monkeypee

Hi all,

My gf's RX is making a lot noise in suspension, and it's probaby due to shocks.

I have changed the shocks and springs for my IS300, but never on any other car.

Anything I should be aware of for the RX? Which parts should I buy? Are the aftermarket ones available and cheaper than the stock ones by chance?

Any recommendation/suggestion would be great.

Thanks.

Meetya

Is yours AWD or FWD? I have AWD.
I am i the process of changing them also. Due time and budget limitations, for now I will replace only:
- Front Struts (with KYB GR2)
- Strut Mounts, Bearings, and Bumpers
- Lower Spring Insulator
- Spring Seat
I will reuse original Spring Coils and Upper Spring Insulators.
Also, there is no way to check Sway Bar Link Bushings while it is still connected to Control Arm -- too much tension to fill a play. If they are bad I will just get them from a local auto parts store.

This totals in around $400 in parts for front suspension.

Here is the thread we discuss all about it:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=291977

monkeypee

I'm trying to figure out if it is AWD or FWD. I"m assuming AWD but not sure.

Not sure if I should bother change everything or just do shocks. Usually, other parts of suspension rarely go bad (spring, mount etc.). But not sure for RX.

Lexmex

With RX, I had a blown shock down here (got it fixed locally, too

One thing that will go bad eventually are the lower rubber sports upon which the spring sits. I can't even remember how many times those got chewed up (They still are).

Meetya

Yep, they called Lower Spring Insulator and Spring Seat. They are cheap so it is a good idea to replace them.

monkeypee

I've been looking for spring seats, but they seem all out of stock. Also, are the spring insulators also called "Coil Spring Insulator"? Should I get 4 of these?

Meetya

Out of stock where? Coil Spring Insulator and "spring insulator" is the same thing. The upper ones on my 1999 still look good, so I suggest to keep them. It is cheaper to order them online, PM me for links, because Lexmex (major contributor and moderator here) would kill me.

Lexmex

This is the piece here.

Meetya

Yes, and that hose-looking boot above is the Upper Spring Insulator.

Lexmex

Oh that thing gets chopped up, too. I cut about half off the rear ones. Looked like moths eating clothes.

rx300s415

And I always thought only my upper spring insulator was the most chewed up thing I've ever seen...

Btw guys, I've been having a lot of noise lately coming somewhere from the front suspension. Whenever I go over a bump or a tiny ditch in the road I hear a loud "click" or "knock" noise. Just to make sure I wasn't imagining things, I went to a road hardly used and drove on the lane margins (those little bumpy reflectors) and each time I ran over each reflector I would hear my suspension click/knock/bang. I think this has been discussed here before but I can't seem to find it. My friend (with a '01 IS300) said it might be that my strut towers are loose. Can anyone drop their .02 on this?

Meetya

I don't know, but I am replacing my front struts because of "bump-bump-bump" noise coming from front passenger side. Sound very similar to cue ball making when I play pool.

monkeypee

Ok Thanks to Meetya, I found sites that have the items. Some confusion I had were,
- I couldn't find spring seats for the rear
- rear just had spring insulators, but the front had upper and lower spring insulators.

These are the items I'm getting

Front:
2 x Front Lower Spring Insulators
2 x Front Spring Seats
2 x Front Struts

Rear:
2 x Rear Spring Insulators
2 x Rear Struts

Is this right?

Meetya

I know. Seems like on for the rear Strut Mount, Strut Seat and Upper Insulator is all in one.
You probably need new Strut Bearings for the front.
Well, may be not. Anyway part # is 90903-63014
Until recently I did not know they existed. See out recent conversation here:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=292884
So you don't want new Strut Bumpers? I don't know their conditions, but since they are bumpers it would be a good idea to replace them as well.
Are you putting OEM struts or KYB GR2? They are almost the same price. OEM is also made by KYB.

monkeypee

Ok so to recap, how does this list look like?

Front:
2 x Front Struts (KYB GR2)
2 x Front Lower Spring Insulators
2 x Front Strut Bumpers
2 x Front Spring Seats
2 x Front Strut Bearings

Rear:
2 x Rear Struts (KYB GR2)
2 x Rear Spring Insulators
2 x Rear Strut Bumpers

Total is around $700 which includes shipping. I am getting Struts from tirerack, which seems to have the best price.