F-Sport Sway Bars Knocking
11-25-09, 07:26 PM
#16
yea i learned the hard way. the guy that installed it for me knocked out a sensor that controls the leveling of the headlamps and that cost me like 60$ extra. from now on im just gonna do everything from the dealership. just now they are charging me 1k for oil change car wash, rotation, and brake changes. 
1) the shop is not experienced and not a good one at all, and
2) they should have paid for the replacement, you shouldn't be responsible
going to dealership doesn't mean it's always better. i know a lot of good techs, but i also see a lot of bad ones. i have seen tech dropping brand new spark plugs to the floor, pick it up, look around, and put it in the car. my m3 i got a flat, came back with vibrations, and found out that the wheels are tq to over 130 ft-lb. it's totally wrong to think that dealerships do better work
and in terms of guarantees, a good shop will provide you with as good if not better guarantee. i do install for people, if i break anything, i pay for everything. if something doesn't work, i charge nothing (even if it's not my problem). if they have issues, they come back any time and i help them. the shops i have been to, they broke something and apologized and paid for everything for me
again i am not saying one is better for sure, but i am saying it's not right to assume dealership is better
11-26-09, 11:33 PM
#18
Lexus Fanatic
imho the dealership is always the best place to have the car serviced . The added cost doesnt bother me as much as poor work or work that is not 100% backed. To each his own but the dealership , amazing convenience, and their awesome loaners are much more appealing than an independent mechanic.( unless it was an independent mechanic that only works on Lexus vehicles)
12-15-09, 08:40 AM
#19
Lead Lap
some additional things I've noticed...
recent temperatures/weather have been very cold, for this time of year. my car is kept in the garage while I'm home. the car has sounded incredibly bad the last few days with morning temps in the high teens. no amount of driving/warming up has helped the issue.
the last two days the temps have "risen" to about 50-55...the noise has greatly subsided. it's still there on certain bumps, but not every time I turn my steering wheel. not sure I can handle much more of this. I have never really noticed a difference from these sway bars from the OEM bars and the noise is just not what I expect from Lexus.
I had mine installed at the dealer...you think they'll do the swap for free since I'm having noise that Lexus cannot/won't fix?
recent temperatures/weather have been very cold, for this time of year. my car is kept in the garage while I'm home. the car has sounded incredibly bad the last few days with morning temps in the high teens. no amount of driving/warming up has helped the issue.
the last two days the temps have "risen" to about 50-55...the noise has greatly subsided. it's still there on certain bumps, but not every time I turn my steering wheel. not sure I can handle much more of this. I have never really noticed a difference from these sway bars from the OEM bars and the noise is just not what I expect from Lexus.
I had mine installed at the dealer...you think they'll do the swap for free since I'm having noise that Lexus cannot/won't fix?
12-15-09, 10:17 AM
#20
Driver
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NJ
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i disagree, to me that shows
1) the shop is not experienced and not a good one at all, and
2) they should have paid for the replacement, you shouldn't be responsible
going to dealership doesn't mean it's always better. i know a lot of good techs, but i also see a lot of bad ones. i have seen tech dropping brand new spark plugs to the floor, pick it up, look around, and put it in the car. my m3 i got a flat, came back with vibrations, and found out that the wheels are tq to over 130 ft-lb. it's totally wrong to think that dealerships do better work
and in terms of guarantees, a good shop will provide you with as good if not better guarantee. i do install for people, if i break anything, i pay for everything. if something doesn't work, i charge nothing (even if it's not my problem). if they have issues, they come back any time and i help them. the shops i have been to, they broke something and apologized and paid for everything for me
again i am not saying one is better for sure, but i am saying it's not right to assume dealership is better
1) the shop is not experienced and not a good one at all, and
2) they should have paid for the replacement, you shouldn't be responsible
going to dealership doesn't mean it's always better. i know a lot of good techs, but i also see a lot of bad ones. i have seen tech dropping brand new spark plugs to the floor, pick it up, look around, and put it in the car. my m3 i got a flat, came back with vibrations, and found out that the wheels are tq to over 130 ft-lb. it's totally wrong to think that dealerships do better work
and in terms of guarantees, a good shop will provide you with as good if not better guarantee. i do install for people, if i break anything, i pay for everything. if something doesn't work, i charge nothing (even if it's not my problem). if they have issues, they come back any time and i help them. the shops i have been to, they broke something and apologized and paid for everything for me
again i am not saying one is better for sure, but i am saying it's not right to assume dealership is better
rominl if you were around my way, i would have def went to you for everything
12-15-09, 11:47 AM
#21
some additional things I've noticed...
recent temperatures/weather have been very cold, for this time of year. my car is kept in the garage while I'm home. the car has sounded incredibly bad the last few days with morning temps in the high teens. no amount of driving/warming up has helped the issue.
the last two days the temps have "risen" to about 50-55...the noise has greatly subsided. it's still there on certain bumps, but not every time I turn my steering wheel. not sure I can handle much more of this. I have never really noticed a difference from these sway bars from the OEM bars and the noise is just not what I expect from Lexus.
I had mine installed at the dealer...you think they'll do the swap for free since I'm having noise that Lexus cannot/won't fix?
recent temperatures/weather have been very cold, for this time of year. my car is kept in the garage while I'm home. the car has sounded incredibly bad the last few days with morning temps in the high teens. no amount of driving/warming up has helped the issue.
the last two days the temps have "risen" to about 50-55...the noise has greatly subsided. it's still there on certain bumps, but not every time I turn my steering wheel. not sure I can handle much more of this. I have never really noticed a difference from these sway bars from the OEM bars and the noise is just not what I expect from Lexus.
I had mine installed at the dealer...you think they'll do the swap for free since I'm having noise that Lexus cannot/won't fix?
a lot of time noises like these do get worse with low temp
clearly understand what you are saying. i dont assume they are better, but just don't want to go through what I went through already. I don't know any reputable mechanics around my area, so i don't know who to go to unless like someone said there is someone who only works on lexus cars. Just don't want to go through the hassle for couple bucks cheaper.
rominl if you were around my way, i would have def went to you for everything
rominl if you were around my way, i would have def went to you for everything
12-25-09, 09:47 AM
#24
12-29-09, 08:51 AM
#27
I have a 2006 GS430 with the F-Sport swaybars. I've had them installed back in September. I was noise free for a month and I had the knock. Just last week I decided to put foam tape all over the bushing. I basically applied foam tape at:
1. the sway bar where it contacts the inside of the bushing
2. bottom of the bushing where it meets the bracket
3. top of bushing where it meets the body
note that the foam tape i used is the thick and heavier stuff. almost the same as your foam mouse pad but not as thick. I did this about a week ago and it's night and day. Noise is totally gone and I haven't noticed any performance changes. I imagine that it's just a temporary fix but who knows? I'll keep you guys posted if the noise comes back.
My theory is that the problem definitely lies in the bushing. Material is one cause but IMHO the bushing is just too thin. I don't remember how thick the bushing was when I first installed it but after inspecting the bushing after 3-4 months of having it installed, I never noticed that the bushing was so thin. I'm guessing that the bushing shrank? Maybe the rubber bushing compresses after a certain period of time? or maybe it was just that thin when I first got it.
Anyhow, give this a try and see how it works out for you. Also I imagine if you had access to 1/8" thin strips of rubber, It should do the trick too. Let me know if you guys have any questions.
1. the sway bar where it contacts the inside of the bushing
2. bottom of the bushing where it meets the bracket
3. top of bushing where it meets the body
note that the foam tape i used is the thick and heavier stuff. almost the same as your foam mouse pad but not as thick. I did this about a week ago and it's night and day. Noise is totally gone and I haven't noticed any performance changes. I imagine that it's just a temporary fix but who knows? I'll keep you guys posted if the noise comes back.
My theory is that the problem definitely lies in the bushing. Material is one cause but IMHO the bushing is just too thin. I don't remember how thick the bushing was when I first installed it but after inspecting the bushing after 3-4 months of having it installed, I never noticed that the bushing was so thin. I'm guessing that the bushing shrank? Maybe the rubber bushing compresses after a certain period of time? or maybe it was just that thin when I first got it.
Anyhow, give this a try and see how it works out for you. Also I imagine if you had access to 1/8" thin strips of rubber, It should do the trick too. Let me know if you guys have any questions.
01-01-10, 12:40 PM
#29
Lexus Fanatic
I had my bushings replaced and it helped for a while bu the noise is back and its starting to get louder. Didnt someone from Sewell say that they were in the process of creating a new set of bushings????? At the next service I am going to have them put felt tape underneath the bushings and I want then to call Lexus corporate to find out when the new bushing will be released. I will let you guys know.My experience with the intake and the sway bars have been terrible. No more F sport parts for me.
I never had 1 issue with my Nismo sway bars on my G35 for 4 years and dozens of track days. They were also much thicker and provided better handling. When I spoke to my service guy he said the dealership has only sold 2 sets. Mine and I think 1STLXS.
I never had 1 issue with my Nismo sway bars on my G35 for 4 years and dozens of track days. They were also much thicker and provided better handling. When I spoke to my service guy he said the dealership has only sold 2 sets. Mine and I think 1STLXS.
01-01-10, 12:48 PM
#30
Lexus Fanatic
you can have Lexus replace the bushings to new ones to help it and buy you some time before the new ones come out. They better get moving. I am disappointed with F sport
