Question about the number, location and proper name for all of the controls on a 2013 Lexus LS460. I’m fairly certain there are 8 total for the front of car (4 per front wheel). And that each of those are designated by reference to their location as being on the top or bottom as well as forward or rearward. So for example, the front driver side wheel well has the following 4 control arms: upper forward, upper rearward, lower forward, lower rearward.

have I got it right so far?

as far as the rear wheels, do those control arms need replacing much? I was always under the impression the control arms in the front of the vehicle are really the only ones that give anyone trouble. Obviously the rears could fail as well, but my understanding is that the front control arms take the majority of the impact as far as bumps and whatnot.

My local mechanic did some work on the control arms for me a while back and the invoice says replaced “rearward lower front control arms”. When I asked exactly what control arm they’re talking about there they responded by telling me that they are control arms on the REAR of the vehicle (ie closer to the trunk). I’ve never heard of those ones going bad, or at least only very seldomly, so I asked if they meant to say the “front lower rearward” ones. They haven’t responded to that and I’m not sure they will for reasons I won’t get into.

any thoughts on replacing control arms for the drive wheels (on RWD model)? How many are back there anyway?

 

Picture is worth a thousand words, yea can say there are 4 control arms.
https://www.japan-parts.eu/lexus/us/...eering-knuckle
https://www.japan-parts.eu/lexus/us/...shock-absorber

Can't speak to longevity for the various suspension bits but if you don't have any odd noises etc. don't fix what isn't broken.

 

Unless the person who wrote the invoice and the one reading is is the same, my guess is the invoice refers to what it says, the FRONT lower rearward control arms.

 

Thanks guys, that confirms what I believed to be the case. So far I have replaced 6 out of the front 8 control arms, will be doing the last 2 up front here soon as I’m experiencing a brief crunching noise when I turn sharply at low speeds (particularly when switching from reverse to drive like when backing out of a parking space). Also doing the front shocks. Won’t be touching any of the control arms in the rear end. It’s scary and quite frustrating to have your independent Lexus mechanic get something so basic wrong. And sadly most people would take them at their word and likely proceed with wasting money replacing things that don’t need replacing or refraining from replacing something that truly does need fixing. Thanks again!