Some time ago there was a fantastic post showing how to
remove the rear springs on the LS400 (mine's a 1994).

Does anyone know how to find it?
I've spent ages looking through old posts.

Thanks,
George

I looked this up in the w/s manual and this is a fair old job .

It's shown as removal of shock absorber, as the spring comes off with it.

Unless someone knows a better way you have to remove the drive shaft, matchmarking it with paint [not punch marks]
for correct refiitting.
Spring compressor/s and hexagonal socket for inner coupling on drive shaft etc. needed.

Rear seat cushion out,parcel tray,roof side garnish out [bit with rear courtesy light in], right and left scuff plates off,brake caliper off.

Not a job for a cold day outside!.....can you put it off until summer!!

Thanks for that. I'm dropping the car by 1" using eibach springs.
Don't get them until Feb. so I will take your advice and wait till it's warmer.

There is some good info in this link

http://www.lextreme.com/ascon.htm

I have just had the rear springs and shock absorbers on my 1996 LS400 replaced by my friendly local garage. To aid the fitter I copied the (American) instructions found at www.lextreme.com/ascon.htm. We found the instructions had some shortcomings so here is the easier way that worked for me.
Back seat removal.
1. Seat squab. Where squab fits into the base, at a distance of about 9" inwards from the corners, push the front side towards the rear to release catches from the retaining hooks. Lift out seat base.
2. Raise both rear headrests, open flaps in seat back and undo both bolts. Drop down centre arm rest, open flap at rear and undo bolt. Undo the bolts at the bottom of the backrest. Lift backrest upward and remove from car.
3. Lift parcel shelf just high enough to reach the S/A cap.
Shock absorber removal.
4. At parcel shelf slacken off the large centre nut from the S/A but DO NOT REMOVE IT. this is just to make it easier to take off when the S/A is off.
5. Slacken off wheel nuts and jack the rear of the car as high as possible off the ground, supporting the car on axle stands. Remove the wheels.
6. Fit a set (2 min) of wheel compressors around the spring and compress as much as possible. This will shorten the distance between the top and bottom of the S/A making it easier to remove. Undo the large bolt securing the bottom of the S/A to the axle carrier. Undo the three nuts under the parcel shelf. You should now be able to remove the unit from the car.
7. Undo the central nut from the S/A and remove mounting plate, insulator and spring bumper. Carefully slacken off spring compressors and release spring.
8. Fitting the new items is a reversal of this procedure.

Torque figures; S/A to axle carrier 101 ft. lbs
S/A centre rod nut 20 ft. lbs
Wheel nuts 76 ft. lbs

Part Nos. Springs Lexus ZL48231-50100
S/A Lexus ZL48530-59126 (very dear)
S/A Boge 30-B37-A (around £55 ea)

emdg

Really good useful post!

Hat-tip to emdg - quality post, I just did mine following these instructions, worked like a charm once I'd got the sodding original out.... I had to use loads more compression on the springs than I thought I'd need!

Just a couple of observations I'd make: The seat bolts are at the bottom of the seat back (this caused some headscratching - I was expecting to spot them behind the headrests!); and rather than undo the center armrest, I found I had to remove the two fixed seatbelt "clickers" (what's the official name..?).



Time taken: 4 sodding hours. Lucky I have a huge indoor garage, 2-post lift (axle stands would be a nightmare) and plenty of tools - it made the job a lot more bearable.

Swearing level: Abundant to Excessive.

Spanner rash: Avoided. Result

Has it passed its MOT then????

Pete

Dunno, I'll find out tomorrow (Tue 7th) - but it should do. The spring was the only problem (no advisories, etc.); and when I took it off it was in 2 pieces...

The new one fits fine, is in 1 piece, and looks fine, so I predict she'll sail through. Well, waft, anyway...

UPDATE: Sorted, no problems