New owner help and advice – Shocks and front end.
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
New owner help and advice – Shocks and front end.
I just became the new owner of a 2001 GS 300 (Fanatical original owner) with 83,000 miles.
And I just discovered Club Lexus – OMG – what a resource!
The car is great but I’ve notice the front end issues many talk about.
Pretty sure it’s the control arm bushings, etc.
I want to get the Daizen bushings and called my local Lexus dealer (Stevens Creek Lexus (Santa Clara, CA) – on the Daizen website as a supplier) but they told me they can no longer get the parts. The parts rep said that their e-mails and faxes go unanswered and they suspect they are out of business.
Humm
I went to the website of TM Engineering, the list the parts, but I tried calling (voice mailbox full) and have yet to get a response from my e-mails.
So…
1) Has anyone dealt with TM Engineering RECENTLY and can attest to them still being in business?
I want to order pretty much all the bushings, (Control Arm, Sway Bar, and Steering Rack) plus a set of the ball joints and tie rods.
I don’t exactly feel warm and fuzzy putting in an online order for about $500 if they aren’t really in business.
Also.
2) I want to replace the shocks; the rebound dampening (especially in the front) is not so good.
Advise as to what to replace them with?
A lot of the advice on this site is for people that are modding their ride, lowering, etc.
I want to keep the stock springs and want a sporty, sensitive ride without spoiling the native Lexus Luxo smooth ride.
Bilstein makes a regular and ‘sport’ shock, and the one person that I’ve met was against the ‘sport’ version.
I notice there are a few other brands as well, KYB, Monroe, etc.
ANY advice is much appreciated.
(Anything else I should look for when I do the front end?)
PS – what about the new bushings squeaking?
And I just discovered Club Lexus – OMG – what a resource!
The car is great but I’ve notice the front end issues many talk about.
Pretty sure it’s the control arm bushings, etc.
I want to get the Daizen bushings and called my local Lexus dealer (Stevens Creek Lexus (Santa Clara, CA) – on the Daizen website as a supplier) but they told me they can no longer get the parts. The parts rep said that their e-mails and faxes go unanswered and they suspect they are out of business.
Humm
I went to the website of TM Engineering, the list the parts, but I tried calling (voice mailbox full) and have yet to get a response from my e-mails.
So…
1) Has anyone dealt with TM Engineering RECENTLY and can attest to them still being in business?
I want to order pretty much all the bushings, (Control Arm, Sway Bar, and Steering Rack) plus a set of the ball joints and tie rods.
I don’t exactly feel warm and fuzzy putting in an online order for about $500 if they aren’t really in business.
Also.
2) I want to replace the shocks; the rebound dampening (especially in the front) is not so good.
Advise as to what to replace them with?
A lot of the advice on this site is for people that are modding their ride, lowering, etc.
I want to keep the stock springs and want a sporty, sensitive ride without spoiling the native Lexus Luxo smooth ride.
Bilstein makes a regular and ‘sport’ shock, and the one person that I’ve met was against the ‘sport’ version.
I notice there are a few other brands as well, KYB, Monroe, etc.
ANY advice is much appreciated.
(Anything else I should look for when I do the front end?)
PS – what about the new bushings squeaking?
#2
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (182)
first i wanna say welcome to the boards and second,not to be rude but for the love of god........i think before they let new people post, they should MAKE you'll do some searches
we have been talking bout TM for the last few months, YES they still in business dudes just really slow and behind some weeks. he's a one man operation. i have ordered from him with no problems but others have had issues.....(been atleast 2-3 posts on him in last few months)
PLEASE SEARCH NEXT TIME BEFORE POSTING SOMETHING.
here are a few with a quick search
post 256 was where i contacted ALL daizen dealers so its fairly up to date
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sus...bushing-9.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...authentic.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...gineering.html
we have been talking bout TM for the last few months, YES they still in business dudes just really slow and behind some weeks. he's a one man operation. i have ordered from him with no problems but others have had issues.....(been atleast 2-3 posts on him in last few months)
PLEASE SEARCH NEXT TIME BEFORE POSTING SOMETHING.
here are a few with a quick search
post 256 was where i contacted ALL daizen dealers so its fairly up to date
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sus...bushing-9.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...authentic.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...gineering.html
#5
Pole Position
iTrader: (1)
Well while I'm not going to yell at you, welcome to the organize dysfunctional but always loving family...Lol...while most of what you are looking for you can find just sit down one weekend and invest a good 3-5 hours and you should sort out whatever it is that you can think of because someone else might have asked it and if not then you post
#6
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Yikes !
Sorry - my bad.
I'm new to forums in general and this one in specific - not very aware of the protocol - I was kinda overwhelmed seeing thousands of posts and wanted a short cut.
Haha.
Thanks for the feedback - I'll be spending way more time reading, contributing, and only asking when I exhaust the other options.
But hey - KYB vs BILSTEIN - opinion?
Couldn't resist !
Thanks!
I'm new to forums in general and this one in specific - not very aware of the protocol - I was kinda overwhelmed seeing thousands of posts and wanted a short cut.
Haha.
Thanks for the feedback - I'll be spending way more time reading, contributing, and only asking when I exhaust the other options.
But hey - KYB vs BILSTEIN - opinion?
Couldn't resist !
Thanks!
#7
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: TX
Posts: 34
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I just bought the ball joints tie rods and control arm bushings today from Sewell lexus online. I paid under 400 shipped. Be sure to use the coupon code "clublexus"
Here is the link to everything you need:
http://www.sewellpartsonline.com/MyQ...ss.com&Q=12127
They dont have the Steering Rack bushings so you might want to remove it from the cart.
Here is the link to everything you need:
http://www.sewellpartsonline.com/MyQ...ss.com&Q=12127
They dont have the Steering Rack bushings so you might want to remove it from the cart.
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#8
Intermediate
Thread Starter
I beat you by a few minutes
I just ordered on line from TM Engineering.
Control arm bushings
Sway bar bushings
Steering rack bushings
Tie rod ends and lower ***** joints
$466 complete (CA sales tax....errrr)
I hope TM comes through.......
Some of the feedback is less than glowing . . . .
Control arm bushings
Sway bar bushings
Steering rack bushings
Tie rod ends and lower ***** joints
$466 complete (CA sales tax....errrr)
I hope TM comes through.......
Some of the feedback is less than glowing . . . .
#9
Ballsy, I like it though. Good luck and I hope you get all your stuff promptly. If not cancel it and get it from Sewell, they are a vendor, ship very fast and have great prices considering it is a dealership. I have ordered Daizen control arm set and got it in 4 days, and I just ordered lower BJ's and tie rods on saturday and they should be in today.
Based on reputation and what I know of the quality of the parts they make, Bilstein is my chioce for shocks, as I will be doing the BIlstein PSS system. KYB are great and I have used them before. IIRC both KYB and Bilstein are OEM suppliers, but bilstein is normally the upgrade suspension package from dealerships.
Jeremy
Last edited by fro20; 02-25-10 at 05:32 PM.
#10
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Thanks
I just spoke with John at Exact Motorsports in Milpitas, CA (kinda close to me, and most likely the guys to work on my GS)
He recommended BILSTEIN sport shocks.
He promised they wont be too harsh.
So now I'm on the lookout for those.
(I decided NOT to get from TM - Engeenering....)
Know of a good source?
Thanks again.
He recommended BILSTEIN sport shocks.
He promised they wont be too harsh.
So now I'm on the lookout for those.
(I decided NOT to get from TM - Engeenering....)
Know of a good source?
Thanks again.
#11
I just spoke with John at Exact Motorsports in Milpitas, CA (kinda close to me, and most likely the guys to work on my GS)
He recommended BILSTEIN sport shocks.
He promised they wont be too harsh.
So now I'm on the lookout for those.
(I decided NOT to get from TM - Engeenering....)
Know of a good source?
Thanks again.
He recommended BILSTEIN sport shocks.
He promised they wont be too harsh.
So now I'm on the lookout for those.
(I decided NOT to get from TM - Engeenering....)
Know of a good source?
Thanks again.
Tirerack has 'em. Is that good pricing though?
#12
Intermediate
Thread Starter
They would be $526 shipped from TireRack.
I just ordered from IRP (Import Replacement Parts) for $478.72 delivered.
I guess after this my Mystic Green Sea Opalescent GS should ride better than new....
I just ordered from IRP (Import Replacement Parts) for $478.72 delivered.
I guess after this my Mystic Green Sea Opalescent GS should ride better than new....
#13
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Ballsy, I like it though. Good luck and I hope you get all your stuff promptly. If not cancel it and get it from Sewell, they are a vendor, ship very fast and have great prices considering it is a dealership. I have ordered Daizen control arm set and got it in 4 days, and I just ordered lower BJ's and tie rods on saturday and they should be in today.
Based on reputation and what I know of the quality of the parts they make, Bilstein is my chioce for shocks, as I will be doing the BIlstein PSS system. KYB are great and I have used them before. IIRC both KYB and Bilstein are OEM suppliers, but bilstein is normally the upgrade suspension package from dealerships.
Jeremy
Based on reputation and what I know of the quality of the parts they make, Bilstein is my chioce for shocks, as I will be doing the BIlstein PSS system. KYB are great and I have used them before. IIRC both KYB and Bilstein are OEM suppliers, but bilstein is normally the upgrade suspension package from dealerships.
Jeremy
I did just enough searching and reading to figure I needed the bushings re-done.
I read about the DAIZEN solution and wanted to go that route.
There are a LOT of posts about TM Engineering, authentic (yes/no?), still in business (?), etc.
I wanted to update everyone about my TM Engineering experience.
February 25, 2010, 4:05 PM.
Ordered from TM Engineering on-line:
• DAIZEN Front Control Arm Bushing Kit
• DAIZEN Sway Bar Bushing Kit
• DAIZEN Steering Rack Bushing Kit
• OEM Tie Rod Ends & Lower Ball Joint Set
Total $466.27
February 26, 2010, 12:33 AM.
I receive an e-mail informing me that Steering Rack Bushings and Upper Control Arm Bushings are out of stock but on order and the expected wait is 2-3 weeks.
Would I like to receive a partial order of what they do have in stock now and wait, or wait until everything is ready at the same time?
I sent my reply on February 26, 2010 at 7:25 PM. (Friday) to send what they can now.
The next day, Saturday February 27, 2010 I receive my partial order:
• DAIZEN Front (Lower) Control Arm Bushings
• DAIZEN Sway Bar Bushing Kit
• OEM Tie Rod Ends & Lower Ball Joint Set
March 3, 2010
Charge to my credit card for $380.00
March 12, 2010
E-mail informing me order is prepared for shipment via USPS.
Charge to my credit card for $80.00.
March 15, 2010
Receive rest of order:
• DAIZEN Front (Upper) Control Arm Bushings
• DAIZEN Steering Rack Bushing Kit
Yes, I couldn’t talk on the phone to the guy, but the e-mails and service were the epitome of professionalism and courtesy. And he charged me $0.27 less than the order!
#15
Intermediate
Thread Starter
How much of a drop would the Tanabe NF210 give?
I just got the Bilstein Sport shock - I've heard they can be a bit hard - so I figured the stock springs would be the way to go.
Too harsh with the Tanabe springs?
(Not looking to modify my car - old man here LOL - I want luxo smooth ride and responsive 'sport' feedback)
I just got the Bilstein Sport shock - I've heard they can be a bit hard - so I figured the stock springs would be the way to go.
Too harsh with the Tanabe springs?
(Not looking to modify my car - old man here LOL - I want luxo smooth ride and responsive 'sport' feedback)