Control arm replacement?
12-17-18, 02:34 PM
#1
Rookie
Thread Starter
Control arm replacement?
When I went back to the dealer for tyre replacement, it was quite shocking that my service advisor found out all of the tyres were supposed to be used in a SUV like RX (I want to kill the previous owner!!
).
Initially he said that "no big deal, we will just get the front ones replaced since the rear ones can endure another 10k miles".
He offered me a loaner to drive to work and called me back a few hours later telling me "not only are your front tyres severely worn, the control arms are also in a terrible condition".
It costs $4500 to get new control arms installed LOL. Will you guys fix that??
At first I thought the suspension could have been compromised. Indeed, I don't feel any difference! When I picked up my car, I asked if alignment was done but my service advisor said "No, it is not meaningful given the condition of the control arms." He then explained involving a lot of physics and technical terms which is way beyond my ability to understand. I then paid $600 and left the dealership. What else can I do?
).Initially he said that "no big deal, we will just get the front ones replaced since the rear ones can endure another 10k miles".
He offered me a loaner to drive to work and called me back a few hours later telling me "not only are your front tyres severely worn, the control arms are also in a terrible condition".
It costs $4500 to get new control arms installed LOL. Will you guys fix that??
At first I thought the suspension could have been compromised. Indeed, I don't feel any difference! When I picked up my car, I asked if alignment was done but my service advisor said "No, it is not meaningful given the condition of the control arms." He then explained involving a lot of physics and technical terms which is way beyond my ability to understand. I then paid $600 and left the dealership. What else can I do?
12-18-18, 09:00 AM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
Get your control arms done...THEN the alignment.
No need to spend 4k+ for them either. Use aftermarket and take them to an indy to replace them. You'll save thousands.
No need to spend 4k+ for them either. Use aftermarket and take them to an indy to replace them. You'll save thousands.
12-18-18, 10:21 AM
#5
Hi
dont know where you are in TX but TLS in Euless Tx is a place I use now not the dealer. He has over 25 years with Toyota and his shop is clean and he is very professional.
My my car was under warranty when I had mine done along with rear air shocks. About 9500 at Lexus warranty price. Road frog is correct, don’t go to dealer for these as many experienced mechanics can do this very reasonable.
Good luck.
dont know where you are in TX but TLS in Euless Tx is a place I use now not the dealer. He has over 25 years with Toyota and his shop is clean and he is very professional.
My my car was under warranty when I had mine done along with rear air shocks. About 9500 at Lexus warranty price. Road frog is correct, don’t go to dealer for these as many experienced mechanics can do this very reasonable.
Good luck.
12-18-18, 08:41 PM
#6
Hi
dont know where you are in TX but TLS in Euless Tx is a place I use now not the dealer. He has over 25 years with Toyota and his shop is clean and he is very professional.
My my car was under warranty when I had mine done along with rear air shocks. About 9500 at Lexus warranty price. Road frog is correct, don’t go to dealer for these as many experienced mechanics can do this very reasonable.
Good luck.
dont know where you are in TX but TLS in Euless Tx is a place I use now not the dealer. He has over 25 years with Toyota and his shop is clean and he is very professional.
My my car was under warranty when I had mine done along with rear air shocks. About 9500 at Lexus warranty price. Road frog is correct, don’t go to dealer for these as many experienced mechanics can do this very reasonable.
Good luck.
12-19-18, 04:03 AM
#7
Lexus Test Driver
Trending Topics
12-19-18, 04:26 AM
#8
Lexus Test Driver
If the tires on your LS 460 are less aggressive than BF Goodrich All-Terrains, they're fine.
BTW, I put BFG A/Ts on my wife's RX 300, but the hum bugged her, so I put those on the '98 Jeep ZJ 5.9L we have and put some nice street Continentals on her car.
I'm curious, what tires were on there? Make and model, if you know, and what did they put on as replacements?
Initially he said that "no big deal, we will just get the front ones replaced since the rear ones can endure another 10k miles".
He offered me a loaner to drive to work and called me back a few hours later telling me "not only are your front tyres severely worn, the control arms are also in a terrible condition".
It costs $4500 to get new control arms installed LOL. Will you guys fix that??
At first I thought the suspension could have been compromised. Indeed, I don't feel any difference! When I picked up my car, I asked if alignment was done but my service advisor said "No, it is not meaningful given the condition of the control arms." He then explained involving a lot of physics and technical terms which is way beyond my ability to understand. I then paid $600 and left the dealership. What else can I do?
He offered me a loaner to drive to work and called me back a few hours later telling me "not only are your front tyres severely worn, the control arms are also in a terrible condition".
It costs $4500 to get new control arms installed LOL. Will you guys fix that??
At first I thought the suspension could have been compromised. Indeed, I don't feel any difference! When I picked up my car, I asked if alignment was done but my service advisor said "No, it is not meaningful given the condition of the control arms." He then explained involving a lot of physics and technical terms which is way beyond my ability to understand. I then paid $600 and left the dealership. What else can I do?
This is criminal.
Was it Park Place or Sewell (if you live in the D/FW area)?
A couple of tips:
Don't use the dealer (ESPECIALLY that one) any more.
Never purchase tires from the dealer.
Finally, unless you're a gearhead, you're very unlikely to notice worn front-end bushes until they're effectively non-existent. I looked at the ones on my 'new' '12, and yeah, they'll last another year before slop starts forming, but I'd wager they'd not make noise for another 40K miles ('bout three years). I'm going to remove the ones in there and put proper urethane bushes in place of the 'rubber' ones, because they'll last indefinitely and firm up handling a little. If they're installed properly, lubed with silicone grease, they should never make noise unless there's a problem.
FWIW, because I'm going to do this, myself, I'll have all new front-end bushes which will never need attention, again, for $350. Granted, suspension bushes are a wear item, but these cars seem to be harder on bushes than any other I've owned.
How many miles on your LS?
BTW, to preserve the new shoes, I'd put the fronts on the rear and rears on the front.
I wish I could see what these 'terrible condition' control arms looked like.
12-19-18, 05:02 AM
#9
$4k is actually a GOOD price if they are doing all the arms. If you have RWD, you can get aftermarket arms, but if you have AWD, it is a dealer only part except for one of the upper arms. Lexus price for the arms are $350 to $400 each X 8 arms plus labor. I get the anger for this high repair, but it’s not your local dealer, it’s Lexus corporate.
12-19-18, 06:22 AM
#10
So... how do you know your control arms need to be replaced (besides the dealer telling you)? I assume any mechanic could identify that... but what's the symptom: car keeps going out of alignment?
12-19-18, 06:28 AM
#11
Pole Position
When I went back to the dealer for tyre replacement, it was quite shocking that my service advisor found out all of the tyres were supposed to be used in a SUV like RX (I want to kill the previous owner!!).
Initially he said that "no big deal, we will just get the front ones replaced since the rear ones can endure another 10k miles".
He offered me a loaner to drive to work and called me back a few hours later telling me "not only are your front tyres severely worn, the control arms are also in a terrible condition".
It costs $4500 to get new control arms installed LOL. Will you guys fix that??
At first I thought the suspension could have been compromised. Indeed, I don't feel any difference! When I picked up my car, I asked if alignment was done but my service advisor said "No, it is not meaningful given the condition of the control arms." He then explained involving a lot of physics and technical terms which is way beyond my ability to understand. I then paid $600 and left the dealership. What else can I do?
).Initially he said that "no big deal, we will just get the front ones replaced since the rear ones can endure another 10k miles".
He offered me a loaner to drive to work and called me back a few hours later telling me "not only are your front tyres severely worn, the control arms are also in a terrible condition".
It costs $4500 to get new control arms installed LOL. Will you guys fix that??
At first I thought the suspension could have been compromised. Indeed, I don't feel any difference! When I picked up my car, I asked if alignment was done but my service advisor said "No, it is not meaningful given the condition of the control arms." He then explained involving a lot of physics and technical terms which is way beyond my ability to understand. I then paid $600 and left the dealership. What else can I do?
what do you understand when he told you the tyres are for an rx? There’s no such thing as suv tyres... I am pretty damn sure it’s just some tyres with a higher weight rating than usual... which wouldn’t be a problem since this car is probably as heavy as the rx... someone can google...
i assume you dont know what size tires and letter rating and brand was on the car?
Is the car under warranty what year? If not under warranty why go to a dealer?
12-19-18, 06:51 AM
#12
Lexus Test Driver
Jdanielca, we have a '17 RX 350 AWD and a '12 LS 460 L. The LS weighs more by about 100 lbs.
NotFasty, alignment problems are one symptom, as is clunking noises (they're done for by then), but you can see the bushes in the lower arms and see if they're deteriorating. That's one thing I wanted to see while my car was still on the transport.
NotFasty, alignment problems are one symptom, as is clunking noises (they're done for by then), but you can see the bushes in the lower arms and see if they're deteriorating. That's one thing I wanted to see while my car was still on the transport.
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NotFasty (12-19-18)
12-19-18, 07:48 AM
#13
Pole Position
Jdanielca, we have a '17 RX 350 AWD and a '12 LS 460 L. The LS weighs more by about 100 lbs.
NotFasty, alignment problems are one symptom, as is clunking noises (they're done for by then), but you can see the bushes in the lower arms and see if they're deteriorating. That's one thing I wanted to see while my car was still on the transport.
NotFasty, alignment problems are one symptom, as is clunking noises (they're done for by then), but you can see the bushes in the lower arms and see if they're deteriorating. That's one thing I wanted to see while my car was still on the transport.
12-20-18, 08:51 AM
#14
Lexus Fanatic
$4k is actually a GOOD price if they are doing all the arms. If you have RWD, you can get aftermarket arms, but if you have AWD, it is a dealer only part except for one of the upper arms. Lexus price for the arms are $350 to $400 each X 8 arms plus labor. I get the anger for this high repair, but it’s not your local dealer, it’s Lexus corporate.
12-29-18, 03:28 PM
#15
Rookie
Thread Starter
�������� gosh I don’t wanna be mean but you sure are easy.. dealers survive on guys like you...
There’s no such thing as suv tyres...
i assume you dont know what size tires and letter rating and brand was on the car?
Is the car under warranty what year? If not under warranty why go to a dealer?
As for the tyres Michelin, R19 that is what I remembered.
The car is bought without a warranty. I thought I could have counted on them...
First, the RX is not an "SUV". It's a tall Camry wagon, plain and simple. The LS outweighs it, in fact.
I'm curious, what tires were on there? Make and model, if you know, and what did they put on as replacements?
Wait. So, even with a front-end so out-of-whack, it's tearing up tires, they put brand new tires on it instead of merely rotating front-to-back?! And those tires were $300 each? Plus, they didn't do anything to the alignment?!
This is criminal.
Was it Park Place or Sewell (if you live in the D/FW area)?
A couple of tips:
Don't use the dealer (ESPECIALLY that one) any more.
Never purchase tires from the dealer.
How many miles on your LS?
BTW, to preserve the new shoes, I'd put the fronts on the rear and rears on the front.
I wish I could see what these 'terrible condition' control arms looked like.
I'm curious, what tires were on there? Make and model, if you know, and what did they put on as replacements?
Wait. So, even with a front-end so out-of-whack, it's tearing up tires, they put brand new tires on it instead of merely rotating front-to-back?! And those tires were $300 each? Plus, they didn't do anything to the alignment?!
This is criminal.
Was it Park Place or Sewell (if you live in the D/FW area)?
A couple of tips:
Don't use the dealer (ESPECIALLY that one) any more.
Never purchase tires from the dealer.
How many miles on your LS?
BTW, to preserve the new shoes, I'd put the fronts on the rear and rears on the front.
I wish I could see what these 'terrible condition' control arms looked like.
The ~$600 I paid is the upfront price the dealer showed me including tyres, labour and tax.
I live in Houston and have always been servicing my cars at either Westside Lexus (where this car was bought) or Lexus of Clear Lake (where my LS430 was bought).
Actually I had the same thought as you do, my SA thinks a rotation alone is not going to extend the "life" of the tyres. I love my car more than myself...so I agreed to get new tyres
My car is a 2010 LS460 with 73k btw.
Last edited by Thomasin; 12-29-18 at 04:40 PM.