Greetings everyone! Been looking for a decently low mileage 2000-2010 Toyota or Lexus for 8 months now, and I finally ended up with a 2008 ES 350 with 120k miles. There are a few minor issues but the biggest seems to be a clanging in the rear suspension. When I got down there the long rod toward the back (control arm?) was swinging pretty loose from front to back on the driver side, and obviously making a clanging sound. On the passenger side it wasn't as loose but if you moved it with a little effort you could hear it hit some metal too. Is this a big problem? I'm a pretty decent mechanic so I'm hoping I can just drop a few new parts in or some such. thanks in advance for any info!

 

I’ve recently heard that rear clanking noise going over harder bumps on the road and it’s irritating! I’m going to see if it’s the control arms or just the actual suspension itself. Gonna install it sometime next week!

 

Also check your muffler heat shields, they pretty much rust over time and then the metal sits on top of the muffler and clangs all the time over bumps.

 

First thing that go on the rear is the bar bushings.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if some of the bushings are totally missing, especially on the driver side the way that bar is swinging freely. I'm going to put it up on jackstands on all 4 corners later today and work on it over the weekend, including an oil change and checking the coolant. I am very curious to see exactly what that rear suspension looks like when I get under there.