ahde

I have a 2004 LS 430 and only recently there was a very small but noticeable metal knocking noise coming from the left front of my car. I am sure it is not coming from the engine and there was nothing wrong with the left front wheel when I inspected it. It only lasted for a few seconds and comes on SPARSELY and IRREGULARLY ( that is not every time) when the car turns left.. No light on the dash board turns on and it does not affect driving. Any advice what that may be and if it needs attention immediately? Thanks.

caverman

Probably a control arm bushing. Somewhat common from my understanding. Do a search and you'll find info about it.

Johnhav430

Of course this is wide open, but I called the indie about a metallic thud or clink over certain bumps (not a speed bump, won't make the sound there). Right off the bat on the phone he said he bets they're sway bar links, and if not, shocks, but he wouldn't think shocks based on my mileage in the 80's.

He drove the car extensively with me in it, duplicated the sound, put it on the lift, pulled the wheels, looked all around, and concluded the shim kit is missing from the brake job done by whoever did it last (selling dealership with OEM parts). I looked at the parts they returned, and the pads were not worn, but were akebono ACTs, so they have a built in shim. Still not the same as OEM shims which are 8 pieces, and $50 discount, which I guess can be a good reason why shops don't use them....

Anyway, I did a search and sure enough, there was a long thread about brake pads shifting, especially when no shims. When I reach through the wheel and touch the pads, of course I cannot make much of a noise with my hands, but I do find an ever so miniscule amount of brake pad travel. So it could be as simple as a shim kit for the front brakes.

Again this topic is wide open, so YMMV....

p.s. imho an indie is needed, not a dealer. Dealer did the multipoint and told me I needed 4 shocks and don't even ask me what the $$$$ was. Indie said you're joking, shocks are fine, the car only has at the time 83k....(dealer is not out to do what's needed and save you $$$$, they are ok with throwing the baby out with the bath water)

edit here is one of the many posts chasing a sound. The key imho is "uneven," as mentioned, simply going over a speed bump does not produce a sound. There is another out there which discusses a "normal" brake pad shift sound, which I believe I have. As mentioned, dealer suggestion was replace the front shocks LOL nein danke

p.s. why I trust the indie is he had it on the lift with wheels pulled, inspected everything, dropped it, drove it again, put it back on the lift, and he found the above parts to be satisfactory

GS link

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sus...end-links.html

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...-04-ls430.html

ahde

Thanks to the two posts above and I will look into them accordingly.

I have only 95,000 Km. on my car and the last brake work was done four/five years back and there are still at least 30/40% brake pad left. So, it does not look like a pad shift. Moreover, the sound did not occur when passing over speed bump or uneven road surface. It occurs on flat surface n when turning left only when no brake is applied. Any other thoughts?

Johnhav430

btw my brakes were virtually new pads/rotors......why the indie determined he'd install shims and thinks it's that, is because going over the very same bump, with brakes applied, no sound.....I thought that was logical...he would circle back to the same bump, hit it the same way, and have the brakes already applied, and no sound......maybe try the exact same left turn, one time with brakes applied, next time without, if you hear it both times, then not the brake pads.....my .02

They look similar to this, 8 pieces

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-LEXUS-OEM-07-10-LS460-08-10-LS600hL-FRONT-BRAKE-PAD-SHIM-KIT-04945-50080/162416359662?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D40130%26meid%3Dc9c319b953bc4281b531ffccb2ba0ad6%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dlo%26sd%3D231936614696

ours are a different part and this is the best price I could find

http://www.ebay.com/itm/322291755300?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Where I can see a little play on mine is at the gold pins, which implies maybe shims wouldn't help....I believe I get a sound between the holes in the pads and the gold pins (that is when moving by hand through the wheel opening). I bet the pins are not OEM, maybe that's why but won't know until I try the shims....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/182387050086?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

ahde

Thanks for all the comments above. The mystery has now been resolved. On close examination of the left hand side of the car just under the front seat, a strong but tiny metal thread of 3 mm. x 25 mm was sticking out and touching the ground. So, every time the car turns left, it scratches with the ground. Since the other end knocked against some metal, there came the strange clinking noise. I have detached this metal thread and since then, no more strange sound. However, I have no idea where this metal thread comes from. Anyone has any idea? A photo of the slightly bent metal thread taken against an envelope is attached to see if anyone can recognize it.

2KHarrier

I would assume you picked up something from the road. Perhaps a street sweeper, or other vehicle?