Costly Repair?

[PatrickC]

Hi all, sitting beside the fire reading this forum when filled with overwhelming desire to drive my lovely Lexus as the snow seems to have finally melted

Anyway as I set off I heard a metallic tinkling and saw this on the floor:

Even I recognise this as a piece of suspension spring- but wondered how much they cost to replace, do they need to be replaced in pairs? Is it safe to drive a short distance like this?

Could a competent mobile mechanic do this or is it a specialist job? It's a 97 LS400.

Many thanks for any advice

Cheers

Patrick

[steve2006]

Don't tell me you have local road humps or deep potholes?

Provided the spring in still located in the mounting and the suspension hasn't dropped you should be OK in the short term but it will need replacing. Obviously if it is sticking out near to the tyre,rim or brake line don't drive it.

I have even heard they are no longer MOT fails if the above applies!

Replacement costs are dependant on where you get them from but I would estimate no more than £150.00 for a pair.

Any decent mechanic including a mobile should be capable of replacing the spring and it is recommended to replace both at the same time.

You may find cheaper but here's a starting point. Also try Lexus as they sometimes give a heavy discount on parts for older models stuck on the shelf.

If you want a good secondhand pair PM me as I am breaking a 1997 at present. :D

http://www.buypartsb...nt-coil-spring/

And of course that well known internet auction site.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=lexus+ls400+front+springs&_sacat=0&_from=R40

[bazgtr]

Answer NO

£30 spring and one hours garage labour(£50).

Get spring from local motor factors and local garage to fit.

baz.

[abs66]

Have sent you a pm Steve.

[Patrykard]

Patrick

Ls400 has big springs, mobile mechanic may struggle. I would rather go to a proper garage.

Pat.

[Frostyboy123]

Just my two bits as a mechanic.

Never fit a spring by itself always fit in pairs;

1; if ones gone, chances are others aren't far behind

2; you wil have different strength of spring on either side, one weaker than the new one

3; aftermarket springs COULD have a different tensile/ strength than original .

They ain't horrendous to do to be honest but it's a bulky job as the spring needs compressing before removal, do not do it yourself I have seen a spring shoot across a workshop and end up In a breeze block wall !!!!

Thing is for safety fit a pair otherwise uneven braking etc. or fit a couple of used struts complete with springs , two 19 mm bolts on the hub upright , 4 13mm nuts on the top strut mount .... Bend the bottom arm out of the way by pushing down on it . Out comes your strut ..... Replace is reverse

[steve2006]

Just stripped one out in the snow, 17mm bolt with a 19mm nut on the bottom mount and then 3 14mm top mount nuts and out it came, 30 mins all in.

[graham8370]

''Just stripped one out in the snow''

Breed them hard up in Derbyshire.

[ipwn]

Steve, did you just do that for the hell of it?

[PatrickC]

Thanks for all your replies-

Update from variety Of local garages for both front springs fitted is £343, to £397 through £448 and Lexus Edinburgh quoted £528.94 (£137 each spring and 2.4 hrs at £69.95 per hour)

Looks like on eBay from about £45-99 per spring. My mechanical knowledge and experience stretches to air in the tyres and petrol in the tank - so likes like I have to bite the bullet and pay up!

What's the deal with second hand stuff from breakers? I guess older OE springs maybe better than 'new' cheap Chinese copies?

Thanks again

[Patrykard]

Patrick

I don't reckon that any of springs available on eBay were made in China. I think 99% are made in EU but may be worth checking.

Remember all parts have their lifespan and when it comes to suspension parts I would rather go for a new ones depending on few things.

Couple of months ago I decided to change all shocks as the car was giving me a floating feeling on a motorway.

Bloke in a local garage after he checked told me there is nothing wrong with shocks until they are leaking (!!!)

when changing I found original 16yo (65k on odo) shocks still on my car.

All manufactures recommend to change parts in mileage/age interval whichever comes first.

Pat

[Parrot of Doom]

I'd do the shock absorbers at the same time. At 15 years old, the originals will be well past their best.

[Maduggo]

Don't tell me you have local road humps or deep potholes?

Provided the spring in still located in the mounting and the suspension hasn't dropped you should be OK in the short term but it will need replacing. Obviously if it is sticking out near to the tyre,rim or brake line don't drive it.

I have even heard they are no longer MOT fails if the above applies!

Replacement costs are dependant on where you get them from but I would estimate no more than £150.00 for a pair.

Any decent mechanic including a mobile should be capable of replacing the spring and it is recommended to replace both at the same time.

You may find cheaper but here's a starting point. Also try Lexus as they sometimes give a heavy discount on parts for older models stuck on the shelf.

If you want a good secondhand pair PM me as I am breaking a 1997 at present. :D

http://www.buypartsb...nt-coil-spring/

And of course that well known internet auction site.

http://www.ebay.co.u...cat=0&_from=R40

I can certainly recommend the replacements from the first link in above post, i had some myself on my old Ls400, also another chap on here has used them for replacement as well with good results. Much cheaper then Lexus, just get yourself a good mechanic and you should be ok.

[steve2006]

Steve, did you just do that for the hell of it?

No, a fellow LOC member asked me about them so I removed one to check the condition.

[BLOWKY]

Hello Patrick,

I replaced front & rear drivers side springs and looking at your photo it broke in exactly the same place. I purchased my replacements from Lexus (they do sell them individualy) as I wanted the same spring rate as only changing one each end of the car. The front was slightly troublesome in so much as I was using a pair of cheap spring compresors, if you can locate a garage with a bench mounted unit its a half hour job once it's out the car. Removal is fairly simple and if I remember correctly the only pain was juggling a couple of jacks to support and lift bits up enough to withdraw the unit, if you drop the anti roll bar first is should make the job a whole lot easier. The car was riding very slightly higher on the one side after they were done but this has since settled down.

For anyone replacing a rear spring or shock, easier than the front and despite what Lexus say you dont have to remove the parcel shelf to get to the 3 securing nuts, there is a gap that a short socket or ring spanner will fit into once the back seat has been removed, this also comes out real easy after removal of the seat base and a couple of bolts.

Hope this helps.

Steve.