I checked, these junkyards are ridiculous. New struts from dealer can be obtained for $750 or so and they're averaging $650 for used!

I think I'd rather gamble with the Chinese than to buy a used, known problematic part.





2010 Strut Cartridge Assembly, Rear Left
Lexus LS460LH REAR AIR STRUT ASSYA00026543 $660 Modern Auto Parts, Inc - PRP Midwest USA-MO(St.-Louis) Request_Quote 800-200-9277 / 314-638-6040 Request_Insurance_Quote

Strut Cartridge Assembly, Rear Left
Lexus LS46010 LS460A00020292 $600 All Import Auto Parts USA-TX(Ft.-Worth) Request_Quote 1-817-831-6316 / 1-888-629-7194 Request_Insurance_Quote

Strut Cartridge Assembly
Lexus LS460BLACK,LS460,V8,AT,AWDA3973 $Call Tesco Foreign Auto Parts USA-TX(Houston) 800-583-0209 / 281-449- 77019362010

Strut Cartridge Assembly
Lexus LS460LHM13989 $650 Intercity Auto USA-OH(Bedford) Request_Quote 1-800-438-8733 /1-440-786-0000 Request_Insurance_Quote

Strut Cartridge Assembly
LH,SLV,4.6L17F994 $649 Gagels Auto Parts USA-FL(Riverview) Request_Quote 1-813-677-4431 Request_Insurance_Quote



-Matt

 

It's most likely not a strut issue but rather a control issue.

 

Just to clarify, the control issue has been "resolved" and the car is no longer riding at the "extremely stiff' setting.

Now that the issue is resolved - if and when the struts are running on the comfort setting - the rear end is bottoming out and making noise. This should not happen at any setting.

-Matt

 

I agree in that most pricing at salvage yards for higher-end car parts is absurd, but there is a person here who picked up a pair of rear struts with like 65K on them for $600, or thereabouts, shipped.

Strangely enough, my magnetorheological rear dampers on my '05 Cadillac STS also failed, internally, and started leaking. It seems, for some reason, it's the rears on sophisticated systems which are the problem, not the fronts, which control more mass and likely have larger temperature swings due to their proximity to the engine.

Oh, and I can tell you, the two yards up here, Intercity and All Import are both pricing their parts in Italian Lire, or something, because they're always 100% more than they should be, if not more.

 

Some stuff you can catch a break on, but I've seen many instances where supply and demand issues can put used parts very near and sometimes over the price of aftermarket new parts. Take Acura TL/CL automatic transmissions back in the day. Used units were going for $1500-2000 while factory rebuilt exchanges were $2500.

I recently assisted a friend on a gas strut conversion on a '05 STS His rears had failed as well, but the fronts weren't too far behind.

I imagine it has mostly to do with the actual strut rod size. I bet the front's are huge, probably close to 3/4", while the rears are probably 3/8" or so. It looks like Toyota's brand for these shocks was KYB. Not the best name in struts, the last pair of GR-2's I bought for my Legend only lasted 30K miles or so.

-Matt

 

I put the GR-2 on my 400 40k ago and they are still going strong.

 

My car is still running stiff after i plugged back in the actuator and I am getting readings now from Fakestream where it's not stuck at 17.

How do I test if it's a control module or something?

Thanks

 

Plugged it back in this morning and I am stuck at 17 again...AARRRHHHHGGGG

 

It will always read 17 when the car is stopped. When in motion it should read between 1-17. Comfort should be on the lower end, normal in the middle, sport at the higher end. When cornering or turning the dampers go to 17 as well. They are constantly changing and adjusting.