Carnut

In my particular case, I am not a mechanic, don't want to start now. I prefer a Lexus trained Technician work on my car and keep it ALL Lexus as long as I own it. I'd rather let the mechanic do it and drink my six-pack at home while driving their loaner car.

Devh

I agree with you although I too would do the work myself as I have the tools and experience so it's not that hard for me. From looking at EBay you can spend a little more and get replacement control arms that already have the bushings pressed in which makes it even easier.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-FRONT-UPPER-CONTROL-ARM-LEXUS-LS460-LS600H-07-12-/261216442091?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3ALexus%7CModel%3ALS460&hash=item3cd1b696eb&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lexus-LS460-LS460-2-Premium-Front-Lower-Control-Arms-07-12-/161319219525?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3ALexus%7CModel%3ALS460&hash=item258f5ff145&vxp=mtr
Even with the arms not everyone can do the work granted however any independent mechanic worth their salt can have them replaced and on your way far cheaper.
What Lexus charges both in parts and labor is highway robbery and it makes it seem as if your extended warranty pays for it's self but that's not necessary the reality if you have to buy from the company store.

tlynch41

First off I would get a second opinion from another Lexus dealer. I was quoted the same thing at one dealer, then took it to another dealer and he said they don't really need to be replaced. My 07 with 125,000 runs great, except for hardly noticeable noise when braking. It will not affect safety at all, and considering you have 70K miles, I would just live with it.

LordBowral

My 07 has just been diagnosed as needing new control arms at 70,000km . You should all thank your lucky stars your not in Australia ... They have told me it's $8,500 ! Thank god for extended warranty

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

Please ask the mechanic if the new control arms are different or if they use a different bushing material.

LordBowral

New shaped arms with different bushes which sloves the problem and stops it from occurring in another 50Kms

caha14

FWIW, mine (on the 460) were replaced months before Lexus issued a TSIB for this problem. It was beginning to become a known issue, but it was still the early days (relatively speaking). At the time, I was told that bushings in the new upper control arms were most noticeably changed in terms of their profile and how they fit in the arms. Not sure about material at this point (or about the lower arms), though I do vaguely remember a comment about the material changing in the new design. Part numbers changed for the upper arms but not for the lower.

b8b

So is there a TSB on this issue? If so, does that mean you can get free replacement if out of warranty or only under warranty? Forgive me of that's a n00b question. =)

Devh

A Toyota Service Bulletin is a reporting system that is used point the tech in the right direction. It is not a recall and it doesn't mean that every car will have the issue.
Almost all Toyota cars and truck models have TSBs but only a handful will suffer a known issue.

Carnut

It seems several year models of the LS-460's have cracked lower control arm bushings. Luckily, I had a Lexus Platinum $0 Deductible Extended Warranty on my 2009. Lexus shelled out $5,000 to MY shop to replace them all. I could not tell they were crackked by driving it, and could tell no difference after they replaced them. Just glad I had the Warranty. Good luck.

Doublebase

I have a couple of them cracked too - doesn't or hasn't affected the ride quality yet - I'm not replacing them until they do. Then I'll just buy the stuff on ebay and do it myself.

Wandl

I took my LS460 to the Lexus dealership to replace the battery (within the battery 2 year warranty period, bad cell) they noticed uneven wear on my tires....recommended I get an alignment/new tires. I took the car to Davenport Motors (highly rated independent Lexus shop here in Dallas) who diagnosed a $4500 replacement of 8 of the control arms (plus a leaky passenger side strut for $540).

Strut was a part that they said would be needed to be fixed, whereas the control arms, due to cracked bushings, are "highly recommended".

Yay?

I may take it back to the Lexus dealer for another opinion (if they said tires/alignment is all that's needed) but also do trust what Davenport motors said....a matter of whether I replace it now as a preventative measure (and find the most cost-effective means to do it) or wait till it becomes a real issue/annoyance later down the road...

b8b

I second this.

Carnut

Davenport's is a good shop. I like Craig at the Plano Parkway store. All mine on my 2009 LS-460 were cracked and Lexus paid them $5,000 to replace them all, on my Platinum Lexus Extended Warranty. $0 Deductible. Could tell no difference in the ride before or after they were changed. If you are not under Warranty and the dealer won't replace them, I'd trade it to the dealer that won't replace them and let THEM eat it. My car had less than 40,000 miles on it when Craig noticed they were all cracked. Good luck.

Devh

I don't see how this would work. If you traded your car to the dealership that wouldn't do the work they would have lowered your trade in value because it needs to be repaired. Then they would have fixed it for almost nothing and sold it to someone else for a profit. In addition to all of this they would have sold you another car and made margins on that as well.

If my bushings ever go bad it will only cost me a few hundred dollars and maybe less then a thousand If I send it to an independent to have them installed.
The warranty only works for piece of mind as long as you buy from the company store.