need suspension help

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Dec 17, 2002 | 07:02 PM

LexusGS3

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Driver School Candidate

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 27

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From: IN

need suspension help

Hello!

I'm new to the board...and I need help.

My car has been lowered since summer of 98. Here are some pics:

I've noticed lately that my car doesn't ride correctly. It seems as if the car oscillates off center when going up and down on dips and such. I feel like i don't have total control over the car when it goes up and down. I'm clueless as to what could be the cause.

Furthermore, the car has been making a noise similar to when a person runs the finger around the mouth of a wine glass...sorry for the bad analogy. I've propped the car up to see if anything obvious would be causing the noise, but no luck. Brake pads are fine...

Another thing, the wheels i have are 18x7.5 with 235/40s...I want to go bigger in the rear. Would you think a 18x9 offset of 40 of the same wheel be okay?

thanks for the input,

Lyle

Dec 17, 2002 | 07:35 PM

LB Lex

Lexus Champion

Joined: Oct 2001

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From: el clinico magnifico

get an alignment. When my car tends to wander on dips, I get it aligned and the problem is gone.

Dec 17, 2002 | 07:51 PM

Mischievious GS

Intermediate

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 309

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From: Hawaii / Las Vegas

just curious...how did u lower your car? coilovers, lowered springs, cut springs?

your car looks a little too low to have used eibachs...even the intrax springs. if you used teins or something similar...you can try to raise the car up a few notches and see if that helps. if you went the cut springs route...the springs probably can't handle the weight of the car anymore, so you'd probably need some new springs.

Last edited by Mischievious GS; Dec 17, 2002 at 08:01 PM.

Dec 17, 2002 | 09:57 PM

LexusGS3

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From: IN

I have RSR springs with KYB shocks. No adjustability at all...which i'm kicking myself in the **** for. I lowered it about 4 years ago, and I didn't know much back then. I wish I would've spent the money for some coilovers (i.e. - teins) when I first did the car. It is my daily driver, and it being that low has taken a toll I think...

I was told that it could be an alignment problem, but i had an alignment about 3 months ago. Would it ride better with a degree of negative camber?

Peace,

Lyle - who has been saving up for tein's...but was planning on putting them on the Type R and not the lexus. Maybe I should worry about what is wrong with the GS before doing the ITR.

Dec 18, 2002 | 01:17 AM

Jmai22

Lexus Fanatic

Joined: Nov 2001

Posts: 5,203

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From: California

Re: .

Quote:

Originally posted by LexusGS3
I have RSR springs with KYB shocks. No adjustability at all...which i'm kicking myself in the **** for. I lowered it about 4 years ago, and I didn't know much back then. I wish I would've spent the money for some coilovers (i.e. - teins) when I first did the car. It is my daily driver, and it being that low has taken a toll I think...

I was told that it could be an alignment problem, but i had an alignment about 3 months ago. Would it ride better with a degree of negative camber?

Peace,

Lyle - who has been saving up for tein's...but was planning on putting them on the Type R and not the lexus. Maybe I should worry about what is wrong with the GS before doing the ITR.

do you have any tire wear problems??

as for that whining noise. it may be your power steering pump. it may be going bad. and if it is check for leaks and be prepared to spend mucho mula

Dec 18, 2002 | 01:41 AM

LexusGS3

Thread Starter

Driver School Candidate

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 27

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From: IN

tire wear

yeah, the car tends to wear the inside of the tread before the outside. Whenever I get an alignment, the tech tells me that he can't get it better than -1 degree on the front and close to spec in the rear.

Actually, my uncle pointed out to me that there maybe some kind of leak because he saw an area where grease has accumulated. I didn't think much of it because I haven't seen any fluid underneath the car. I'll take look at it. I'm supposed to visit family in chicago this weekend, and i'd rather take the GS300 than the type R. The ITR has been notorious for getting stolen in big cities.

Once again, thanks for the input.

peace,

Lyle

Dec 19, 2002 | 02:52 PM

GSMan300

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Joined: Apr 2001

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PROBLEM SOLVED:

-One or more of your wheel bearings have gone bad.

What to look for:

1. Incorrect tire ware.

2. Whirring noise (finger around glass) at high speeds (60mph).

3. Incorrect alignment.

4. Oscillation is a huge give-away that your wheel-bearing has gone bad. It's hard to explain this without a diagram, but I'll give it a try. When your wheel-bearing goes bad, the wheel pretty much oscillates back and forth especially at high speeds. This results in less control and stability of the car. Also you will notice that you clip curbs alot more often.

5. This requires the work of a professional mechanic.

6. Take your car to a suspension/alighnment shop such as Firestone and have them look at the car. I'm 99.9% sure it is a bad wheel-bearing.

7. The cost to have this fixed is about $385 outside of Lexus. It will also cost about $20 to have a diagnosis of your problem. I strongly suggest you take it to a professional shop and have them take a look at it.

8. Almost forgot...it is safe to drive the car around town, but DO NOT drive it on the highway for an extended period of time with a damaged wheel bearing. This will cause major damage to your suspension. Get it fixed ASAP.

Good Luck!

Last edited by GSMan300; Dec 19, 2002 at 02:55 PM.