Trying to pull into a parking space and this happens :[







Next day changed WHOLE front and rear end bushings/end links/ball joints

 

should i ask the mechanic to look or change anything else if im going to replace my lbj and serpentine belt at 105K? i'm sure they're fine right now but iv become quite a hypychondriac since reading this thread. is it

 

Just got told by my Lexus dealer that both UCAs and lower ball joints on my '00 GS400 need replacing. $2224.00 to replace all!
After hours of research thru these threads I've decided I'm going Beck/Arnley from Rock Auto and doing them myself.
Now since I'm going to have all that off I'm thinking about replacing the shocks too ... I'd ask for an opinion here, but after only a few hours of "shock research" on these forums (and only about 500 hours of "shock research" to go) all of my post-secondary education is screaming "don't ask that question!"

 

Well, it only took two days to filter through all y'alls threads regarding shocks and I'm going to replace the shocks (just crawled out from under the car and they appear to be original) with KYBs (GR-2) for now as it is my daily (+family) ride. Looking thru the posts to see what else (bushings, tie rods?, etc...) that I might want to replace while I have the car up and tires off.

I am going thru post after post, but if anyone wants to chime in any advice is welcome.

I am pretty good with the tools, but it's been a while since I've had to work on a car and I've never worked on a Lexus to this point.

The ball joint DIY w/ pics is awesome and so was the video on swapping out the UCA.

Wish me luck ...

 

replace the tie rod end also since you replacing the LBJ.. thats what i did on mine.. one extra bolt to take out is all.

 

you ever get an answer to this?

 

It's not the ball joints. Knocking means something is banging around in the wheel well. Like the upper wishbone hitting the top of the fender.

 

wow thats crazy. ive heard stories about the lbj going out but never seen pics of them before seeing this thread. glad i joined this forum lol. luckily the guy i just bought my gs from replaced them right before i got the car. sorry to see all these gs's get beat up by the lbj's. i will keep all your car's recoveries in my prayers lol.

 

anyone know if our tie rods suppose to have a lot of play in them? i put my car on jack stand earlier to check out if they still good and i was able to twist the tie rod by hand. i was able to move it fairly easy... i know i need to replace my ball joints and tie rod but are they suppose to be easy to move with our hands?

 

Going to be doing this next weekend. tie rods and ball joints.

 

You should be able to "twist" the tie rod end due to it being a ball joint. To detect ball joint excessive free play (in the steering linkage):
1. Jack both front wheels off the ground.
2. Have someone grab the wheels one at a time at 9 and 3 o-clock. Move them from side to side as if they were trying to steer the car them selves (just need to shake it back and forth mildly, not actually move the steering components. Remember we are just looking for slop in the system, not ripping the wheels off) If there is any excessive free play, this person will feel it.
3. While your helper is moving the wheel, get under there and take a good look and the tie rods. Remember, you have an inner AND outer that can wear out. The outside tie rod end and steering knuckle should move together. If there is any play here, replace the outer tie rod end!! To Inspect the inside tie rod, look at the dust cover on the end of the rack. While your buddy is moving the wheel, you will see the dust cover moving with the tie rod, but the input shaft for the rack or the other sides tie rods will not move (or very little). Then you have a bad inside tie rod.

Any time you replace any suspension/steering/brake parts, thats have a matching opposite end (rotors, ball joints, tie rods, ect...), REPLACE BOTH SIDES!!! And don't forget to get the alignment done after any steering or suspension work.
Hope this helps (I am an ASE and Lexus/Toyota certified technician). Any other questions, hit me up.

 

oh snap, Ima check mine today... that looks like some crazy steering angle.

 

Thanks bro! i will keep this in mind.

 

My 2000 Lexus GS 300 did the exact same thing at 152,000 miles. We were going 80 miles per hour and it actually hoped up in the air. We could have rolled. We had just fixed the left one and started hears noises from the right side. We even called our mechanic and told him to order the part so he could fix it when we got home. We were 3 hours away in Albuquerque at the time. We were left standed in the middle of nowhere. It cost $150.00 just to tow us to the nearest town. It ruined our custom wheel and looked like your pic except our tire wore down from round to straight. It could have been much much worse. I was asleep with no seatbeat on. If you fix one side make sure you fix the other side at the same time. It WILL go out too!!! Once you start hearing those funky noises up front. Take it in right away.

 

I don't think the GS was originally equipped with KYB GR-2's. I think it was originally equipped with KYB Excels, not 100% on this, but I am almost certain the GS did not come stock with GR-2's.