I'm considering the purchase of a 2008 LS460L with air suspension. Per maintenance records the car was sold new and serviced by Sewell in Dallas. The owner brought it in with a complaint of a rattle on rough roads. The diagnosis was that it needed new "rear shocks and brakes". The owner declined to have the repairs done and evidently traded the car and Sewell sold it at auction. The question is, how much should I expect to have to pay for these repairs if I go forward with the purchase?

 

Air shocks - expensive! Standard shocks - about $1000 per axle. Brakes - couple hundred dollars per axle (pads).

 

Figure about $1600 per corner for the shocks. This was part of the reason I got rid of mine, shocks and all the various suspension arms with the bushings can run up over $10,000 if all the bushings get sloppy. These are heavy cars and can be harder on suspension stuff than a Corolla or Camry.

Take a look at the front suspension design, there's a lot going on up there.

Brake pads and rotors are cheap, $500ish for the rear.

 

Ouch, didn't notice the reference to air shocks!

 

Yeah. Non-air shocks are much cheaper.

 

What's a compatible aftermarket shock?

 

Just changing the new rotors and brake pads is around $370 if you buy parts online and take it to an independent mechanic to replace.

• Front rotors/pair = $59.42 Bendix PRT5929 Disc Brake Rotor- Premium Brake Rotor, Front Item# 390781801526 on eBay AutoPartsTomorrow.com; no tax; free shipping;
• Front Akebono Ceramic Brake Pads ACT128 = $59.90/pair at PlaceForBrakes.com; no tax; free shipping
• Rear rotors/pair = $100 (estimated since I haven't purchased yet)
• Rear Akebono Ceramic Brake Pads ACT1283 = $50.37/pair; no tax, free shipping

 

Thanks, guys.
Bill