Hello All,

I am proud to join the SC430 ownership club (2002 blk/blk 73k miles). I have spent a great deal of time reading the great threads on CL. Thanks to all who share their knowledge and allow a guy like me to work on a luxury ride with confidence.

I seem to be having some of the common issues with the suspension. Tires are cupping and making the loud noise at low speed (will purchase new tires after solving suspension issue). I have some vibration over 65mph and little worse at 80mph, probably due to cupped tires and leaning towards LCA #2 as main culprit. Tie rods, ball joints, UCA in good shape.

I would like to purchase new bushings for the lower control arms (not polyurethane). I have been reading the threads about the bushing install and the choice in parts. The problem I have run into is the size of my LCA #2 (caster arm). It appears to be different than the control arms I have seen in other threads. It appears to be the beefier arm based on what I have read but I am not entirely sure. I included a pic of the arm/bushing from my car. I want to make sure I order the proper bushing as it seems 2 sizes may be available based on what I have read in the GS thread (https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sus...ed-thread.html). I noticed in another thread for sc430 and the poster had a different looking arm from the one I currently have on the car (https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sus...aizen-diy.html). Based on what I have read I would like to order the TRD or Roca bushings. I could use a little guidance when it comes to ordering the proper size for my SC. I am not sure if the following bushings are the correct size ( ). Does anyone know where I can get them and make sure I get the right size?

 

did you ever find out which bushing to get.

 

The caster arms are different between sc430 and 2gs, but the bushings are unknown.

Unless you plan to do a diy on the bushings job, it won't save you much by replacing the control arm bushings.
You might as well just buy the new caster arms and call it a day especially you are not interested in the polyurethane ones.

 

I ended up purchasing the entire arm from Sewell for $120 each. I am fairly certain I found the correct bushings from TRD that would fit but the cost to order them, wait for them to ship and then press them in wasn't saving much. I am going to start looking for the rear bushings though as those arms are not cheap.

Thnks all for the help. After all my research I am fairly certain the 03-05 GS arms are the same as the sc430 so the bushings should be the same too, but I can't confirm since I didn't test.

Thanks all for the feedback. love the Forum!

 

Welcome to the forum jtwags and congratulations on your acquisition. Enjoy.

 

Does anyone know the torque specs for the lower contral arm #2? I installed the arms and new tires with ride match from discount (cont extremecontact DWS). Ride is much smoother and I have to pay more attention to the speedo as 60 and 80 feel the same.

Just need to apply final torque to the two bolts and large nut.

 

Just to let anyone reading the thread know. I purchased new Michelin tires, replaced the front bushing in both lower control arms and had an alignment done. All vibration is gone. smooth as silk on the road now. I really believe this car is sensitive to tires. Any out of round or balance issue will be felt in the steering wheel.

Thanks to everyone who responded and posted elsewhere with advice.