glbg

I have a 1998 SC300(Automatic trans) with ~166,800 miles which my son uses daily. See symptoms below.

Symptoms:
-When backing up and stepping on the brakes, I can hear a popping sound
-When you turn the steering wheel and hit the brakes sometimes you hear a popping sound.

Please advise.

Thanks in advance.

Blkexcoupe

iTrader: (8)

It is most likely the bushings.

I had a similar issue when backing up and stepping on the brakes my car would make a popping noise. I changed out my lower control arms and that fixed the issue. I would also recommend that you change out the steering rack bushings since you mentioned hearing the sound while turning the wheel.

glbg

Thanks for the quick response.

xspsi6

iTrader: (31)

Yes almost all of the soft rubber bushings are most likely gone or about gone at this point.

glbg

Please advise or recommend if you order parts from below or from another place.

LCA and bushing:
http://www.lexuspartsnow.com/Page_Pr...onentsID=48-02

Steering rack bushing from here:
http://www.tmengineering.net/suspens...n/make/sc.html

Thanks

MMCtuner

You should re-torque control arms and cross member.

glbg

I called the dealer near my place and they quoted $834.31 each for the LCA. And $629 for the steering Rack bushing.

Blkexcoupe

iTrader: (8)

The LCA price is cheaper than what my local dealer quoted me. I think it was around $950 an arm.

I didn't even know buying the steering rack bushings was an option from the dealer.

Do not buy from tm engineering. Daizen bushings have been discontinued for a long time. Look into either whiteline or super pro steering rack bushings (sold by figs engineering).

For the lower control arms contact a toyota dealer and ask for 1993 supra tt front lower control arms. They'll fit the car and cost a lot less.

This is also a good thing to do too. The bolts come loose over time. I originally did this and it helped a lot, but it didn't solve my popping noise.

glbg

Thank you for all your advice.

xzaticah

i would suggest the white line rack bushings. i ahve them for my sc400. awesome. i ran all whiteline everything in a nismo 350 also. super top quality stuff.

Dougspeed

iTrader: (2)

For the front LCA, I suggest using the 94-95 Supra turbo LCA, they are a fraction of the cost and run stiffer bushings so they hopefully last longer than the Lexus arms. They run about $250 each for the genuine oem parts so it's a much better deal and they should last longer with the stiffer bushings. http://www.toyotaoempartsworld.com/p...0CONTROL%20ARM

glbg

Looks like this LCA is a good option and a better price.
Thanks

glbg

Below is my plan this weekend

-Put car on the jack stand(4).
-Eyeball underneath
-re-torque control arms and cross member
-test drive it
-if problems persist, replace the steering rack bushing when order arrives on time
-test drive it
-if it still has an issue, I will order and replace both LCA's
-test drive it

I took most of your suggestions but I put in order in such away that I will try the lesser cost first . If the method above is not correct please let me know.

Thanks

estomax

iTrader: (2)

a cheaper route would be going with poly lower control arm bushings, all front poly bushings can be had for under 60$ (as long as your ball joints are still good, with no play and preferrably a little stiff to rotate)

new control arms are 260 or so a pop, but you will need them if your old control arm bolts are seized into them.

MXT4life

iTrader: (1)

Definetely bushings and retorquing items. When i was changing out my LCA's i noticed that my swaybar endlinks were COMPLETELY loose. So make sure you retorque everything to be good from all noises.