Clunk Clonk Not Every Bump

[Cotswold Pete]

Been reading the various posts on clunking, and now not so sure what is best to start looking at.

LS400 (96 N plate), 109K miles.

The front offside clunks when over speedbumps (unless very low speed), also getting a similar sound from nearside rear (and possibly nearside front).

Sometimes just a minor dip in the road and the right speed (which can be high or low speed) give me a front offside clunk.

No juddering when breaking, clunking never happens when turning into drive.

My trusted mechanic has had a poke about and says everthing in terms of bearings, suspension looks okay. he said the front link bushes are not as new, but then he said they were fine as it does not judder under any braking conditions.

Being my fist Lexus - I am still getting used to the foibles (but sure is a heck of a nicer car then my previous 10 year old Omega).

So it sounds to me like it could the brake clunking around, and quite happy for my mechanic to have a look, but wanted to ask what should I exactly be expecting him to look for.

Or is there something with the shocks which may be the issue.

The car steers true when pointed in any direction, and when you push the car down it seems recover as if the shocks are okay.

Any ideas of comments before I start spending money.

[maneesh]

You have a 12 year old HEAVY luxury car with 100K+ miles. The suspension WILL have worn, particularly the bushes.

The shocks and springs will most likely have worn too, although they may not leak and may well pass the MOT.

Common items that may cause clunking on the LS are:

Front balljoints (lower and upper)

Anti roll bar bushes

Rear upper control arm bushes

Rear axle carrier bushes

Movement from pads

Also get the steering rack checked out. I seem to remember mine being replaced under warranty at 120k miles. Excessive play I think.

[bazgtr]

Get the car off the ground either by jack or garage lift. have a wiggle of the wheel or just hit underneath the wheel when in the air to find whats loose.

[Haylands]

Been reading the various posts on clunking, and now not so sure what is best to start looking at.

LS400 (96 N plate), 109K miles.

The front offside clunks when over speedbumps (unless very low speed), also getting a similar sound from nearside rear (and possibly nearside front).

Sometimes just a minor dip in the road and the right speed (which can be high or low speed) give me a front offside clunk.

No juddering when breaking, clunking never happens when turning into drive.

My trusted mechanic has had a poke about and says everthing in terms of bearings, suspension looks okay. he said the front link bushes are not as new, but then he said they were fine as it does not judder under any braking conditions.

Being my fist Lexus - I am still getting used to the foibles (but sure is a heck of a nicer car then my previous 10 year old Omega).

So it sounds to me like it could the brake clunking around, and quite happy for my mechanic to have a look, but wanted to ask what should I exactly be expecting him to look for.

Or is there something with the shocks which may be the issue.

The car steers true when pointed in any direction, and when you push the car down it seems recover as if the shocks are okay.

Any ideas of comments before I start spending money.

Hi

Sounds very much like front and rear wishbone bushes, these wear very well on LS's, you will not notice any movement on inspection, the bushes will still be hard enough to not allow the wishbone to move by hand.

Sometimes it is loose disc pads but this is easily identified, find a bump where it always knocks then drive over it at the same speed but breaking at the same time, if it still clonks its not the pads.

Shocks tend to last a long time, they do degrade but very slowly, you need to change them when the floaty feel of the car gets too much...

Bearings don't clonk they tend to whine, especially when cornering.

At that age and mileage I'd put my money on wishbone bushes, do the front first and check the lower ball joint as well as this wears but doesn't seem to clonk that much.

Get the parts from eBay from the states, they are cheaper even with the postage, make sure they are for the right year of LS as they changed them regularly....

This will still cost a few hundred a side if you get someone to do it for you, do a search on here for wishbone bushes, there is loads of info and links to how to do them yourself, I did my brothers a while ago and it took less than an hour a side and was not hard at all, we set aside hours to do it and had to test it with a ride to the pub to try it out and fill the time....

Or.... turn the radio up and forget about it.....

Good luck

Pete