For some reason when I hit bumps and dips in the road I hear a thumping sound its not very noticibale on the highway but when going over small bumps or dips in the road at low speads its really annoying. I have a 2000 gs400 with ltuned springs and shock with 18" wheels. Can anyone suggest something. The guy who installed the suspention says its normal and its because of the after market spring being smaller.

 

I've got the L-Tuned with TRD sways and the 17" wheels and I don't hear anything like that. There is a more noticeable thunking when going over pavement buckles due to the shorter wheel travel but no sounds when the suspension isn't at full travel.

Have you read the other posts talking about the bump-stop issues with L-Tuned installs? Do you know if your install shop used the newly supplied, but incorrect, stops from the kit when they did the install?

I hope you figure it out.

Peter

 

I am pretty sure he used the stops that came with the suspention. The sound is really getting to be annoying I know something is defnitly not right.

 

D,

you need to use the original factory stops

 

What are these stops and where do they go? I am sorry I just need to tell my mechanic I dont want to sound stupid

 

I've heard this a couple of times, but I don't think they did that on my install. Why would Lexus (who blessed the springs/shocks) supply a stop with the new shocks if they wanted the factory one used?

I've head a very slight 'thump' once in a while, but it's no big deal at all.

 

bitkahuna,

I would not call it slight. I hear it every time the road dips or i go over a speed bump even when i enter or leave my drive way i hear it. I dont notice it much on the highway but the roads are so bad in new york and when you drive slow the sound gets very annoying.

 

this is very confusing to me too. some have no problems w/the new stops. and yet for those with "thumping sound", the final curable remedy was a simple switch back to the original factory one, and the noise is gone.

 

I just installed L-Tuned on my GS430. After reading WhiteDiamond's post in regards to using the stock bump stop, I made sure that the original bump stops were installed with the new L-Tuned springs/shocks. I don't hear any noise and I don't have any problem with the new setup.

The bump stops are designed so that your car does not bottom out when you hit a big bump or any uneven surface that compress your springs drastically. The bump stops is located between the springs and the shocks. If you see a yellow color rubber bump stop that means you have used L-tuned bump stop. Your stock bump stop should be in black rubber. The stock bump stops provide a tighter fit when installed in the unit compared to the L-tuned bump stops. The tighter fit is what prevent the thumping sound when you go over the bump. The lose fit bump stops doesn't compress and travel well, as a result, it produces the thumping sound when you go over the uneven surfaces.

I hope this help and good luck

 

Would anyone be able to post some photos so I can get an idea of what it is. Thanks guys!

 

My GS is a little over three years old.

Looks like I am going to get the L tuned shocks/springs installed finally.

I understand that many recommend the original stops,
but how about since my originals are over three years old?

Do these things wear out? Should I take my chances of "thumping" with the new stops?

Thanks for any guidance/opinions.