ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion

Lexus: Top 5 Comfort Modifications

You might not be happy with the way your Lexus rides. If that's the case, here are five things you can do to make your car ride softer.

By Alan Tast - January 30, 2015

This article applies to the Lexus IS, ES, GS, and RX (2005-2013).

A car's factory stock is a collection of compromises. Compromises made to keep costs down, made to fit the demographics of the most common denominator, or in performance versus comfort. If you tip the scales more towards comfort than performance, then you're probably not all that happy with the way your Lexus is set up.

Softening the ride of a car is accomplished in a variety of ways. A simple change in wheels and tires might do the trick, or you could go as far as revamping your suspension. Take a look at the five things you can do to add comfort to your Lexus, which range from simple driveway swaps to professional assistance required.

Change To Higher Aspect-Ratio Tires

DIY Cost - $100-150

Professional Cost - $150-300

Skill Level - Easy, it is a simple tire change.

The easiest thing you can do is add a new set of tires. The key is the sidewall height, which is called by its aspect-ratio. Typically, the higher the tire's aspect-ratio (sidewall height to tread width contact), the taller the sidewall, which translates into a more-flexible tire and a softer ride. Low-profile tires are those with an aspect ratio of 50-45 or lower. For instance, a tire with a 45 rating has a shorter sidewall than a 60. However, if you just change the tire to a taller one, you will need to select one that is closest to the original tire's diameter, so that the speedometer does not read slower than actual speed. This will more likely require you to change the wheels to a smaller diameter, so it makes up for the taller sidewalls. Low profile tires have been known to take away from the comfort of your ride, thy have also been known to go flat easier and more often than regular tires.

Change To Smaller Wheels

DIY Cost - $100-1,200

Professional Cost - $200-400 per wheel plus mounting tires

Skill Level - Easy, it is a simple tire wheel change.

Wheels and tires act in tandem. Performance cars get better handling characteristics from stiffer, shorter tire sidewalls and larger-diameter rims. To get a softer ride, along with the taller tires and matching the overall diameter/circumference of the original-size tire, a smaller-diameter rim size will be needed. To go from an aspect ratio of 40 or 50 up to 60 or even 70, you'll have to decrease rim size to two or more inches. Figure out the tire size first, then get rims to match.

Replace Coil Springs With Airbags/Air Springs

DIY Cost - $700-4,700 for airbags and air springs

Professional Cost - $1,600-5,800

Skill Level - Moderate to Difficult, depending on type of bag/spring installed

Airbags for suspensions have been used since the late 1950's to supplement or replace steel springs on cars, which allow for heavier load capacities or softer spring rates depending on how much air is pumped into them. They can soften a car's ride and adjust ride height. In essence, a heavy-walled rubber bladder with air lines run to either a remote air valve (similar to those used for wheels/tires) or filled by an on-board air compressor. Airbags offer a way to have infinite control of your ride quality and ride height. They can be fitted as a replacement for coil springs, or the entire strut/spring package can be replaced.

(Related Article: How to Install Air Bag Suspension - ClubLexus.com)

Replace Coil Springs On Struts

DIY Cost - $125-350

Professional Cost - $300-800

Skill Level - Difficult, requires tear-down of front and rear suspensions including spindle/hub/half-shaft removal.

Changing coil springs to ones that are not as stiff as originals can provide a softer ride, but do require quite a bit of labor to accomplish this task. Springs with a progressive rate will offer a good blend of smooth ride in normal driving and stiffen up with more-severe handling. Spindles and other components have to be separated from upper control arms, so they can be swung out of the way for removal. For installation, spring compressors are needed to squeeze them down, so that they can be pulled out and put into the pockets they sit in. To really go all-out, replacing steel coil springs for air springs could be done. Then, you can pull into the local cruise night to dump the air and drop the car down on the ground like a low-rider, but that's going in another direction.

(Related Article: How to Install Lowering Springs - Clublexus.com)

Change Shocks/Strut Assemblies

DIY Cost - $900-2,800

Professional Cost - $2,000-4,000

Skill Level - Moderate, you will need to use air impact wrenches and spring compressors

Coil-over struts for front and rear can be obtained with a longer travel distance. Also, it is adjustable to set to a softer rebound rate. To do this, some disassemble of the suspension is required to replace them. Also, you will need specialized tools to compress, remove and install them.

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