Warning To All 2nd Gen Gs Owners
03-05-13, 12:28 PM
#346
I would do the balljoints, outer tie rods, and get an alignment all at the same time. The car will feel a lot tighter!
04-02-13, 05:35 PM
#347
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i know this is an old thread but i couldn't seem to find a average mileage marker for this. i've owned mine for 9 months and it has 150,000 miles... advice to just do it?
07-29-13, 04:03 PM
#351
My 2003 GS just clocked 161k miles and the dealership says I have play in the front suspension and recommends replacing the front lower ***** joints at $454.03 and the front upper control arms at $1741.41. (and an alignment at $124.95) I thought this seemed really high, so I'm taking it to a local dealer alternative shop with a good rep. Am I wrong in thinking this should not cost upwards of $2300.00?
07-29-13, 04:14 PM
#352
Front upper control arms should not need to be replaced...like...ever. All they do is hold the wheel straight up. There is no weight and very little stress on them.
Lower ball joints are a do-it-yourself job if you're mechanically inclined enough to, say, change your own oil. Just follow the write-up from this site. If you want to take it to an outside shop to do it, they can easily knock it out in under 2 hours. Even at an expensive shop that's less than $200 in labor.
You should be out the door for no more than $400-$500, all-in.
The dealership saw you coming from miles away....
Lower ball joints are a do-it-yourself job if you're mechanically inclined enough to, say, change your own oil. Just follow the write-up from this site. If you want to take it to an outside shop to do it, they can easily knock it out in under 2 hours. Even at an expensive shop that's less than $200 in labor.
You should be out the door for no more than $400-$500, all-in.
The dealership saw you coming from miles away....
07-29-13, 06:12 PM
#354
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did the whole thing at 125k
even from new (of gs430)it was always a little vague, thought it was normal, our car must have been a demo, had a bout 1,000 miles on it... maybe someone wacked a pothole or something, anyway after replacing everything its better than new. was just under 2k at an independent.
07-31-13, 07:55 AM
#355
Front upper control arms should not need to be replaced...like...ever. All they do is hold the wheel straight up. There is no weight and very little stress on them.
Lower ball joints are a do-it-yourself job if you're mechanically inclined enough to, say, change your own oil. Just follow the write-up from this site. If you want to take it to an outside shop to do it, they can easily knock it out in under 2 hours. Even at an expensive shop that's less than $200 in labor.
You should be out the door for no more than $400-$500, all-in.
The dealership saw you coming from miles away....
Lower ball joints are a do-it-yourself job if you're mechanically inclined enough to, say, change your own oil. Just follow the write-up from this site. If you want to take it to an outside shop to do it, they can easily knock it out in under 2 hours. Even at an expensive shop that's less than $200 in labor.
You should be out the door for no more than $400-$500, all-in.
The dealership saw you coming from miles away....
I've been taking my vehicles to the local Lexus dealership for 12 years now and along the way have had many repairs done with them. I'm beginning to wonder just how many of those repairs were truly necessary and what exorbitant price I probably paid.
07-31-13, 08:01 AM
#356
Got my car back yesterday evening from the independent. The tech said there was nothing wrong with the upper control arms, but the ball joints did need to be replaced as they had 3-4mm of play along with two worn out hood struts. Out the door for $680.00 and the car drives like new!
I've been taking my vehicles to the local Lexus dealership for 12 years now and along the way have had many repairs done with them. I'm beginning to wonder just how many of those repairs were truly necessary and what exorbitant price I probably paid.
I've been taking my vehicles to the local Lexus dealership for 12 years now and along the way have had many repairs done with them. I'm beginning to wonder just how many of those repairs were truly necessary and what exorbitant price I probably paid.
09-22-13, 05:26 PM
#358
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Replaced my lower ball joints around 150K mark. At 216K now and just told its time to replace upper control arm. $1900 dealer (1300 parts). Ouch, but finding alternatives sites for authentic parts and suggestions for aftermarket parts which are pretty cheap.
10-01-13, 08:07 AM
#360
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Found Front Upper Control Arm set through Sewell Lexus Parts for $736 plus shipping vs $1300 at dealer parts department. Ordered part on Wednesday morning and part arrived on Friday afternoon. Labor estim at $400-450. Aftermarket parts didn't provide enough discount, so just stuck with Lexus part.