I ave a 2007 LS460L with 78K miles on it. Dealer is recommending upper and lower control arms to be replaced due to torn bushings. Quoted over $4K. I have seen some bushings and control arms on ebay around $800. Anyone know of any good independent shop that will install them in the Sacramento or Bay Area? Thanks for your help

 

If you look at them separately, they will run you $500. Don't buy the bundle and buy them in sets. Saving $300 is worth a few minutes of your time. As far as installation, it should be easy to do it yourself as it's not something difficult with proper tools. I'm from SoCal so I cant help you look for a shop.

 

I bought mine on ebay and installed them myself. Just need the basic tools and ball joint separator. some pb blast to help loosen up the ball joint...

 

This.

I just posted the parts and cost on another thread. 500 dollars. Labor should only set you back 300 or so.

 

Its been a while since I was underneath my car and cant seem to recall...
Regarding the 4 lower CA's, there are the thinner, smaller cast CA's (black in color) then the thicker, more robust CA (appearing to be cast aluminum as the uppers are).
Which of the two are the lower fwd and which two are lower rear?

 

The black ones are in front and the aluminum ones are in the back. Which one did you say fails more often?

 

The bushings on the upper arms (both front and back) seem to fail the most, followed by the front lower arms (black ones). But all 8 are vulnerable to failure.

 

Thanks Double, as well as to you dal20402.
Double:
The gentleman told me, as dal pointed out, in his experience, the "less robust" ones tend to be the ones to typically go bad.
So I would assume that would be the black ones.
Anyone ever hear of replacing the outter rods while doing the CA repair?

 

Hey pistachio. I just bought 2007 ls460 and on lexus dealer inspection service advisor told me front arms are starting to tear but still has some life left if driven mostly highway miles.
I asked my mechanic and he told me less than 500 to fix front arms including aftermarket parts and labor.
Do u know a better place? Pm me please.

 

Good to know, I'd prefer not to do the bottom aluminum one if I can get away with it. The reason is I'm worried I'll have to replace the ball joint on the steering knuckle when I remove the aluminum arm, and that just means more work...also I believe there's a special tool that would make the job easier (which I don't have).

 

What's an outer rod? Do you mean the tie rods? The funny thing is, I don't think I've ever heard of anyone replacing one on these cars - I'm sure they have - I've just never heard of it. Which is absurd.

I wonder if the design of the suspension takes a lot of stress off the steering components?

 

I had meant to say that the upper 4 are the ones that usually all need replacing when that time comes, and though, in the gentleman's experience I told you about Double, he's done more replacement of top 4 and bottom 2, as dal said, the gentleman has seen and done all 8.
But typically it was the top 4 and bottom, less robust (black) ones.

 

Exactly, neither have I.
But I had PM'd Pistachio yesterday regarding his experience with the repair, and he stated that while he was doing his, he noticed that his outter tie rod was leaking, so he replaced it. Said it was $35.
Like you said, even with the memeber's who have had theirs replaced by the dealer, no one has ever mentioned anything about the tie rods, but I do understand that, that doesn't mean they can't/don't go bad.