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Both sides were blown, springs are still in good condition, went for a test drive and on the casual road it’s improved a lot, but over any bumps/potholes or speed bumps I’m getting this heavy thump sound..... especially from the drivers side, I inspected the control arm bushings and none of them were tore, a little play but nothing that would cause this crazy thumps, any ideas???
Strut rod bushings are a 10-year 100k mile part. Check out the megathread for the common symptoms and testing methods.
You may also want to consider lower ball joints. When they get bad they'll get noisy, the car will lean during low speed corners more, the car will start following road cambers more than it should. Mine were completely ****ed, and when they were replaced, they looked visually fine. No cracks, no obvious excess play. But the car drove a million times better and the noises were cured.
Both sides were blown, springs are still in good condition, went for a test drive and on the casual road it’s improved a lot, but over any bumps/potholes or speed bumps I’m getting this heavy thump sound..... especially from the drivers side, I inspected the control arm bushings and none of them were tore, a little play but nothing that would cause this crazy thumps, any ideas???
i used KYB excel G
What year and mileage? As others have said the strut rod bushings might be shot to hell. I replaced the whole strut rod on both sides. A mechanic should charge about 3 hours labor total. I still have front end suspension noises and I replace random bushings but still have knocking and other sounds. They are minor now but I suspect it might be the strut mount. Did you replace the strut mounts as well? And the strut bumper?
check the easier parts first such as the sway bar endlinks.
also, are you sure you put the struts together properly?
sometimes due to the tedious nature of the job, things are missed and not tightened or replaced back in the proper order. I'll be the first to admit I've been guilty of this!
Yes do the stut rod bushings . Min were bad on my 1995 and 1998 LS400 at about 100k miles. They looked okish but was not. Did klonketyklonk over rough spots when going slow.
Pressing in new ones ( OEM at 35$ each ) fixed that. Unfortunately the bolts were partly seized. No fun to get around that DIY . Dismantled the things and cut the bolts off in my yard.
I really don't want to be that guy, but I just... cant... help it.
How many threads does there need to be on this?
Search, my friends. Search! Every post/reply that has been made on this thread has been made a number of times in the past in the 90-00 LS sub-forum.
If interested in stock Lexus OEM shocks, I have my Front originals that are still useable with 149k on them since upgrading to Bilstein HDs. Comes with OE Lexus upper rubber isolators, OE Lexus strut mounts and brand new Moog bump stops.
I replaced both the strut rod bushings and the "clunking" noise went away. Pressed the old bushings out, pressed the new ones back in with the 20-ton press I recently bought from HF. Just make sure to press them in correctly. As you are looking at them from outside the car, the "yellow" tabs should be facing downwards at 6 o'clock position.
I replaced both the strut rod bushings and the "clunking" noise went away. Pressed the old bushings out, pressed the new ones back in with the 20-ton press I recently bought from HF. Just make sure to press them in correctly. As you are looking at them from outside the car, the "yellow" tabs should be facing downwards at 6 o'clock position.
your new here and we understand, they were talking about different struts, but you are right on your bushings yellow tab 'down AND do not tighten bolts until wheels are back on the ground...
Last edited by billydpowe; 01-20-20 at 06:26 AM.
Reason: to be clear.
your new here and we understand, they were talking about different struts, but you are right on your bushings yellow tab 'down AND do not tighten bolts until wheels are back on the ground...
A follow-up question...
>Yellow tabs ‘Down’. Clear enough. Yellow tab towards to the street, away from the engine. Check.
>Aligned to the 6:00 position. Is that 6:00 wrt the strut, or the body frame? I assume the strut, but want to get this right, the FIRST time. Thanks.
chuck
01-11-20, 04:16 PM
Replaced shocks, still horrible
