Hi guys,

I've had my 03 for a year now (drove it from 166k to now 183k kms). Ever since I got it, I noticed the car doesn't sit level: the front left is the lowest, while the rear right is the highest. Today, I measured the gap between the wheels and the fenders, and I found that at the front the driver side is about 1 cm (1/3 ") lower than the passenger side.

I just want to ask if your cars also have a similar lean. I know this side is heavier (steering column, brakes, fuel lines) + driver always sits there + bushings probably worn faster, so it's not surprising. The car doesn't pull to either side, though I find it will tend to go a little to the right on the motorway (hands off the wheel; could be the road is not flat / and it usually isn't).

Not going to do any work on it, just wondering.

Otherwise, last weekend I just achieved 7.73 l/100km (30.4 US mpg) on a 188 km drive (average speed 78.1 kph; top down). Very surprised at the pump. Seems like this car gets better fuel economy as it gets older.

 

I was looking for a Vacuum hose for my power steering when I saw this on My Lexus Parts. It turns out the SC430 has an auto leveling feature. Yours probably has a leak. https://www.mylparts.com/auto-parts/...ber=4894350090

 

Your struts are worn. The reason why the driver side is low because of the constant weight being pressed down on it during undulations. Good news for you is that struts are cheap. Bilsteins from GS400 work for SC430. $100 each.

SC430 does not have auto-leveling. The only Lexus that has it is an LS with air suspension.

 

Thanks! I did not think I ever saw a leveling system, so I was surprised when I saw a parts diagram for it. Looking back, I see now it is for the LS. Thanks!

 

Hi, thanks!

So it's the struts instead of the control arms? I don't really think I'll be replacing them, because I may be relocating (again) this or early next year (possibly change continent).

 

....that auto leveling is for the headlights.....there is one located on the front & rearend

 

Today I measured all four corners, turns out it's uneven all around: From the rim to the fender, the highest to the lowest are RR > LR > RF > LF. The gaps are uniformly 1/4". So RR is 3/4" higher than LF.

I doubt it's the shocks. But I'll leave it like this. Drives well enough.

 

No one else has a lean like this?

 

...I always thought my driver side was a little lower than passenger side, sometimes I just passed it off as not sitting on level ground. I installed new lowering springs & shocks (not because of lean) and hadn't really noticed it anymore......

 

Yes I have a lean like that. I've changed shocks and put in aftermarket shocks and still have the lean. I even got it aligned and still leaning. It now pulls to the left after alignment.im kinda fed up now👺

 

Check your bushings in the #2 lower control arms. Common problem area.