Sway Bar Bushings, Strut Mounts....????
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: il
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Hi all,
I am new here. I have a 2000 es300 that up until about a month ago was smooth as buttah. Because the car has 105,000 miles on it, I had the (almost new) tires rotated and balanced, had new shocks put on, new timing belt.
Then one day out of the blue I started noticing a clunky sound - almost as if I was riding on a flat tire, but the tires are fine. The ride now feels super rough, and I can literally feel every crack, crevice and bump on the road. What used to be a relaxing ride has now become stressful.
I've taken it to 3 mechanics, but they cannot pinpoint the clunking and are all hesitant to do any work without knowing where it is coming from.
So, since it seems nobody knows what they are doing, I'm doing some DIY diagnoses.
From what I've read, it seems I may need to replace the sway bar bushings. (There is no squeaking, though - just clunking and a very rough ride.)
OR - do I need to replace the strut mounts?
Please experts out there, help me! I am confused about all the suspension parts and the purpose of each part, and am thinking I need to start with the cheapest fix first and work backwards from there. Considering that the car has 105,000 miles on it, is it likely that all bushings need to be replaced?
Thoughts?
Thanks...
I am new here. I have a 2000 es300 that up until about a month ago was smooth as buttah. Because the car has 105,000 miles on it, I had the (almost new) tires rotated and balanced, had new shocks put on, new timing belt.
Then one day out of the blue I started noticing a clunky sound - almost as if I was riding on a flat tire, but the tires are fine. The ride now feels super rough, and I can literally feel every crack, crevice and bump on the road. What used to be a relaxing ride has now become stressful.
I've taken it to 3 mechanics, but they cannot pinpoint the clunking and are all hesitant to do any work without knowing where it is coming from.
So, since it seems nobody knows what they are doing, I'm doing some DIY diagnoses.
From what I've read, it seems I may need to replace the sway bar bushings. (There is no squeaking, though - just clunking and a very rough ride.)
OR - do I need to replace the strut mounts?
Please experts out there, help me! I am confused about all the suspension parts and the purpose of each part, and am thinking I need to start with the cheapest fix first and work backwards from there. Considering that the car has 105,000 miles on it, is it likely that all bushings need to be replaced?
Thoughts?
Thanks...
![Uhh...](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/1387914497.gif)
#2
Lead Lap
iTrader: (10)
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
needless to say there are a few ways to go about it.
1. Use the process of elimination. In this case start with the bushings as they are the cheaper and less labor intensive process to swap out, and see if it does it. If not go back and do the strut mounts.
2. Would be to do it all at the same time, ie. once i'm in there, pay for all labor at once, so save on a bit of time vs. going in twice.
Up to you. I cannot possibly dictate as to what you can do in this case.
Personally, i had the clunking coming from the back, so i had them changed [the bushings]. It got colder [winter] a few months later and the strut tower mounts started acting up last year, haven't touched them since. I got used to it, and its not imperative to change it... just annoying. But not as annoying at the bushing clunking!
Last, i would have to say both of these are toast on your car by now. I have an '01 with 111k miles on it, and both of these issues already came up, one is just pending the 'repair'. So its probably both on your car by now.
cheers!
1. Use the process of elimination. In this case start with the bushings as they are the cheaper and less labor intensive process to swap out, and see if it does it. If not go back and do the strut mounts.
2. Would be to do it all at the same time, ie. once i'm in there, pay for all labor at once, so save on a bit of time vs. going in twice.
Up to you. I cannot possibly dictate as to what you can do in this case.
Personally, i had the clunking coming from the back, so i had them changed [the bushings]. It got colder [winter] a few months later and the strut tower mounts started acting up last year, haven't touched them since. I got used to it, and its not imperative to change it... just annoying. But not as annoying at the bushing clunking!
Last, i would have to say both of these are toast on your car by now. I have an '01 with 111k miles on it, and both of these issues already came up, one is just pending the 'repair'. So its probably both on your car by now.
cheers!
#5
#10
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: May 2010
Location: CA
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Guys Im haveing the same problem too! I replaced my rear sway bar bushings and some sound went away. Now i hear a clacking when i go over a dip or when im turning my steering wheel. I Also have my steering messed up i got an alignment and when Im driving it will pull to the left then to the right. what could it be?
#11
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Thanks
#12
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I'd be glad to, but unfortunately I took it from alldatadiy.com, which is a paid site. Anyway, the TSB is attached in PDF format.
#14
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Hi. I would like to know if anyone else has had to have bushings replaced on their Lexus with low miles. Mine has only 60,000. It is a 2002 ES300. The rear was making a loud clunking notice. The cost was only $105.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post