after getting several opinions from lexus techs and alot of shops, my problem seemed to be the LCA bushings. i had all the symptoms. i got them installed today (they have been sitting in my trunk for a few weeks) and i must say i was pleased but at the same time i wasnt.

i still have all the sounds from before; the creeks and cracks while turning the wheel. however my car drives straight, doesnt wobble at 60MPH plus, and the handling is superb once again. i cant get over how much different it handles, its just so tight and feels good, and its easier to turn the wheel (im sure my new strut bar from Luxury Mods helps out somewhere in there). the guy who installed my LCAs said my struts are worn, and that the bushings on the LCAs were in okay shape, but not like new. i guess im in a win win situation, got some things fixed, and some more things that need replacement.

looks like my next mod is going to be a set of coilovers, teins hopefully. im looking at goin with the basic or the flex. the flex is alot of money to shell out, and i dont mind the stiff ride that everyone says comes with the basics. supposedly new struts will stop the noises, however im not goin OEM with that, i guess i will just save up a few hundred for the basic.

 

Who put them in & how much? I need to do the same thing very soon.

 

Nick, i would go for the Flex's at least...or the Super Street (cheaper than the flex)

The basics would require you to use your existing upper mounts...the Flex's come with their own upper pillow ball mounts, love the ride of mine...i can give you a ride in it sometime so you can feel it...I even have it at the hardest setting and it doesn't bother me much...plus with my HID retrofit, it gives a mean @$$ flicker at night...haha..

 

what kind of bushings did you use? the 98 oem ones, vft bushes, or the daizen bushing?

 

Ok, I will chime in here and give an update on my recent suspension upgrades. As many of you have done, I had the Supra lower control arms installed by place called West End Alignment in Gardena, had 4 wheel alignment, and also counter balancing done (my car is now 55/45 front/rear weight distribution) - $300 total. Oh my god. What a diff! No more violent pulls to the right, I can take curves going insanely fast and it still feels safe! I think the supra arms are shorter than OEM so makes for better handling. And Nick, regarding the clunk when backing up, it went away with supra arms...

Note also that I installed the vlamos steering bushings (highly reccom), tein cs coils, daizen sways and 18" rims (getting 19" next year) - pretty good setup now. But I cant say enough about having the right suspension set up on your sc. You can have all power, but if no control, you wont enjoy it fully. So here's my plug for the supra arms, new ball joint and beefier bushes!

It was quite a relief to be able to confirm what my suspension problem was when I examined the old CA ball joints and bushings - totally loose and worn out! And like others have said before, you really cant tell true condition of these crucial suspension parts until you take them out, just eyeballing it, my regular mechanic said hey there's nothing wrong with your bushings - wrong!

By the way, I want to replace the poly sway bar bushings that came with my daizen sways to rubber - does anyone know how/where to get? thx

 

Foozmore - You replaced you front LCA's with Supra ones right? I believe the front ones are the same size as the Lexus ones but the rear Supra LCA's are shorter therefore will not fit. I hear my suspension squeaking and I know for a fact that my balljoints are nearing the end.

Thanks for the write-up

 

correct, the front ones. My SC4 has 146k miles, and it seems right now those were only ones bad, all other bushings and CA's were working properly. I would think this will be the case with yours as well if your mileage is comparable...

 

yeah my SC is hitting 114k miles. On my to-do list is to pick up some front Supra LCA's and some bushings for the rear LCA's. everything else looks ok

 

Foozmore,
Thanks for the heads up on the local shop in Gardena. Wow, $300.00 for everything including the install, balancing, and alignment? Sounds like a great deal.

 

i still need to get alignment done but im gonna do it after i get coilovers in about a month or so.

 

Hmm Im still debating on whether to order supra lcas or daizens. this is prolly my next project once i get my tune up done