Bushings & Bushes. Whatever, mine are Bad!
#31
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Vlamos (in Australia) makes bushings for all four locations (upper and lower control arm in front and upper and lower in rear) That is total of 16 bushings as each control arm has a leading and trailing bushing. The control arm bushings are available in a range of stiffness from stock to stiffer/sportier. So far I have installed the front lower control arm bushings from him (four total) Car (1992 SC400) had around 330,000 miles at the time (I bought the car new in '92 and drove it extensively for the first 10 years or so. At the time of the install, I also did new Vlamos steering rack bushings, new tie rod ends, new engine and transmission mounts, Daizen sway bar bushings. End result nothing less than new car ride (ie. fabulous). Andrew was a prince to deal with. I went to my bank and sent the money via wire transfer. Parts arrived in less than a week. My mechanic, who had done Daizen control arm bushings before, found the job harder than expected. Toughest part was changing out the bushings themselves. Remove and replace the control arms is just incidental really. Essential that shop have an adequate press to faciltate removing and replacing the bushings. Great news to learn that Lexus is finally providing at least the lower control arm bushings at a price far below that of whole new control arm assembly ($550/side).
I never cease to be amazed at what I learn from fellow CL members, this site is awesome!
I never cease to be amazed at what I learn from fellow CL members, this site is awesome!
#32
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Great thread.
Getting back to the original post, I agree that the Supra LCA's are the way to go, all things considered.
I ordered mine from Carson Toyota and had them shippped to my door. I did the install myself and am very satisfied with the results. I was looking for the least expensive solution and the Supra LCA's were the obvoius choice. They give a slightly firmer ride, you will notice small cracks in the road more, but it is tight and solid.
If you want to resore that stock Lexus ride, check out VFT Bushes (Vlamos). He loves SC's and really knows how to make bushings, seriously. I would dare say his are better than Lexus bushings. I would have got the Vlamos bushings if they didn't require the burn-out/press-in procedure.
Getting back to the original post, I agree that the Supra LCA's are the way to go, all things considered.
I ordered mine from Carson Toyota and had them shippped to my door. I did the install myself and am very satisfied with the results. I was looking for the least expensive solution and the Supra LCA's were the obvoius choice. They give a slightly firmer ride, you will notice small cracks in the road more, but it is tight and solid.
If you want to resore that stock Lexus ride, check out VFT Bushes (Vlamos). He loves SC's and really knows how to make bushings, seriously. I would dare say his are better than Lexus bushings. I would have got the Vlamos bushings if they didn't require the burn-out/press-in procedure.
#33
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Yakuza my 1994 / 120,000Mile Soarer is having a blower fitted next week but also needs a BIG service, I have a small "thunk" going from drive to over-run so we got under the ramp and checked the suspension and driveline bushs/mountings.
After inspection we decided to change EVERY single bush in the suspension front & rear and half a dozen mountings as every rubber component had a bit of slop/play, except the leading axle bushes which are so shot the cage can rock backwards & forwards and the front LCA which are starting to get a bit noisy.
We will use Vlamos bushes, all 16 of them on the suspension and 2 for the steering rack plus a couple of Toyota supplied bushes in the rear hub and strut rods. We have been fitting/selling AVlamos bushes in the UK for a couple of years now, no-one has an issue with these products and they restore the ride quality like NEW.
After inspection we decided to change EVERY single bush in the suspension front & rear and half a dozen mountings as every rubber component had a bit of slop/play, except the leading axle bushes which are so shot the cage can rock backwards & forwards and the front LCA which are starting to get a bit noisy.
We will use Vlamos bushes, all 16 of them on the suspension and 2 for the steering rack plus a couple of Toyota supplied bushes in the rear hub and strut rods. We have been fitting/selling AVlamos bushes in the UK for a couple of years now, no-one has an issue with these products and they restore the ride quality like NEW.
Last edited by London Bill; 02-02-05 at 08:19 PM.
#34
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London,
Keep us informed on how the car feels post bush install. Also if you could put in your input on the time spent and how the old ones came out and new went in ect...
thanks
-Rob
Keep us informed on how the car feels post bush install. Also if you could put in your input on the time spent and how the old ones came out and new went in ect...
thanks
-Rob
#35
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I was the first in the UK to do my own "poly" LCA bushes on The Beast (2.5TT), hard work and they creaked badly - http://web.ukonline.co.uk/soarertt/f_bushes.htm
I helped at the SSS to change to the Vlamos LCA bushes with a specially made insertion tool, lot easier.
These lot on Yakuza are being done in my absence, so much easier - TIF
You can do the job yourself but if the bolts are siezed inside the pins you need to grind/drill out the bolts - that is a real b1tch of a job without a ramp and all the heavy gear. I managed to damage the rear crossmember the first time I did it myself, not an easy job.
I helped at the SSS to change to the Vlamos LCA bushes with a specially made insertion tool, lot easier.
These lot on Yakuza are being done in my absence, so much easier - TIF
You can do the job yourself but if the bolts are siezed inside the pins you need to grind/drill out the bolts - that is a real b1tch of a job without a ramp and all the heavy gear. I managed to damage the rear crossmember the first time I did it myself, not an easy job.
#37
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Originally Posted by AllBoutDaZ
so which arm causes all this the upper control arm or the lower control arm??
my friend has the same problem but we want to make sure which one is bad
my friend has the same problem but we want to make sure which one is bad
#38
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Originally Posted by mikeloc24
Will, the front lower control arms are the problem parts. Not the actual arms themselves mind you, but it's the bushings that they hold which wear out. The uppers are typically fine. We can talk about it on Friday when I see you if you want, it'll be easier in person to explain and for you to see while my wheels are off.
thanks
#39
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I have a set of Andrew Vlamos front lower control arm bushings (bushes) for the SC in the states if anyone is interested.........I could ship them for about what i got them for.
Dan
Dan
#42
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Originally Posted by SC4Million
Supra Front LCA
part#'s
Right: 4806814080
Left: 4806914080
No the rear suspention peices wont work.
BTW: MikeLOC, the $156 arms from carson. Are those the Supra or Lexus arms?
thanks.
part#'s
Right: 4806814080
Left: 4806914080
No the rear suspention peices wont work.
BTW: MikeLOC, the $156 arms from carson. Are those the Supra or Lexus arms?
thanks.
#43
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Those are the part numbers for the supra control arms, but the 156.00 is the price for the lower front and rear replacement bushings and not the supra control arms....
#45
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I replaced only my lower control arm bushings as those are the ones that are prone to fail on any double wishbone suspension.If you have the money,you can change em all and you car will basically ride like a brand new car.