njinchoi

Hi!
I just bought 03' ES300 which has 120K miles, and it has few different noises in the front.
It needs new 4 shocks (those got shot 20k miles ago / I will buy KYB - I learned from this club - Thanks!), 4 tires, wheel bearings, ball joints...
Is it good idea to replace lower control arm (whole set or bushings only?) and sway bar bushings, break lines also?
Where is the best place to buy those parts? Do I need to buy any oem parts?
I will appreciate your answers.
Thank you!

LeX2K

OEM for the ball joints if possible, critical component. Replace the control arms not just the bushings. Wheel bearings don't usually go out at 120k if they don't make noise leave them alone. Sway bar bushings front and back should be replaced also check the end links.

On brands dunno obviously OEM is the best after that it's a roll of the dice in my experience. Brake lines should be fine but refresh the fluid.

njinchoi

Thank you for your advice!
Which websites do you use for parts?

LeX2K

Rockauto is good for most parts, or an online Toyota/Lexus parts site. Also Amayama for hard to find parts and sometimes they are cheaper even with shipping. Never buy spark plugs on Ebay or Amazon good chance they are counterfeit. For suspension part brands look for Sankei 555 this is same as OEM.

For looking up part numbers this site is easy to use and has good diagrams
http://www.japan-parts.eu/

njinchoi

Thanks million!

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

Leave the ball joints and lower control arm bushings alone if they’re not severely cracked, torn, or rusted up. If everything feels tights those things can last a long time. Struts and sway bar links is the only stuff that usually goes around that mileage.

ES300TX

I have 190k on mine. At around 135k, I replaced the front and rear struts. Due to continual problems getting the struts to fit up with the existing top hats and bearings, I decided to put Monroe strut assemblies on. It is a compromise for sure. I will not put in anything but the preassembled strut assemblies in. Next time, if there is a next time, I am going with KYB assemblies instead. At least I will have decent handling with them. I expect to go through my front and rear suspension at 230-250k if I still own the car. I have my eyes on an LS430 if I can get this one sold.

Oro

You can swap all the parts out you want, or you can diagnose what is wrong. Up to you. There are lots of DIY vids and info here on diagnosing ball joints, tie rods, etc. Age and weather/road conditions as well as miles determine when things get spent, not just an absolute mileage.

I'd be very shocked if front wheel bearings were spent in 120k miles regardless of age unless it was used as an urban Detroit Taxi, but hey...

njinchoi

Wow! You guys are awesome! Thank you so much!
I will check them out closely before I do those jobs.
Thank you!

njinchoi

Hi!
Finally, finished front end jobs: control arms, struts, tie rods, sway bar links and etc.
Replacing control arms was pain, because the angle of them was slanted rather than horizontal. I put some silicon on each joint top and bottom and widen the round rubber joint holder a little bit.
Replaced four struts with KYB G-excell. I couldn't find the assembly, so I just replaced shocks, bellow, and bumper.
Replaced sway bar links, ball joints, but the sway bar bushings were O.K.
Thank you all!