Replacing suspension parts when lowering a 98 LS400?Stretch tire install Bay Area CA?
01-25-13, 04:39 AM
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Replacing suspension parts when lowering a 98 LS400?Stretch tire install Bay Area CA?
Hi this is my first post on CL. I'm from the 408, Bay Area. I have a stock 98 LS w/150K miles. Any recommendations on which suspension components to replace when lowering your vehicle? I will be replacing the power steering rack & pinion so I thought I should replace the UCAs, LCAs, ball joint, etc. So far I have purchased a set of K-Sport Kontrol Pro Coilovers, Megan rear lower camber arms, Megan rear toe control arms, Megan rear traction rods, and Arnott front upper control arms. Since I already purchased the front UCAs, I might as well replace the front lower ball joints, front lower control arms, front outer tie rods and possibly the front strut rods. I inspected all the front suspension components and all the bushings/joints looked ok. But when I'm braking, there's a slight vibration from the steering wheel (brake rotors were recently resurfaced). The car also veers to the right (after I had an alignment) so I'm suspecting the front right shock is going out. I previously owned a 94 LS w/200K miles and it was on Megan coilovers, for 30k miles, and I never had problems with the suspension (just a few squeaks here and there). OEM parts are quite expensive and that's why I'm hesitating on going forward with replacing the front suspension. When I purchased the Arnott UCAs (ebay $190/pair shipped), I assumed that they were made in the USA. I was wrong, they were made in China. But they come with a lifetime warranty. Anyway, any advice or suggestions will help!
I'm also looking for a shop in the Bay Area (preferably closest to San Jose) that can mount & balance stretched tires. Any of you guys have experience with Tire Outlet off of Alum Rock or Sonic MS in Mtn. View? I have a set of Kranze Rapier 19x10 +20 and 19x11 +20. I want 225/35 in the front and 245/35 in the back. I have my mind set on the Falken 452's. Which other tires are good for stretching?
THANKS IN ADVANCE!
I'm also looking for a shop in the Bay Area (preferably closest to San Jose) that can mount & balance stretched tires. Any of you guys have experience with Tire Outlet off of Alum Rock or Sonic MS in Mtn. View? I have a set of Kranze Rapier 19x10 +20 and 19x11 +20. I want 225/35 in the front and 245/35 in the back. I have my mind set on the Falken 452's. Which other tires are good for stretching?
THANKS IN ADVANCE!
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01-25-13, 06:32 AM
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01-25-13, 11:10 AM
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Hey I'm also from 408. I have been looking for an LS a while now. Maybe we can get together once I get mine? If you don't mind me asking how much did you get your LS for?
A very good shop is Auto Innovations, they are very careful and know what they're doing.
A very good shop is Auto Innovations, they are very careful and know what they're doing.
01-25-13, 11:26 AM
#6
definitely invest in OEM lower ball joints. check your strut rod bushes as well as they tend to go out iirc.
a reason why your car is still wandering after an alignment may be because your tires are still getting used to the new settings. if you drove on a bad alignment for a long time, this occurrence becomes more apparent. or it's your strut rod bushes...
a reason why your car is still wandering after an alignment may be because your tires are still getting used to the new settings. if you drove on a bad alignment for a long time, this occurrence becomes more apparent. or it's your strut rod bushes...
01-25-13, 02:24 PM
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FK452s aren't good for anything more than a minor stretch, they bubble.
I've been bouncing around the bay area for the past couple weeks, and Joseph and Carlos at Tire Outlet in Alum Rock had no problem dealing with my stretched rears. Service was excellent and I highly recommend them. The NorCal guys have a great thread for shops Here.
Hope you've got a good body guy, you'll need him for the front, the rears will fit with minor camber and a flat shave/roll of the fender.
ditch the arnotts. you'll just be (best case) redoing the arms in a year or less. You don't really need all the rear megan arms, but if you want them I guess. They're only really useful when adding a LOT of camber (which, frankly, you won't be needing.)
I've been bouncing around the bay area for the past couple weeks, and Joseph and Carlos at Tire Outlet in Alum Rock had no problem dealing with my stretched rears. Service was excellent and I highly recommend them. The NorCal guys have a great thread for shops Here.
Hope you've got a good body guy, you'll need him for the front, the rears will fit with minor camber and a flat shave/roll of the fender.
ditch the arnotts. you'll just be (best case) redoing the arms in a year or less. You don't really need all the rear megan arms, but if you want them I guess. They're only really useful when adding a LOT of camber (which, frankly, you won't be needing.)
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01-25-13, 11:20 PM
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I got mine for $8k with 140k miles. Body and interior was very clean for a 12 year old car.
01-25-13, 11:26 PM
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01-25-13, 11:29 PM
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definitely invest in OEM lower ball joints. check your strut rod bushes as well as they tend to go out iirc.
a reason why your car is still wandering after an alignment may be because your tires are still getting used to the new settings. if you drove on a bad alignment for a long time, this occurrence becomes more apparent. or it's your strut rod bushes...
a reason why your car is still wandering after an alignment may be because your tires are still getting used to the new settings. if you drove on a bad alignment for a long time, this occurrence becomes more apparent. or it's your strut rod bushes...
01-25-13, 11:51 PM
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FK452s aren't good for anything more than a minor stretch, they bubble.
I've been bouncing around the bay area for the past couple weeks, and Joseph and Carlos at Tire Outlet in Alum Rock had no problem dealing with my stretched rears. Service was excellent and I highly recommend them. The NorCal guys have a great thread for shops Here.
Hope you've got a good body guy, you'll need him for the front, the rears will fit with minor camber and a flat shave/roll of the fender.
ditch the arnotts. you'll just be (best case) redoing the arms in a year or less. You don't really need all the rear megan arms, but if you want them I guess. They're only really useful when adding a LOT of camber (which, frankly, you won't be needing.)
I've been bouncing around the bay area for the past couple weeks, and Joseph and Carlos at Tire Outlet in Alum Rock had no problem dealing with my stretched rears. Service was excellent and I highly recommend them. The NorCal guys have a great thread for shops Here.
Hope you've got a good body guy, you'll need him for the front, the rears will fit with minor camber and a flat shave/roll of the fender.
ditch the arnotts. you'll just be (best case) redoing the arms in a year or less. You don't really need all the rear megan arms, but if you want them I guess. They're only really useful when adding a LOT of camber (which, frankly, you won't be needing.)
What tires are you rolling on? My next choice of tire are the Hankook V12s.
I got a great deal on the rear Megan arms. $310 for the camber, toe and traction. I test fitted my wheels (19x10 +20/19x11 +20) at stock height and the wheel were sticking out about 1"-1.5" (maybe more). So I figured that -4° to -5° of camber will not be enough. I'm trying to go for the flush look. This is my first set of "aggressive" wheels. My previous 94 LS400 was lowered on 19" G35 wheels.
As for the Arnotts, I'm going to return them ASAP. Have you replaced any of the front or rear suspension arms on your 99 LS?
01-26-13, 04:21 AM
#13
Thanks PureDrifter. I already got my front and rear fenders rolled and pulled. I had Nick from RMS work on my fenders. He did a pretty good job.
What tires are you rolling on? My next choice of tire are the Hankook V12s.
I got a great deal on the rear Megan arms. $310 for the camber, toe and traction. I test fitted my wheels (19x10 +20/19x11 +20) at stock height and the wheel were sticking out about 1"-1.5" (maybe more). So I figured that -4° to -5° of camber will not be enough. I'm trying to go for the flush look. This is my first set of "aggressive" wheels. My previous 94 LS400 was lowered on 19" G35 wheels.
As for the Arnotts, I'm going to return them ASAP. Have you replaced any of the front or rear suspension arms on your 99 LS?
What tires are you rolling on? My next choice of tire are the Hankook V12s.
I got a great deal on the rear Megan arms. $310 for the camber, toe and traction. I test fitted my wheels (19x10 +20/19x11 +20) at stock height and the wheel were sticking out about 1"-1.5" (maybe more). So I figured that -4° to -5° of camber will not be enough. I'm trying to go for the flush look. This is my first set of "aggressive" wheels. My previous 94 LS400 was lowered on 19" G35 wheels.
As for the Arnotts, I'm going to return them ASAP. Have you replaced any of the front or rear suspension arms on your 99 LS?
Once you drop the car you'll see where you really are, the rears will fit with a shave and ~-3.5-4* camber, maybe less. the Fronts will be a pain, big pull and i'd estimate -3* in the front as well, if not more.
V12s are massive overkill in terms of performance. the new FK453s are supposed to be nice, I hear good things about the Nitto Neo Gens and the Toyo Proxes too, some people say the sumitomos stretch well. General G-Max stretch pretty well but run a bit on the big size. I run Nitto NT555s on my own car.
01-27-13, 03:07 AM
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wow that is a pretty good deal for a complete set of arms, new? Where from?
Once you drop the car you'll see where you really are, the rears will fit with a shave and ~-3.5-4* camber, maybe less. the Fronts will be a pain, big pull and i'd estimate -3* in the front as well, if not more.
V12s are massive overkill in terms of performance. the new FK453s are supposed to be nice, I hear good things about the Nitto Neo Gens and the Toyo Proxes too, some people say the sumitomos stretch well. General G-Max stretch pretty well but run a bit on the big size. I run Nitto NT555s on my own car.
Once you drop the car you'll see where you really are, the rears will fit with a shave and ~-3.5-4* camber, maybe less. the Fronts will be a pain, big pull and i'd estimate -3* in the front as well, if not more.
V12s are massive overkill in terms of performance. the new FK453s are supposed to be nice, I hear good things about the Nitto Neo Gens and the Toyo Proxes too, some people say the sumitomos stretch well. General G-Max stretch pretty well but run a bit on the big size. I run Nitto NT555s on my own car.
Man it's tough trying to choose the right tires! I like the G-MAX AS03s bc of the 480 treadwear. I guess thats why they run a bit on the big side. How long have you been running the NT555s? What are you wheel and tire sizes?
I'm gonna take a trip to the Tire Outlet in San Jose and talk to Joseph.
BTW are you from the Bay Area also?
