All, since my 2IS has now taken up near permanent residence in the garage due to COVID and my working from home, my Lexus doesn't get driven daily any longer. Sees maybe one trip outdoors a week.

With this said, I've found the unused and worn factory suspension has officially met its useful life and it is time to install the KYB/H&R combo. Upon inspection of the new, aftermarket components from KYB and H&R, I probably have everything needed to replace my factory sport suspension with this KYB/H&R combo. BUT, before I get to the point of uninstalling the suspension, removing the factory top hats for use on this aftermarket combo, I want to be certain I have everything needed to complete this install as best as possible.

After some attempted researching, I was unable to locate any component-by-component pictures breaking down what all goes into the factory suspension setups (top hats, dust covers, bumpstops, washers, shocks, etc etc. So I'm left wondering, might there be any "wear" items that would be good to replace while in the middle of this install? Or is it simply uninstall the factory top hat and reuse on the KYB/H&R combo using the supplied hardware pictured below?

Thanks in advance!

 

If your front upper strut mounts need to be replaced I suggest you get them OEM from the dealer. I installed Swift springs and MOOG upper mounts from RockAuto and after 2 years the dust boots are completely ripped in pieces. The original ones lasted 7 years and were still ok when I took it apart, but decided to put all new hardware in when doing springs change over. Should've put the original upper mounts back on or get the new OEM ones. If you want longevity pay extra and use OEM boots (too bad they don't sell boots separately). If you don't care too much about dust boots then get aftermarket.

 

For the front, consider doing new upper mounts (they include the rubber boot and spring insulator), as well as the lower spring insulator. For the rear, consider doing new upper and lower spring insulators and bump stops.

48680-53031 - Mount, Front Suspension (Qty: 2)
48158-30020 - Insulator, Spring Lower (Qty: 4)
48257-30070 - Insulator, Rear Spring Upper (Qty: 2)
48341-30110 - Bumper, Rear Spring (Qty: 2)

Jeff

 

Thanks for the advice all!

 

Finished the install on Labor Day. Was straight-forward, no surprises. LOVE the change from sloppy and bouncy to firm and planted EVERYWHERE. Oh, the lowered stance is a nice bonus too.

 

That's great to hear. I'm also happy that you made a thread like this as I'll be referring to it whenever it's time to swap my F-Sport Bilstein shocks with another set that I have in storage.

 

^^ Agree!!!

It seems I lost the data from the front shocks but here is the rear from the F-Sport. Sadly the number on the shock body does not come up anywhere. Maybe I need Jeff's mad skills?
Can anyone translate these this and/or find the front match?
Front Shock: ??
Rear Shock: 48530-53280

I'm placing this here as the damping rates on these are pretty favorable. Although I wish the ride height were an inch lower, I've done my share of dragging bits on the highway and I'm so far over it, I have no intention of changing it enough to bottom/bounce off the bump stops or drag bottom. That said, if someone can find the matching front shock, I may renew the vehicle with F-Sport lowering springs when the time comes. Clocks at 100,000 mi now. Mostly freeway easy life and never hitting hard bumps at speed that might boil the shock oil and reduce longevity.

D, how many miles on those?

 

I've got one test drive PLUS one 40-minute round trip to-and-from the golf course on them. Not enough time to have a formed opinion yet. But they're progressive springs, not liner; so they're better than factory plush on normal roads and stiffen up pretty good in the hard corners where you need them to. In time, I'll post some more about this setup; but others have had the exact same setup with all + results.