az-dave

Well, Im driving along my road other day about 50mph, guy come onto street from side road, continues into my lane, I make a swirve to left and hit brakes, hit corner of 4" curb, BAM!!!

Long story short - Rim bad dent - front and rear, only outside bead, front tire didnt pop, bake tire blown off bead, but not torn.

Front wheel pushed back rubbing against metal inner fender - plastic wheel well gone, wheel angled with front towards middle of car. Tie rod - undamaged, wheels still moves wheel with slightest motion of steering wheel. Caliper undamaged.

Took wheel off - strut looks perfectly fine (I was amazed). Hub/Bearing/Knuckle no visible damage - here is where gets BAD:

1) Upper A-Arm twisted and pushed back about 1"

2) Lower middle Control arm bent back about 2-1/2"

3) Lower rear control arm support (a BIG curved piece of metal attaching to bottom of unibody frame behind and under the wheel well and the lower control arm - bent about 1-1/4" and rubber bushing completely torn.

I tore it all apart last night, every last piece removed...I can find the upper and lower control arms online, but that last piece that connects the lower control arm to the underside of the unibody behind the wheel well looks like its a lexus only part...$160...anyone know where I can get one?

I will post Diagram of the part Im talking about in a minute...its a strange shaped piece to begin with, kinda of curvy.

P/N: 48069A - ARM SUB-ASSEMBLY, FRONT SUSPENSION, LOWER No.2 LEFT. ARM ASSY, LWR NO.2 Left

L3xLug3r

iTrader: (2)

Sewell Lexus

http://lexus.sewellparts.com/oem-cat...S300-2002.html

Create an account with them to get a discount. Total comes out to $121.17. Good luck.

az-dave

I forgot to add to the damage:

wrinkles on the roof next to the rear corner of the sunroof (both sides !!! ???), and a small crease next to drivers side front corner of roof between sunroof and A-Pilar.

Yeah...I am amazed at the damage...no airbag deployed, and tire still inflated and on rim 3 days later...all I can figure is it was the angle/braking when I hit the curb transferred the forces strangely thru the car.

Its pretty much a total, and it has 261,000 miles on it, but it still runs good, and I like having a 3rd car...so Im gunna try and salvage it if I can, if for nothing else to use as a back-up car...

az-dave

I will give them a call, thank you much.

I also need the lower control arm and upper "A" control arm, but due to age of vehicle, Im gunna do aftermarket cheapies...not guarnatee this baby will even be able to be aligned properly ever again.

When I saw the creases in the roof last night I almost gave up (noticed them after I took everything apart) but ya know, may as well try.

az-dave

Ok,
So Ive found the lower control arm No.2 (commonly referred to as the Caster Arm or Radius Arm or Torsion Arm) at Lexussouthatlantaparts.com for $126 + $20 shipping...
This is - I know a LOT of people on these forums have replaced these arms on both pass and drivers size because the bushing wears out - so Im wondering is anyone has their old arms laying around wanting to sell them to me on ? I will press new bushings in myself, as the pass side bushing is bad due to old age (as in 260K+ miles)

az-dave

Hello,

Im looking for someone who replaced their entire radius/caster arm (maybe before knowing about pressing in new ones?) -

I bent my drivers radius arm side (98 GS300 - same car as this thread is about), I can press the new bushing this thread talks about into an old arm no problem.

please PM me If interested in selling to me let me know asap.

thanks - DK

L3xLug3r

iTrader: (2)

What year is your car? I have spare arms for a '98 GS300.

sakataj

iTrader: (182)

lol, reading failure sir

az-dave

Mine is a 98 GS300 :-)

Is your the drivers side?

thanks

az-dave

yes it was - my profile seems to have lost my signature

az-dave

Here are some pics for everyone's amusement...

I attempted to straighten the lower control arm back out, got it almost there, but the end where the ball joint attaches to is actually twisted, so its a junker - new one for $60 I guess.

L3xLug3r

iTrader: (2)

Doh!!! I hate when that happens. LOL...can I say burned?

az-dave

Oh yeah..not too happy.

Are the spare arms you have old or new? I can press in new bushings.

thx (I think I PM'd you earlier)

Ive goota try and get the arm before next friday.

az-dave

Well, Ive ended up getting 3 new parts online, the upper and lower control arm, and the lower caster/radius arm.

Gunna get all 3 in this week, and then I will find out how much other real damage there is if any...these parts should bolt in - if they dont it means the frame/unibody bent = pretty bad....but hoping for the best.

1sWt2GS

iTrader: (6)

you should have let him hit you, it was his fault and he would have paid for it!