Fed up with f-ing steering wheel shake!!!
05-14-20, 08:08 AM
#16
Moderator
I’ve had my Lexus a little over 3 years. It’s currently at 189k. When I bought it it had wheel shake at 40mph. I put new tires on it (Nitto motivo) new steering rack bushings. New sway bar end links, new rear lower control arm bushings, I’ve had the front tires road force balanced, it’s been aligned. Today I’ve just had it. It has Monroe oe spectrum struts on it now. It still shakes but now at 65 ish mph and sometimes I think the tires flat spot so it’s worse than other times. Today I ordered new Monroe quick struts and new upper a arms to start replacing some things and hopefully solve a clunking/rattle issue that’s either ball joint or strut mount related from the drivers side front. I hope to put that on this weekend maybe. Apart from trying new tires what else should I do? I got a $1200 stimulus check to throw at this *****, help covid19 fix my wheel vibration!
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TriC (05-15-20)
05-14-20, 08:33 AM
#17
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Study this diagram. Get to know it upside down, inside out, and backward. Think about what happens to these parts as you drive down the road, when you turn the wheel, and when you hit a bump. The wheel (hub) attaches to the carrier assembly at the large green dot. The carrier assembly is supported by the upper and lower ball joints highlighted in red. When you think about the transfer of energy and or vibrations the carrier assembly is basically low hanging fruit as it will experience force or movement before either of the lower control arm bushings or the struts. The outer tie rod attaches to the lower ball joint (highlighted in blue) and acts as, for lack of a better term, linch pin connecting the carrier assembly to the steering wheel.
BTW, I bought the moog upper control arm because it has new ball joint and bushings already. The lower I need to figure out how hard it is to do the ball joint or just buy a whole new assembly from mevotech.
Last edited by Trilkb; 05-14-20 at 08:37 AM.
05-14-20, 08:38 AM
#18
Lexus Fanatic
lol you're right, my bad!!
btw I got new inner/outer tie rods last fall. One thing I noticed? My steering seems to be perfectly centered. Meaning I would get an alignment where all is green and it would be seemingly centered, and then off. also in a car wash it would go off, then less off.....
05-14-20, 08:46 AM
#19
Moderator
So are you pointing towards the outter tie rod end/lower ball joint transferring all the vibrations?
BTW, I bought the moog upper control arm because it has new ball joint and bushings already. The lower I need to figure out how hard it is to do the ball joint or just buy a whole new assembly from mevotech.
BTW, I bought the moog upper control arm because it has new ball joint and bushings already. The lower I need to figure out how hard it is to do the ball joint or just buy a whole new assembly from mevotech.
05-14-20, 01:07 PM
#21
Lexus Champion
Yea OEM 17's.
@ls430w140 I consider moog and ac delco to be quality parts. Front upper control arms going in are Moog Brand. Tie rod inner/outer will be moog or ac delco.
@ls430w140 I consider moog and ac delco to be quality parts. Front upper control arms going in are Moog Brand. Tie rod inner/outer will be moog or ac delco.
The fact the subframe doesnt have rubber isolators is a good thing in terms of less places play can exist, if you did the rack yourself recheck the bushings since one of them is directional. Just go from the wheels inward checking for movement part to part and when you find any play that's your issue
These cars are extremely simple to solve front end issues on, the only thing that is easier are strut based cars like a corolla
Last edited by Striker223; 05-14-20 at 01:12 PM.
05-14-20, 01:09 PM
#22
Lexus Champion
So are you pointing towards the outter tie rod end/lower ball joint transferring all the vibrations?
BTW, I bought the moog upper control arm because it has new ball joint and bushings already. The lower I need to figure out how hard it is to do the ball joint or just buy a whole new assembly from mevotech.
BTW, I bought the moog upper control arm because it has new ball joint and bushings already. The lower I need to figure out how hard it is to do the ball joint or just buy a whole new assembly from mevotech.
05-14-20, 06:45 PM
#23
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Thanks for the heads up on mevotech. I read awhile back they were a safe way to go? So much for what you read on the Internet. I also thought ac Delco made the factory parts?
I bought the upgraded steering rack bushings. God, don’t make me think of that day I put those in.
my car does tend to wander or easily follow an uneven surface? But steering is tight and responsive and she doesn’t pull.
I bought the upgraded steering rack bushings. God, don’t make me think of that day I put those in.
my car does tend to wander or easily follow an uneven surface? But steering is tight and responsive and she doesn’t pull.
05-14-20, 06:58 PM
#24
Lexus Champion
Thanks for the heads up on mevotech. I read awhile back they were a safe way to go? So much for what you read on the Internet. I also thought ac Delco made the factory parts?
I bought the upgraded steering rack bushings. God, don’t make me think of that day I put those in.
my car does tend to wander or easily follow an uneven surface? But steering is tight and responsive and she doesn’t pull.
I bought the upgraded steering rack bushings. God, don’t make me think of that day I put those in.
my car does tend to wander or easily follow an uneven surface? But steering is tight and responsive and she doesn’t pull.
Based on what you are saying I would look at the tie rods or rack moving, if you can't feel anything loose it's likely inside the steering system
05-15-20, 08:51 AM
#26
Pole Position
Thread Starter
No, factory is some Japanese brand I'm sure............mevotech is literally the worst tier Chineseium I have seen and it's only ever used by customers who can't afford anything else and usually are making payments for repairs. Really bad metal hardness, usually doesn't fit correctly, and just very poor quality in every way.
Based on what you are saying I would look at the tie rods or rack moving, if you can't feel anything loose it's likely inside the steering system
Based on what you are saying I would look at the tie rods or rack moving, if you can't feel anything loose it's likely inside the steering system
05-15-20, 09:19 AM
#27
Driver School Candidate
Piggybacking on this thread because my question is related. Does anyone know where I can purchase steering rack bushings? I attempted to purchase from TM Engineering but after two weeks I was refunded my money without explanation. I called the local dealer and while they now sell the bushings separate from the rack, they wanted damn near $400 for the four. I am not paying $400 for some bits of rubber. Has anyone purchased them recently? Thanks!
05-15-20, 10:05 AM
#28
Moderator
Piggybacking on this thread because my question is related. Does anyone know where I can purchase steering rack bushings? I attempted to purchase from TM Engineering but after two weeks I was refunded my money without explanation. I called the local dealer and while they now sell the bushings separate from the rack, they wanted damn near $400 for the four. I am not paying $400 for some bits of rubber. Has anyone purchased them recently? Thanks!
https://www.lexussouthatlantaparts.com/products/Lexus/2002/LS-430-43L-AT/BUSH---STEERING-RACK-HOUSING---NO-1/63015704/4551650030.htm
https://www.lexussouthatlantaparts.c...551650040.html
Poly-
Last edited by bradland; 05-15-20 at 10:09 AM.
05-15-20, 10:06 AM
#29
Lexus Fanatic
Thanks for the heads up on mevotech. I read awhile back they were a safe way to go? So much for what you read on the Internet. I also thought ac Delco made the factory parts?
I bought the upgraded steering rack bushings. God, don’t make me think of that day I put those in.
my car does tend to wander or easily follow an uneven surface? But steering is tight and responsive and she doesn’t pull.
I bought the upgraded steering rack bushings. God, don’t make me think of that day I put those in.
my car does tend to wander or easily follow an uneven surface? But steering is tight and responsive and she doesn’t pull.
05-15-20, 10:10 AM
#30
Driver School Candidate
The link to Lexus of Atlanta, do you know if that is for all four bushings? One bushing?
I actually ordered the ones off of Amazon as well but it has been a week and it has yet to ship. I think it may just be TM Engineerings Amazon portal in which case I won't receive them.
I actually ordered the ones off of Amazon as well but it has been a week and it has yet to ship. I think it may just be TM Engineerings Amazon portal in which case I won't receive them.