I need to know how much does it cost for a dealer or garage to replace front struts?

 

Buy Monroe Quick Strut or KYB Strut Plus. Should cost you about $120 online. Make sure you buy left and right, as they are different. Take them to a garage you trust. Strut Plus takes about 20 minutes to install. I had it done times enough to KNOW that beyond any doubt. So they should charge you for maybe an hour of labor top. It's averaging between $90 to $120/hr. Do your math.
As KYB is official Lexus/Toyota strut supplier, same strut sold by dealer is something like $400 for strut only. Only. Not a complete assembly. Plus much longer labor time as they will have to remove strut, dismantle it, replace strut and re mount all the hardware. My wild guess is around $800 to a 1000.
You may end up in alignment after and, worse case scenario, adding camber bolts, if ones you have on your vehicle are worn out and camber is off. Or, it will eat tires fast.

PS. It is the SAME part as Highlander. I exchanged several emails with KYB and MONROE, they confoirmed that they do not differentiate between Highlander and Lexus RX350 front struts. Rear is different, you have shocks, not struts, in rear.

 

For the 2nd Gen RX (04-09), only FCS and SENSEN make an complete assembly for the front. there might be a couple others here and there that come up on google but those are just FCS re-branded i think. all other companies for the front is just the strut you have to re-use the original spring. Monroe only makes the rear assembly for the 2nd gen. and KYB Strut Plus is not available for the 2nd gen (04-09)

 

 

I replaced my rear struts with the FCS assemblies about 18 months ago and have been very happy with them. Quick and easy to install and good ride quality.

 

Are these struts more firm than the OEM?

 

They're a little more firm, but not much. I probably wouldn't notice a difference if I didn't still have the OEM front struts to compare them to, and even then I have to be paying attention to notice the difference.

 

I'll also add that I prefer the way the RX handles since installing the FCS struts. I feel like I have better control when making turns or quick maneuvers.