SoCalSC4

This is really strange. I was in the process of doing this on my bro's 147 last weekend.
His caster arms (or "trailing arms") are shot- you can see through the rubber. I was hoping to gain access to the bolts through the interior floor or firewall of the car, but this is not possible.

Apparently, Lexus pre-assembles the suspension on the subframe and then lowers the unit-body onto it at the factory. Great idea, unless you have to service the caster arms...
Saturday I completed the strut installation, but left the caster arm and tie-rod end installation for another weekend.

Supr: thanks for the heads-up. I would imagine that the entire engine/trans drops down with the subframe- aren't the motor mounts on the cross member? It must be freaking heavy! I might try to borrow a friend's lift for this... and a friend who is a Mercedes mechanic has offered to lend a hand. This is not a job for the novice mechanic.

We are going to move forward with the arm replacement- this is why these cars eat front tires- during driving, toe-out occurs due to the deteriorated bushings. Also the unwanted suspension movement and toe-out condition makes the cars 'darty' on the freeway. I look forward to hearing a bit more about how it all works out!

Regards,

Bob

SuprRunner

That is what I was hoping, but unfortunately no. You have to drop the entire subframe 5 inches or so, make sure to disconnect the steering shaft though.

I only used a hydraulic manual pump scissors jack in the center of the sub frame. I also had to buy one bolt because it was so rusted, I had to cut out the arm.

Good luck

CTgs300

I'm in the middle of replacing this same thing What a f*ing pain in the @ss.. In every manual I've looked at it does not explain this. I dont have any bushing left at all on the (trailing) lower control arm. so I decided to replace evrything. I didn't realize that it was that involved. I'm waiting to borrow a lift on thursday to finally finish this.