? I can’t see any leaking oil from the shock struts but as I said, the hood struts wouldn’t hold the hood up so age must have caused the their cylinder seals to leak.
Any thoughts? Thanks.
Any thoughts? Thanks.
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,680
Likes: 302
I purchased a 2005 With 17,000 miles last November. Except for a few minor issues (hood strut replacements, paint scratches) the car is in great condition. My only problem is with the ride quality, ,not soft over road bumps. Car has standard suspension. Car has 17” wheels and that helps a little but still could be better. I’m wondering, even though car has low miles could could shocks still need replacing? I can’t see any leaking oil from the shock struts but as I said, the hood struts wouldn’t hold the hood up so age must have caused the their cylinder seals to leak.
Any thoughts? Thanks.
Any thoughts? Thanks.
Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 108
Likes: 42
From: MA
Thank for your responses. When I bought the car I took to the local Lexus dealership and asked for an oil change and complete inspection. They came back with needs tires and that’s all. So I got new Michelin’s. Maybe I’m just being too critical of the car. I will bring it to a private shop and have the guy take a look.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 854
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From: State
which Michelin's? Defenders ? Premiers? maybe Pilot Sport A/S? my car rides great at 158,000. recently replaced control arm bushings, and that was needed but the motor mounts were also bad. also got new tires. Continentals. at 17,000 miles I cannot imagine anything being bad. does AFS work? maybe headlights out of adjustment. how are the roads where you live? what about 4 wheel alignment? road force balancing, those control arm bushings could be bad, but I ran mine until 155,000. how long did the car sit? just 1,000 miles a year is probably a clue.
Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 108
Likes: 42
From: MA
The new tires are Premier A/S H, tires quiet in my opinion. Did road force balance when I bought them. Palm Beach Florida area car one owner. I don’t know much else. Interior is like new. Roads are full of patches in eastern Massachusetts and are not to smooth.
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Some control arm bushings are hard to do a visual inspection on and can easily have been overlooked. When you bring it to an independent shop explain your symptoms and ask them to specifically check any bushings that might contribute to a less than smooth ride including motor mounts, shocks, control arms. Sounds like a really nice car with a few age/lack of use related issues that can be identified and brought back to a like-new ride. Let us know and post a couple of photos too! At the top of the 3rd generation page there are some sticky posts that might help familiarize you better with your new ride.
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Instructor
Joined: May 2012
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From: FL
I would also check tire pressure. I know it sounds simple but every dealer that ever installed tires on any of my cars always over inflated the tires by several pounds. Makes a huge difference in ride of the car in a negative way. Lower the pressure down to proper pressure and see if you feel a difference if it's currently too high.
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 716
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From: FL
I purchased a 2005 With 17,000 miles last November. Except for a few minor issues (hood strut replacements, paint scratches) the car is in great condition. My only problem is with the ride quality, ,not soft over road bumps. Car has standard suspension. Car has 17” wheels and that helps a little but still could be better. I’m wondering, even though car has low miles could could shocks still need replacing? I can’t see any leaking oil from the shock struts but as I said, the hood struts wouldn’t hold the hood up so age must have caused the their cylinder seals to leak.
Any thoughts? Thanks.
Any thoughts? Thanks.
Next i would look at upper control arms bushings - they likely have some sort of rust or the rubber might have deteriorated. They also play a significant role in dampening the overall suspension movements, if properly torqued, and if rubber quality is high.
Then, i will check the condition of the strut. Likely if you push front subframe up and down, you may see certain things - look at area of a strut bushing, and if you hear any sounds or you feel the suspension is unreasonably firm, try to what we call Reset the Suspension by re-torqueing the bolts.
Good luck!
She's a beauty. Clay bar the exterior when the weather allows and you'll be amazed at how perfect the paint is on an LS compared to other cars. For the interior, diluted woolite is recommended for the coated leather surfaces. I didn't have any so used Simple Green, heavily diluted and I was amazed that not only did it clean the surface of body oils, the car smelled clean(neutral) after it aired out.