front fender seal replacements.
#1
Driver School Candidate
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We have a 2004 GX with about 100K on it, and I recently noted the front fender seals were pretty brittle and cracked on both sides. These are the rubber pieces that are on the inside to the front wheelwells that I guess keep wheel spray out of the engine compartment.
Anyway, after 8 years and 100K, they were not doing their job anymore.
I priced the set online at various places and the seal set together was north of $100.00 which I though was too much for a couple pieces of thin rubber.
Link below from the Atlanta lexus site with diagram as to which parts I refer. As you can see, there are four total with assorted grommets: see 53737B, 53886H etc...
http://www.lexussouthatlantaparts.co...ly=795863&left oftheukey_product=5693520
Anyway, I ended up deciding that my $100+ would be better spent on things elsewhere, and instead, I removed what was seals, and used them as a template to cut new ones out of EPDM high strength rubber roofing material scraps that I had laying around. This stuff is temp resistant and weather resistant, and thus perfect I though for this particular application.
The stuff cut easily with a razor blade, and for the holes, I just used an awl to punch small holes at each location and let the attaching grommets dilate and do the rest.
I didn't take pics unfortunately, but it was an easy project, and cost me basically nothing, and I think that the new EPDM/roofing material is a little thicker than the lexus OEM seal stuff, and will likely hold up better as it is rated to be on a roof in direct sun for years and years and not fail.
Anyway, might check your seals and see if they are cracked, missing ( If you can see a portion of the engine through the wheel-well, they are gone), loose or whatever and try this out if you need new and are tight with your $ like me. The rubber roof stuff is easy to get and most commercial roofers are familiar with it, and probably have a scrap or two around the shop that you might get for nothing if you asked.
Anyway, after 8 years and 100K, they were not doing their job anymore.
I priced the set online at various places and the seal set together was north of $100.00 which I though was too much for a couple pieces of thin rubber.
Link below from the Atlanta lexus site with diagram as to which parts I refer. As you can see, there are four total with assorted grommets: see 53737B, 53886H etc...
http://www.lexussouthatlantaparts.co...ly=795863&left oftheukey_product=5693520
Anyway, I ended up deciding that my $100+ would be better spent on things elsewhere, and instead, I removed what was seals, and used them as a template to cut new ones out of EPDM high strength rubber roofing material scraps that I had laying around. This stuff is temp resistant and weather resistant, and thus perfect I though for this particular application.
The stuff cut easily with a razor blade, and for the holes, I just used an awl to punch small holes at each location and let the attaching grommets dilate and do the rest.
I didn't take pics unfortunately, but it was an easy project, and cost me basically nothing, and I think that the new EPDM/roofing material is a little thicker than the lexus OEM seal stuff, and will likely hold up better as it is rated to be on a roof in direct sun for years and years and not fail.
Anyway, might check your seals and see if they are cracked, missing ( If you can see a portion of the engine through the wheel-well, they are gone), loose or whatever and try this out if you need new and are tight with your $ like me. The rubber roof stuff is easy to get and most commercial roofers are familiar with it, and probably have a scrap or two around the shop that you might get for nothing if you asked.
#2
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good info.
just to add, you can sign up account at http://lexus.sewellparts.com and affiliate with your clublexus account, you will see additional discount, pretty much cheapest you can get. i checked on the parts, seems like they are around 70 bucks together
just to add, you can sign up account at http://lexus.sewellparts.com and affiliate with your clublexus account, you will see additional discount, pretty much cheapest you can get. i checked on the parts, seems like they are around 70 bucks together
#3
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
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Yeah, I have ordered stuff from them before. Got my timing belt kit from them. Good pricing, good shipping, no complaints here.
I live in an area now where the nearest Toyota dealer is over an hour away and the nearest Lexus dealer is 2.5 hrs away, so I do a lot of Internet shopping and Sewell definitely gets my thumbs up!
Still 70 bucks versus free....I chose free on this one
I live in an area now where the nearest Toyota dealer is over an hour away and the nearest Lexus dealer is 2.5 hrs away, so I do a lot of Internet shopping and Sewell definitely gets my thumbs up!
Still 70 bucks versus free....I chose free on this one
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#4
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This is a great self-help writeup and a good example that we don't always need a dealer and factory parts to solve problems with our GXs. I'm in no way 'anti dealer' - I'm glad to have one close by when I need their help. You came up with a great solution - thanks for sharing it
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