GS714

Well, apparently Toyoto's engineer did not idiot prove. Or they may subcontracted out like US companies. If these car was design and assembled in Japan, that should gave us some clue where Toyoto/Lexus QC/QA is heading.

BayAreaLex

That's interesting and surprising considering your low mileage... As I mentioned above, I have reasonable confidence that this is related to the sway bar somehow. And it may not be the bushings but rather the mounts themselves. I'll verify this soon. I doubt it's related to the lower control arm.

If you are getting a "clink" sound when going from forward to reverse (or vice-versa), this is 100% related to the brake clips. I had this exact problem. When I got the wheels off, I noticed that the previous owner did no install brake clips in the rear brakes. I installed the clips and it solved it.

My clunk happens with or without the brake being applied so I am fairly sure it's not the brakes. I also had the front and rear brakes replaced and it made no difference.

sam12345

iTrader: (1)

Make sure they put the brake clips (springs) as I mentioned. If the fingers are in the incorrect side you will get a clunk even if clips are installed. At least this way you verified one less thing that could be the cause

BayAreaLex

I wish I could visualize this. I was under the impression that they can only go on one way.

Any chance you have a picture or an illustration?

sam12345

iTrader: (1)

The clip on the left (the one he calls number 1 ( there should be two clips that look like that one for the inner pad and one for the outer pad) you put that clip in the clockwise position as you are looking at the pad mounted. This way the pad is pushed counterclockwise, then when you apply the brake the pad will try to move counterclockwise but it will be against something solid (the other clip with no finger in the rotational direction). If the clip with the finger is in the opposite position then the spring finger wil create a gap so every time you apply the brake it may clunk. While you are in there you should clean and grease the pins that the mechanism slides on so you get even pad wear

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sus...ientation.html

Here is the PDF notice the difference between the pad support plates (clips) put them in the position this PDF shows

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/att...components.pdf


Also notice the pins in the PDF clean and grease them. If the bushing is worn on the pin replace them

After looking at the attachment again clip 2 in that picture (second from left) is the other clip with the finger for the inner pad

Also if you have no clips or the fingers are busted every time you hit a bump with the brakes not applied you may get a noise (possibly)

sam12345

iTrader: (1)

Check this thread out also

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...t-end-pop.html

2GSKaizen

iTrader: (1)

@ sam12345
That's good to know about those pad springs. I haven't looked yet, mostly because I think my car is still on it's 1st set of brakes that came from the factory. So I'm assuming they were installed correctly upon initial assembly of the car. I hope to Assume this doesn't make an *** out of U and Me. It's really cold, and the noise doesn't sound that bad so I'm going to wait till spring when i replace the brakes to check it out. My clunking sounds like a much deeper / lower tone than I would expect a slightly shifting pad to make though, but car noises have surprised me before so I'm not going to rule it out by any means.

2GSKaizen

iTrader: (1)

@ BayAreaLex
I was thinking it might be the sways too, but the links seem to be tight. I also had this clunk with stock rubber sway bushings, and now after installing poly's in front and rear. I would also, without a doubt, call it a clunk. It is nowhere near high pitched enough to call it a click. I did some more experimenting, and I found it does it about 95% of the time when i start it cold in the morning, first back up out of my driveway with the wheel turned to the left, and it happens the second I hit the brakes and feel them grab slowing me down while in reverse. Once I drive the car and it's warmed up, it is impossible to replicate the sound. No amount of hard braking in drive or reverse, switching from reverse to drive to reverse or any kind of stress I can attempt to put on this cars front end will make it happen again once it's warm. That's why I'm not stressing out about it.

sam12345

iTrader: (1)

I even heard on this forums bad motor mounts can make a clunk or shock mounts but I still think its your brakes

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...r-is-cold.html

BayAreaLex

Interesting. We seem to have slightly different problems because my clunk occurs at low speed over uneven surfaces (broken roads) whether I am on the brakes or not. If I hit the brakes while I go over those uneven surfaces, it's ever so slightly worse.

I really don't know what to think anymore about this. I'll focus on the sway bar and verify that those brake clips are right. After that the only things remaining are the upper/lower control arms and motor mounts. Everything else has been replaced.

The only other clue is that if I am above 30-40mph, no matter how jacked up the road is, I can never hear any clunk what so ever...

Sam, if I took a pic of my calipers from several angles, do you think you could tell me if the springs are on correctly?

sam12345

iTrader: (1)

Probably at least the outside ones but the piston part of the calipers would have to be off

BayAreaLex

You know Sam, you are starting to make me wonder whether the shims were included in my front brake job.

I brought my mechanic the springs and the pads but I did not know about the shims. I'm hoping he reused the OEM shims...

I do notice that my brakes groan a little at low speed...

jjbenzo

I've got some sort of noise coming from the front of my 02 GS430 as well. Not sure if I would call it a clunk, or more of a creaking sound. I notice it at low speeds while turning...either out of my garage or off of my driveway, down into the street. I have replaced upper control arms, lower control arms, sway bars, sway bar bushings, sway bar end links, outer tie rods, ball joints, caster/trailing arms and steering rack bushings. This is just off the top of my head, as I may be forgetting something. So wy do I still have a creak when turning at low speeds? The dealer cant find anything wrong. Could it be inner tie rods, strut mounts, hub assemblies or the steering knuckles?

sam12345

iTrader: (1)

Are your brakes slotted or vented?(rotors) because they will make a noise at low speeds but that is normal (almost a fan noise that follows the wheel speed)

BayAreaLex

Nope, OEM.

And it's not a fan noise, it's more of a light groaning.