I heard a rattling sound about a month ago in my LS. I've never, really, had a problem with my LS that i've had since almost new (other than the 'wood' cracking within the first year). Vin number 169. However, now the 'electric control arm' upper and lower, the dealer is telling me have to be replaced with the shocks. I haven't seen much about them here, maybe because mine was one of the first production ones. They wanted 4,500 for the arms. Stupid me went and got a GX instead of doing anything about the LS I have. So my question is, is it worth it to replace it, is there a cheaper option? I may get the LS500, but the leases are more favorable on the Mercedes S450, so I may go with that. If I do replace I likely am going to get a new car anyways and send this one down south, but I just want to know if its worth it to put the money in this thing. It has 108k miles if that makes a difference.

 

I can't make any sense of your post. "Electric" control arms??

 

Sorry I think I mean upper & lower control arms. Not the best with the inner workings of a car, just enjoy them.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lexus-LS460...0AAOSw14xWGAb~

 

LOL. OK....no problem.When I replaced my control arms, I did my shocks as well. It just made sense, since the suspension is all apart. The Ebay link you provided is fine if you insist on OEM parts. FYI, you can get an entire front set of arms, ball joints, and end links for a fraction of that cost from Rockauto. It won't be OEM, but it will be known brand like Febest, Moog, or Beck Arnley. Also, shocks are available for about a few hundred dollars (for all four). I paid less than 200.

 

BTW, I love your wheels. Thank you for all the info I'll look into it. My car needs an overall refresh being 11 years since I bought it.

 

Like others have said, you can replace your control arms with aftermarket parts and have an independent shop do it for a fraction of what Lexus charges.

I replaced all my control arms myself two years ago, and 50,000 miles later I've had zero issues. I think the whole job cost me around $700

 

In fact, you can replace just the bushes, but that's somewhat in-depth work. Also, to cheat properly, you need a torch...and I don't mean UK slang for flashlight.

I'm going to put polyurethane bushes in mine probably in the next 18 months because I can see a couple of the rubber ones in there may be starting to crack.

 

From your post, I don't think you've ever gotten your hands dirty working on your car (you don't need to) so doing it yourself is not an option. You have an L version so you must have adjustable air shocks which will run about $700-$1000 EACH just for the part. So if you were to replace everything (all 4 shocks, control arms and other suspension parts) then you are looking at about $5000 minimum if you find a good non dealer mechanic. If you were to sort everything out you'd be spending near 1/2 of what your car is worth.

You could easily private sale it and sell it for about $13K-$15K as is. The L version is rare and sought after for the extra rear room for family or livery service and for the "big body" look. I looked for month and could not find the one I wanted. . The bottom line is you have an 11 year old luxury car. The cost is not as painful for me to keep because I did a lot of the work myself in my garage and I have mechanics who I've know for many years. If you still love the car fix it and enjoy it for a few more years. I think the look of the LS460 is holding up very well with newer cars out there and I thoroughly enjoy driving it.

 

Yeah, certain wheel will bring out the look of the look of the LS460. The regular 18" wheel make the car look very conservative. I put on the 19" touring wheels and it really brought the looks IMO

 

If you going to call bushings 'bushes' you better be a UKer living in Texas - that's the only acceptable excuse!

LOL

 

No, but for several years, I worked in an office of primarily Englishmen, in the US, and the parent company was based in Ottawa (French, I know, keep reading), so I got into the habit of different terms & spellings. I don't even think about/realize it, honestly...y'all.

What's odd is, I have no accent other than American, however, being born-and-raised Texan, I have every freakin' colloquialism germane to here.

Also, having no accent to overcome, when I've traveled, after a couple of weeks, I start to pick up accents, too (accents in English, like Australia/NZ/Canada). It's completely subconscious. I'd have a Texas accent if there were more here with it, but D/FW is pretty much a melting pot of peoples over the last 50-60 years.

 

Ain't No Place Like Home, FOAT WORFF !!!

 

So use 'merican words!

 

But.....I'm Canadian....