I found a really great shop in Asheville, NC (Auto Pro). The front office did a lot of research about the parts it needs. She called 10+ Lexus dealer parts desk. Per Lexus parts desk own recommendations, she told me to find the equivalent parts on Amazon and they'll install them, though without warranty. Example: Right front axle is $1715 per Lexus, and $95 on Amazon. Of course I'll do some research and upgrade for quality, but a CV axle is nothing special and they are fairly simple to install if you have the right tools and inclination (not me). The summary is my 2010 LS460 with 170k miles needs front axles, air shocks, and upper/lower control arms. Lexus prices for just the parts is over $9000. Since I'm likely to get the non-air shocks at $1300, total bill for Amazon prices will be about $2000. I'll probably do that, but I would drive the car to the junkyard if I had to pay Lexus prices plus labor.

 

Not opposed to using non-oem parts when i do the work myself. When paying for labor i will only say be selective on non-oem part use.

Non-oem parts off Amazon via China =/= Lexus OEM.

Id rather order from Japan or UAE distributors for oem Lexus parts so the labor cost isnt wasted when China non-oem parts fail.

YMMV.

 

I would rather install an OEM used low mileage axle off Ebay than any new aftermarket counterpart.

 

Low cost and low quality will soon be replaced with low cost and high quality. I own a manufacturing shop (unrelated) and we send designs and receive parts from a China supplier all the time. Our supplier has very good quality, and better email response than is usual within the USA.

 

But not yet. I see a couple of YouTube mechanics routinely tossing parts made in China, saying they're total junk.

https://www.youtube.com/@CarWizard
and
https://www.youtube.com/@M539Restorations

As with anything, if no one's enforcing quality control, people will take shortcuts.

 

No it won't.

 

Please let us know what your shop charges for the installation on the parts. I was going to go with the strutmasters kit to replace my air struts, but decided against it when I was able to find some OEM air struts for a not entirely unreasonable cost. I figure on driving the LS for another 100,000 miles and enjoy the air suspension. I paid approximately $1,800 for the installation of all four struts. They also repacked the factory front cv axles for around $900, I was surprised they didn't want to simply replace them, but the car drives great since they did all the work. Drives like new.

 

90usd amazon LS axle? Are you for real? That thing will fall apart within first 10 miles rofl. Seen my share.

 

Repacked front axles for $900? Did they use gold dust? Where did you find OEM air struts for a reasonable price? I've found them at $1992.87/each. I'd prefer to pay $284 for non-OEM.

Update: I jacked up the car and looked around at what the mechanic found. My own ignorant narcissist cheapskate view is that none of it is in as bad shape as the mechanic's findings. As of 10am EST, I'm going to buy the full set of cheap Amazon control arms and tie rod ends then have the mechanic just replace the lower control arms at 2.1 hrs/shop time. The uppers require 5 hrs shop time. He said it was the lowers making the noise. I won't be back home for 3-4 weeks. I'll have my regular mechanic do the rest of the work if/when it starts rattling again. Air shock upper mounts look very good.

 

Send a link to your share, please. If it is just the Car Wizard videos, I've seen those.

 

Lol. Entertaining......the fact you aren't doing all 8 arms nor know how to do it yourself is very amusing when combined with your assertion that China parts are just as good.

 

You've made an incorrect assumption. I could do it myself, but I'm done crawling around on my hands and knees in the garage wasting a valuable Saturday when I can easily hire someone else to do it. I'm 64 and hope to retire from all things that require work.

 

Okay then, I hope you win the dice roll of Chinese parts quality or lack thereof! You will be back for the upper arms for sure, they always need all 8 or you will simply cause the older arms to wear out even faster

 

I found the OEM air struts on ebay for about $900 a piece. Regarding the cost of repacking of the cv axles, it also included the inner/outer parts and grease, and I had them restores the front headlights. Like I said, the car drives like new and I've been willing to spend the money to keep it like new. I only paid $22,500 for the car when it was six years old with 79k on the clock, with an excellent service record, so in 8 years of ownership and another 90,000 miles, I only have a total of $32,000 in the vehicle including the purchase price. Part of the reason I purchased the car was for the air suspension, so I was willng to replace it with OEM parts.

I have to say, it's the most fun to drive in the snow with the AWD system, just a blast. If the car is still in relatively good mechanical condition at 320K miles and the air struts are shot, I'd be willing to put on the strutmaster kit with KYB's.

 

If a car was 10yrs and older with lots of miles that would be a good idea but not for every car, I doubt that theory has ever been proven it's just an opinion...similar to the one I just expressed.