Ls400 Lower Arms

[messi]

Hiya

How can you tell if the lower arms are faulty? Do they make a certain noise, do the ball joints leak??

Thanks in advance

Oh and it's a 2000 X reg ls400

[steve2006]

You can't always tell by listening, look for perished bushes and worn ball joint gaitors.

jack the car up and use a pry bar to lift the suspension components looking for excess movement.

[messi]

I'm getting a slight creaking sound from the n's front

[cruisermark]

could just be suspension rubbers making the noise in this hot weather - had it happen on my mark 3 - it cleared up when the weather turned cooler

[messi]

That's the thing, it started happening today, it started making a creaking sound when I did a turn and when went over a bump, so I parked up to go into a shop, came back, started driving it, and it wasnt creaking , then later in the day, it started creaking again, then a few mins later it stopped

[cruisermark]

I would leave it for a few days and see what happens as the weather changes - chances are it is the weather causing it

[messi]

Thanks for the advice guys

[lexus lee 72]

I think I am right in saying wheeler dealers changed them on the ls400 that they featured. It might be on youtube, sorry if I am wrong , its been a while since I seen it. Cheers.

[Titch LS]

Messi, you say it makes a 'creaking' noise when you turn the steering? I had this once on a Rover Sterling. New ball joint fixed it. The weather might show up this fault, but I doubt it.

[messi]

Yes it is the ball joint, Ibe just ordered a new one from lexus dealers

[GoldfingerLS]

I'm getting a slight creaking sound from the n's front

The LS400 often make a creaking sound in the very hot summer months, sounds like an old creaking bed but it quickly goes away.

If it really is the lower arms or ball joins the tell tail sign will be perished rubbers and as steve says excess movement in the suspension.

[messi]

The creaking noise wasn't there today, but I did get it on the ramp at my brothers garage and could see the lower ball joint has grease locking from it

[messi]

Sorry I meant leaking from it

[GoldfingerLS]

Sorry I meant leaking from it

With age a small amount of grease will leak from ball joints on these cars which are now almost 15 years old (which is expected) but it still might not need replacement right now if the ball joint hasnt worn.

[messi]

The steering wheel has gone slightly off track, will that have something to do with the ball joint?

[GoldfingerLS]

The steering wheel has gone slightly off track, will that have something to do with the ball joint?

Unless the ball join is so worn that it generates a lot of movement it shouldn't be the case. If you take it for tracking alignment and they are not able to bring the tracking back within manufactures tolerances then it could be bushes or perhaps the ball joint.

[Titch LS]

The 'creaking' sound of a badly worn ball joint is quite a loud and pronounced 'groan' which happens only whilst turning the steering at slow speeds. Not to be confused with the 'creaking bedspring' noise of tired suspension when driving slowly in a straight line.