You can actually turn the top plate by hand, like you said, there's a bearing. It's a tight turn, but no need to compress the spring and loosen the nut. The problem is getting the top three bolts seated enough to put the nuts on even when its lined up with the arrows pointing to the side of the car as illustrated in my manual. Can get the one closest to the engine but it seems the plate is at the wrong angle because it hits the body of the car (the hole that is cut out in the fender well for the strut) which prevents getting the strut seated enough to put the other two nuts on.

My plan is to reassemble the other side and take pictures as I do and post them here for guidance and see if the same thing happens with the passenger side.

 

Colenzae: You never specify the year of your RX, but I am assuming that yours is in fact a Gen1 model. I think you have been misinformed by your parts dealer. RockAuto.com lists seven (7) seperate suppliers of these parts (Mevotech, Gabriel, Raybestos, KYB, Monroe, Moog and Sachs) and EVERY ONE OF THEM has seperate part numbers for left front and right front; only the rear are the same for both sides.

 

There are two angles involved ... rotational and incline. Rotational is the one that you talk about that can be adjusted without compressing the springs. The other is the incline and if that is not right then you get fitment issue (even when the 3 holes align with the bolts). This incline is controlled by how the spring seats into the ends (bottom and cap).

Here is dumb question ,,, do you have the spring right way up?

If yes, then try with old parts and see.

Salim

 

Yes 2002 gen1. Since I ordered the parts from a Lexus dealer and have visually inspected them, I am pretty darn sure both sides are the same. I will double check.

 

What are your part #'s?

 

I bet they are saying that the "bearings" are the same, not the "mounts"

 

Sewell's website shows different part #'s for L&R

 

I saw that when I was placing the order. When you go to add the items to your cart, it gives you two for the same side. When I saw that, I called them and they said it does that because both sides are in fact the same.

 

When you are trouble shooting, there are no dumb questions. Yes, the wider part of the spring is on the bottom.
I believe you are correct, the incline is slightly off. I will reassemble the other side and post my results.
Thanks to all.

 

So I'm definitely ready for the "special" mechanics union. After I saw this post, I took the other plate that I hadn't assembled yet and tried to fit it into the strut housing in the fender well. It only fit on the driver's side. Then I took the strut that I had assembled and tried to fit it on the passengers side......it fit. I was told by Lexus they were the same........maybe they were referring to the rears......I'm a moron for not checking the part numbers before assembly......lesson learned.
I can't thank the forum members enough for DOING THE WORK THAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE BEFORE POSTING A QUESTION HERE!!!!
I hope this experience helps others and I apologize for wasting peoples time and being so adamant that the parts were the same before checking. Impossible to tell by eye.

 

Glad it worked out for you.

 

Yes and thanks so much for your help!!