Hi all, my 2015 (with 110k miles) RX350 is starting to have some random vibrations when I am going 75 mph+ it's not all the time, but it does do it often. I went ahead and checked for play in the wheel and there is none, no up and down and no side to side. I did notice my lower control arm bushings have some cracking going on. It's not severe but I think it may be time to get it done. Anyway, normally I would tackle this myself (I did my little sister's 2007 accord lower control arm) but I would rather just bring it to a dealership and have them do it seeing as how this is my DD and it's a lexus...

Anyway, what would the cost be for something like this? I called my dealer and they quoted me $1500 for both sides with an alignment. Does this sound right to you?

Thanks!

 

It will be far cheaper to have an independent shop replace the entire lower control arm on each side. The bushings are not worth replacing when a lower arm does not cost much more and the labor is a little less to only remove and replace them without pressing bushings on and off. Plus you can get a new ball joint with a replacement arm.
Online I priced front arms at around $50 - $65 and the bushings about $30 for both (for one side) at Rock Auto. This is for aftermarket and what I would use on my vehicle.

You may have other front suspension problems and should get a professional diagnosis before you begin replacing parts in the hope they resolve your problem. In the video below, the Highlander is a mechanical twin of the RX350.

 

X2 on no dealer. Think of it as a Toyota, not a Lexus.

 

It may be a deteriorating wheel bearing. I just replaced one on my 2015. There was no play in the wheel but the bearing was definitely bad. The bearing is preloaded, so it will still feel solid, even if bearing is going bad.
jim

 

Vibration & grinding are two different noises........With wear in the bushing(s) you'll have a little slop & you'll feel it depending on the road surfaces more so then others. Wheel bearings, make a grinding howl, starting out w/ a low hum & left to long turns into a grinding howl noise. If you turn the s/w it could go away for as long as your in the turn. Like mentioned above really best to swap out the whole A-arm & my thought is since your doing on side, I'd also replace the other as well....Hitup a few indy shops to get a better price on labor....btw there are quite a few ex- dealer techs that work at indy shops......