The main starter thread appears to be about that and all associated with the dreaded ball joint creaking.

 

I know this is an old post but I wanted to try and help others. The ball joints on these cars are extremely hard to troubleshoot. They appear to be tight when worn. I had several mechanics look at my GS300 and nobody caught the worn ball joints. I checked them myself and did not feel any looseness. I was lucky one day and jacked up the car with an ex-mechanic friend of mine and we heard one of the lowers make a popping noise. He took a pry bar and wedged it between the LCA and the spindle and thats how we saw the movement. The only theory I can think of for the difficulty in troubleshooting is that the front suspension on these cars must have a lot of tension / pressure on them (possibly due to SLA control arm layout?). The suspension tension keeps the ball joints taught on a light load, but when in driving conditions they move around by popping and creaking. This might be why they do not show any play when checking them the usual way.

These cars are very well built and will last a long time. However, the front end problems can drive you nuts during the process! I still believe that certain parts of this suspension are of a very poor design. The lower control arms/ castor arms are first on my list. There are more bad actors as well.

I hope this helps,
Gears

 

This threads been going so long I've forgot how it started. I was getting a front end clunk. Turned out to be the bushings in SPC ucas. They were version ones. I would never recommend them, although peoe seem to be happy with the version twos.

EDIT: And this was after replacing the LBJs sway bar end links, new rack with tie rods, sway bar bushings, and new LCA #2s.

 

Hey guys. I think I mite have the answer to the clunk. I have a silver 98 GS400. I've replaced every front end component that you guys mention. Upper, both lower control arms, sway bar links, rack bushings, lower ball joints, experimented with daizen bushings & still had the clunk. My clunk went away 2yrs ago when I replaced my rack & pinion. Then after replacing the rack, found out inner tie rods will cause clunk. Still to this day & 238k miles later. Still running strong & no more CLUNK!

 

hi friends!

I had my gs400 put on the front and rear tanabe spring and KYR shocks...
The rear look decent low, but in front is too low... the front tires look deep into the fender.. this is non adjustable shocks not coilover...

I have on LS400 calipers and of course there are rca spacers
are those spacers the reason?

please help!

thanks

 

Bachde, the short answer to your question is, yes, the RCAs will lower your front end a little bit if you are using them to run the LS400 calipers. If you're using for example, 30mm RCAs, then your front end will be lower by 30mm.