casamama

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...

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

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!

MikeLex

There's a TSB addressing the front noise issue for all 97'-00' ES300:

Replace front strut mounts with #48603-33021 (RH) and #48609-33121 (LH).

scotholden

Mike, what do you mean by TSB?

MikeLex

TSB stands for Technical Service Bulletin, i.e, an advisory issued by manufacturers to the dealers addressing issues that have affected or may affect their products.

ES3_Ray

check your sway bar endlinks too, and as for the swaybar bushings they may not seem worn, but they most likely are.

Slooooooow

iTrader: (1)

^ If not this,
^ then very likely this.

ES3_Ray

yes, i got a senior of this forum to approve my post!

mooovin on up!

Slooooooow

iTrader: (1)

LOL

mikeyh1015

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?

JamesBond1

Are these the p/n to the new-and-improved mounts? Can you please post the link to the TSB, just to verify because I tried to google it but could not find it.

Thanks

MikeLex

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.

JamesBond1

Thanks a lot MikeLex for sharing that information

Blwdcwmaw

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.

surgeon0

That is about normal. Its the age too. I have to replace front ones as I see lots of play. I did not bother to check rears but both front and back. Its time to replace both.