PFB

My 2001 ES300 (123,000 Miles) is due for new rear shocks. I clacks occasionally when i go over small bumps while I make a slow left or a right turn. Also one of the rear shocks is leaking. I think I'll, go with the KYB Shocks, not struts. , they are about $90 US each. I was going to also get the OEM Lexus rear shock mounts from Lexus but the cost is ridiculeous, about ($230 US Each mount) Aftermarket Mounts are much cheaper but have not read good reviews on after market rear or front Mounts. Any Suggestions? Has anyone had any good experience with aftermarket Rear mounts?

MY car is worth fixing since except for the shocks, its truly in perfect shape. I plan to have my Independent garage, which I trust, do the work.

Thanks

LeX2K

I've heard Moog suspension parts are good (check them out on Rockauto) maybe Insightbrewery can verify I know he's used Moog complete struts at least.

nsghtbrwry

Clarify for me: what do you mean by going for shocks, not struts? These cars have struts on all four corners, as in, it's an integral part of the suspension. The rod and piston stuff in the middle is a shock absorber, usually referred to as a "bare strut."

Just about all aftermarket strut mounts are garbage, which is why new quick-struts start clunking soon after install (Monroe is notorious for this). If you mean you're going to just replace the middle, I strongly suggest you reuse the OEM spring and top mount. KYBs are a good strut, be advised that they usually ride stiff for about 3-4k until they soften up some.

I prefer quick struts because I don't want to deal with a spring compressor, and Moogs have been the best I've used. I have a '95 Camry and a '99 Lexus with them and there's been no clunking on the '95 (four corners replaced) for 20k and no clunking on the '99 (front replaced only), but it's been 2k and too early to tell.

Unfortunately Federal Mogul has been moving Moog to China the past few years and quality is going down just like every other aftermarket brand. But yeah, Moog still makes good stuff for other suspension components (LCAs, endlinks, etc.) if you get their Problem Solver line. Just watch out for the endlinks and ball joints: the Problem Solvers have powered metal gusher bearings, which are much harder-wearing but require periodic relubrication through a zerk, unlike the OEM-style sealed bearings.

Beck/Arnley stuff for our cars is pretty good, too, if you get the Made in Japan stuff. They used to almost exclusively rebox OEM stuff but nowadays it's a crapshoot. I used their LCAs w/ball joints and inner and outer tie rods on that '99 recently. All the stuff was made by the OEM, Triple-5 (Sankei).

PFB

Lexus2000, I trust your opinion Thanks.

LeX2K

To be clear I am not endorsing them because I have not used the Moog mounts. The only strut mounts I actually trust would be OEM.

PFB

Thanks Lexus2000.
I still may go with the OEM shocks, at least the price difference between OEM and aftermarket for shocks is not too bad. My Dilemma remains what to do with the shock mounts. The OEM price is ridiculous, and at this point I don't even know if I need new ones or not. It's the Clank that concerns me. I don't know if it's caused by the leaking rear shock, the shock mount, or both. Nor do I know of any way to determine the culprit.

LeX2K

Only way to know is dismantle the strut. In my experience the rear mounts are not failure prone. Are you sure the noise is not being caused by sway bar links? Or maybe the top strut nut is loose.

For parts check out this site they are in Canada I've saved buying from them but for many items the shipping charges negate the cost savings.

PFB

I've had the noise diagnosed by a mechanic that I trust. This after he took it for a drive, heard the clank, checked the rear suspension and noticed the leaking shock. But when he bounced each corner up an down all seemed ok.

So so maybe I'll take it for a second opinion just in case

thanks for your response

PFB

So last Thursday I took it to a suspension specialist that I trust, and he determined that one of my rear shocks was leaking, and that both rear springs are broken. He recommended a complete struts which also come with the mounts as part of the kit. He also said that he'll need to change the 2 rear links and do anallognment.

Total cost about $600 US with 1 year warranty parts an labor. So far so good. The car is now at least 2 inches higher in the back than it was before. It now looks more normal.

I feel stupid as I don't remember the make of the struts that he used, and the brand is not marked on the bill. I have another appointment with them tomorrow. Since my HID auto levelling warning light is now on. So since the headlight auto levelling system is near the rear right wheel, I thought maybe he dislodged something while changing the struts. I'll find out tomorrow. And also get the brand of the struts that I got. But as I said, so far so good.

ceddieb

I changed my struts, all 4, over the weekend. Now my headlight leveling warning light is on. Have not had time to check anything. Is there an adjustment I need to make?

PFB

ceddieb

Found my issue. When the suspension dropped down from the strut being removed, it straightened out the link. When the suspension went back up, the connecting arm went the opposite direction it was supposed to. So, instead of the links forming an upside down, backward L shape, they formed a L shape. I unbolted the sensor, swung the lever to the correct formation, bolted back in and all is good now. Thanks for the reply PFB.

PFB