11Suspension : Control Arm11111Warehouse BQuantity2008 LEXUS LS460 4.6L V8
Suspension : Control Arm1

 

It's impossible to judge someone's wrenching abilities and tool assortment but in my opinion the control arm replacement job should be done by a real mechanic. By no means do they have to have ever touched a Lexus before. Separating the ball joints can be tricky and there's always problems. I don't think an alignment is needed unless your steering wheel is off. I didn't align my car after changing the struts and control arms and I have no problems.

 

This a relatively easy DIY, IF you aren't replacing the ball joints. However, when replacing the control arms, often the ball joints will get damaged. You do not need to replace the shocks/struts, but since the suspension is already apart, I figured I'd do those too.

As for wheel alignment....to each their own, but for the extra 75 bucks after all that work...seemed like a no-brainer to me. The important thing to do is index (pre-load) everything before tightening everything up, or you'll be re-doing the control arms again.

 

+1 What my bud Chris states. When I had my uppers done in Dec. '15, I went ahead and got an alignment done. But in my case, I needed one, as my car wanted to track left. I also went ahead and had my tires rebalanced, as I was trying to rid the car of a slight shimmy at higher speeds.

Also, just to expound a bit on the indexing process, if not done, the bushing will be incorrectly positioned and some have reported that the car will sit higher than OEM-spec, due to the bushings being in a bound-up position and not in its natural performance state. As Chris stated, this will cause an incredibly rapid rate of wear on the bushings and they will have to be replaced much sooner than later, as the bushing will literally be "tearing" within themselves.

 

So, just sharing information...
When I had my uppers done at Lexus in Dec. '15, the SAM told me that the new revised OEM arms/bushing material was poly.
I was surprised to hear that, because as many of us know, poly bushings can be noisy and not last as long and some even require lubricating over time.
Now, again... taking into account that you, at times, you have to take what these dealership SA's/SAM's say with a grain of salt, your comment reminded me of that conversation I had with the SAM before my car went in for repair.
Just my 2 cents...

 

Oh dang, I just bought the OEM ones from an OE distributer and AZ Lexus dealer for about 1800 on all eight arms. I thought I got a good deal LOL

 

Toyota doesn't have a factory that make these arms. They just source them and mark them up through the chain a couple times and they get to the inflated price. OEM parts make some people feel good though. Also pays for the free donuts and loaner cars.

 

That pretty much sums it up. Someone posted that the OE factory arms are made in either China or Malaysia or India. They are definitely NOT made in Japan.

 

Hello Roadfrog, Thanks for listing the SKUs. So for a complete fix, it requires 10 total part?. I thought there were 8 control arms total.

 

The first two items he listed are the actual end links.

 

Correct. I figured I'd just change out everything on the front end including the ball joints and shocks for a total 14 items - 8 control arms, 2 end links, 2 struts and 2 ball joints.

 

Just ordered my MAS lower arms today. I did the uppers last fall. The weather is nice again here so time to complete. Sometime after that i will get my P7's.

 

Yea the tops are way easier. Just warning you.

 

Yep. I have done my homework and have enough tools. Its all nuts and bolts to me. Guess i will see in a couple weeks.

 

Does anyone see a kit for the AWD lower control arms? I've checked both sites and they are listed RWD only.