My daughter who drives the SC400 called me up last week and said, "Daddy, my car is broken" Of course I'm thinking she ran out of gas, or something. She says, "There's like no room for the front tire to move." Yeah, it was really broke. I drove down in my SC3 to investigate and the RF wheel has insane negative camber. I hate that look already, but I really hate that it was because the lower ball joint popped out of it's socket. I REALLY REALLY hate that you can't replace the damn ball joint - oh no - you need an entire lower control arm. Lexus dealer wanted over $900. Thank some deity we share Supra parts and Toyota cost a 3rd of that - which still sux.

I'm so thankful it happened in a parking lot and not on the freeway. I feel bad because she said something was wrong with the steering. I drove it and it felt just like mine when the rack bushings wore out, so I put it off. It could have killed her.

It was really hard to get on my trailer to tow it home with the control arm dragging the ground and no steering.

 

Glad your daughter is ok. I would go ahead and get the other side done as well.

 

I am glad your daughter is ok. My son drives my 1998 SC300 and it has that noise too. The replacement front LCA, what is the part# that you ordered? thanks

 

48068-29165

I checked the other side with a pry bar and its totally solid. No noises, no steering slop.

 

Happened on mine. Good thing I was just about to accelerate from a stop sign, when I heard a crashing sound, sorta like thunder, then I just pulled over to the shoulder. Soon as I placed it on park, my driver side came crashing down like I switched the hydraulics off of a lowrider. The control arm shaved the inner barrel of the wheels like a cheese grater. Had it towed to a shop and bought good condition used control arms from a junkyard.

This is actually a common problem in the '98-'00 2nd Gen GS's soon as they hit around 75k miles. Not so common to our SC's, but even with the 2nd Gen GS's, it usually happens when they come to a stop or in a stop. I don't know if there's any logical explanation for that though.

I have been checking all the balljoints as a part of maintenance whenever i have the wheels off, ever since this happened too.

 

Yep, that was one of the first things I did to my GS. Cheaper and easier than the SC.

 

Thanks for the heads up and glad your daughter is safe.

Is it the 93 SC400 in your sig? How many miles does it have?

Yeah, it's a common thing in the 2nd gen GS.

 

Glad to hear everyone is safe, but I would strongly recommend doing the other side, the toyota control arms are alot more stiff than the lexus ones the suspension may not react the same when turning left and right, and may even cause the lexus one to wear faster.
I regret doing my poly bushes cause I worry about that old ball joint, this is the first I have seen of it coming out completely, sorta wish I had just bought new supra arms. good luck with the swap.

 

+1 always replace them in pairs, We will not let a customer replace just one at the shop I know it cost way more but worth it in the end.

 

Yeah, I know they should be done in pairs, but the car is pretty beat and 200k miles. Door panels, seats, carpet, paint etc are trashed. I'm holding out for a different car. When we got it, my wife and I both worked, now it's just me, so cars get the bare necessary treatments.

 

Totally understandable, hope you sell it to an enthusiest when you decide to get a different car for her

 

I would venture a guess that it has to do with the front suspension loading/unloading on the stops/starts due to weight transfer. Aside from bumps, cruising at constant speed is basically the same as sitting parked for the suspension.

 

Thanks for the part# info.

 

every week some one posts about ball joint failure even though its the most common problem our cars have

these only happen at slow driving, and the signs should be obvious

 

Glad you and your family are ok, that was dangerous.