Hi all, I was hoping maybe someone here would have some info for me as I have exhausted all searching efforts trying to find anything either here, google, eBay, etc....

I currently own a '10 LS460 AWD as the title states; it came to light about a week ago that the driver's, front, lower, forward control arm bushing was shot. As in you could move the wheel while it was on the lift and see the bushing move around. Plus I have had the clunking noises for a bit while braking and hitting small bumps.

I tied into this project last Friday and I did finally manage to get the old arm out but what a BI***! The bolt that holds that arm to the frame had completely frozen in place and no regular heating torch/air hammer was going to remove it. I ended up having to get the cutting torches out..... I got it finally but damn! If the bolt hadn't been frozen in place, it wouldn't have been that bad of a job.

Upon removal, I damaged a couple of other items. Namely that damn bolt (sourced from Lexus), the sway bar link (frozen nut, ended up stripping allen head inside shaft instead of threading all the way off), and a burnt up rack & pinion boot (both boot and sway bar link sourced from Rock Auto). So I cleaned everything up and inspected the other parts. Most everything looked serviceable, the bushings in the other control arms don't even have cracks in them yet. The one thing I noticed was that the lower rearward control arm could be moved left to right quite a bit but its not actually loose. So this set me on a search and here in lies my question.

I can't find an aftermarket source for ANY other control arms for the AWD version of this car other than the front, lower, forwards for both sides. Rock Auto carries those (thank GOD!) but they don't carry any others for the AWD. I looked up part numbers for the various arms and it looks like the AWD part numbers from Lexus for the upper arms (both forward and rearward) cross reference with some of the available arms from Rock Auto even though they are listed on their site as for RWD. To be honest, the RWD and AWD upper arms all look VERY similar if not identical from what I've seen using used junkyard pics on eBay and comparing the two. So that might be a decent enough avenue to pursue for those if/when the time comes.

Those front, lower, rearward arms though..... I can NOT find an aftermarket source anywhere and a new one from Lexus will end up well over $300 once shipped. Does ANYONE have a line on an aftermarket alternative for these? I can't even find bushings for them as all of the bushing kits are listed for RWD cars (both the lower arms are vastly different between AWD and RWD cars, bushings included). I've also read that people are having terrible luck with that Armstrong site's poly bushing kit.... not that they show/list the bushing I would need if I wanted to replace the lower rearward control arm's.....

So, anyone? If not, I'm going to put this thing back together and let it ride until if/when that bushing actually comes apart like the forward one that I just replaced. I might anyway but I'd like to know I have an option out there when the time comes....

Thanks,
David

 

Have you searched by OEM part number? On many online Lexus parts sites, you can search by your VIN to get the correct part number. I do not know which arms “cross over” between AWD and RWD.

I do not have a AWD but I found upper OEM parts on EBay shipped from foreign sources.

 

Yep, I used the OEM part numbers to search for those arms and the only thing that comes up are direct from Lexus... no where else, not even foreign aftermarket.

 

did you get this resolve?

I am running to the same situation like you.

thanks

 

Does anyone know how to remove rearward lower control arm the frame end?! There seem to be some kind of tube not allowing the control arm to slide out.

 

That tube you refer to slides out. Once the tube is removed the arm will be free.

 

Sorry I'm late to the party...

Nerve racking but fast solution.

I then found this damage and that shiny spot was worn away.

And this was my fix... Arnie

 

I had to cut front lower arms in pieces as well. It took a while.

 

After how many miles did it require replacement? I am considering getting a 2010 LS460L AWD, 1 owner, no accidents, and perfect maintenance records.

 

Are OEM parts an option? I've heard it's such a headache to go through that for aftermarket arms and have them fail in a year or two, resulting in dealing with that mess all over again. Amayama has them cheaper than the dealers.

 

Parts Geek currently has all front control arms (at least for 2010-2012 AWD) available from various aftermarket manufacturers.

 

I couldn't find aftermarket UCAs rearward for AWD, did you find it?

 

I've actually been looking for the same recently. I found a couple of Beck Arnley arms on partsgeek.com, and there are a few aftermarket adjustable camber parts as well.

 

So since mine is not moving it must be frozen, did you have any issues getting yours out?

 

So since mine (tubing) is not moving it must be frozen, did you have any issues getting yours out?