Do Not Sell My Personal Information Jump to content


Leaderboard

  1. Arnett

    Arnett

    Established Member


    • Points

      5

    • Posts

      520


  2. Hoobee

    Hoobee

    Members


    • Points

      4

    • Posts

      20


  3. Mike_Mac

    Mike_Mac

    Gold Member


    • Points

      4

    • Posts

      152


  4. steve2006

    steve2006

    Global Moderator


    • Points

      3

    • Posts

      13,727


Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation on 09/14/2021 in all areas

  1. I am more than ready for the 0-60 time, I’ve had faster cars. I’ve had smaller cars, larger cars, sportier cars and more industrial cars. I’m looking forward to all that the GS450H has to offer. I’ve been offered a great deal and can’t wait to be a Lexus owner.
    3 points
  2. That's the advantage of buying the car from the dealership. It's the extended warranty which costed me a pound, and saved 17 grands at least.
    3 points
  3. I have a TV (A Sony XR65A9 OlED to be exact), its just only used for Playstation, Netflix, Disney & Amazon. Its not tuned nor is the BBCi player app downloaded onto it. A Tv licence is only required to watch or record either Live TV (Including ITV Sky channels and bbc) or to watch BBCi player which iplayer also informs you of this when you sign into it. Its been declared to tv licencing authorities as to how its also used as by doing this the right way they stop sending letters etc.
    2 points
  4. Can’t remember how to do it, but I set mine for the wheel to retract and the seat to stay in the same position. It’s somewhere in the settings, no special coding needed. To make sure the steering wheel motor doesn’t get buggered up, I wait until it’s stopped moving before holding the wheel while getting out.
    2 points
  5. Had mine done this week, the car was in fact very clean and mostly rust free underneath, but all the trays were taken off, cavities filled and everything undersealed with Dinitrol, very happy to have this done before the winter and for longer-term peace of mind.
    2 points
  6. I’ve had to firm up my choices for the pre-order process for the 450h+, i.e. model, exterior colour and interior colour. I was slightly surprised we had to make these decisions so early in the process but we have chosen the ‘F SPORT Takumi Pack plus Sunroof’ with Sonic Grey exterior colour and ‘F Sport White’ upholstery (which is actually white and black). It was a toss-up between the white and the ‘F Sport Flare Red’ which also includes black. I’m assuming that even though I have added the Takumi pack to the ‘F SPORT’ model, I have to choose one of the F Sport interiors rather than one of the Takumi’s. Never having had a Lexus before, I’m not sure at what point in the pre-ordering and ordering process you have to finalise your selections bearing in mind the new model is not on the website configurator yet.
    2 points
  7. My GS430 is running a Stag system installed by Andrew - really nice bloke and very good aftersales support. The 3UZ is fine on Gas - plenty have been done with no issues. Regarding Flash Lube, I was advised it wasn't needed for a 3UZ, but had it fitted anyway, more for piece of mind. If Bluesman has been running without for that long, I wouldn't worry about it. Overall, I'm getting low to mid 20's to the gallon on gas and getting about 12p/mile which is superb for a big V8. The conversion paid for itself within a year, at the miless I do.
    2 points
  8. Critical for them, maybe...
    2 points
  9. Hi Katherine and welcome to the forums. Feel free to drop some photos of your new ride. Herbie has already suggested a quality answer to your question 🙂
    1 point
  10. Buy two! 😂, also minfigs are the real winners and easier to store 😉 Whatever movements hurts when you do it, stop doing that... I'll send the invoice in the post 😛 😆
    1 point
  11. Welcome Katherine, Do tell us more about the GS you have purchased. Always nice to see another one on here 🙂
    1 point
  12. Seriously thought about one before the GSF, car was fantastic. Beautiful, extremely quick, great to drive, however the local dealer didn’t really inspire confidence….. and when it went wrong and it would go wrong, when it comes to my cars and spending my hard earned cash on them, I don’t suffer fools gladly at the best of times, so incompetent dealers are a big no, so it was quickly of the list. Both lexus havent gone wrong, the local dealers were great, both have recently been taken over by stoneacre, so haven’t experienced the pleasure of dealing with them yet. But then again, you can’t really make a mess of a plug, fliter, oil change and a once over. That’s all they do, and long may it continue.
    1 point
  13. Purchaser and seller of the finest magic beans! 😆 I am a physiotherapist by degree, but the NHS is unfortunately a shambles and private work starts to become a weirdly lucrative scene if you want to be dishonest (not my MO) and charge through the nose for false promises, have also worked in the benefit system conducting assessments for UC and ESA - never again no matter how good the pay!!! Investment opportunities is where I turn over the real pennies, property, cars, precious metals, stock market, Lego (no joke), anything that I could turn a profit on I'll give it a once over, started as a side thing and kinda exploded into real money making. I am also on the same page as @Arnett, I live off a spreadsheet, which may appear to take the fun out of things but I am able to maximise money available to endulge by creating strict budgets around needs/ wants of everyday things and sticking to them/ improving them. I've heard from a few US owners on insta, this makes the car undriveable unless in the perfect weather condition, so I didn't fancy blowing the money and ruining the car.
    1 point
  14. Have you tried lexus parts direct?you can also try the bay for genuine and non genuine ones
    1 point
  15. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/362999236734?mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&siteid=3&mkcid=1&campid=5338306792&toolid=10001&customid=mp-shop&mkevt=1 Hows that ? Its not a genuine one I think though. These however https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265026951292?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item3db4d6587c:g:pbIAAOSwQ-NgDqjG&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACoPYe5NmHp%2B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsStdebXPz4ZTXCT8FI9kPBh0grASb56fwsaiq764wiX7OAB3gB7ix4z2OvaCbMXvEmM6i%2F010mEhWT8woBmrV1NtRLW%2FBgqoGxuyzki3JDHuBsMoGPyoKnPwhFWVSrhtfssf4QkrioUskgwnAAdzRNFWwL0UzJQTKz0kTevn0PAA7NvXWz1vVDTDJDPk6jTuqAhCA0UKSIG0feYEtx%2F14z4udlcKrdQ%2FUVmOT1M0%2FdELaxlkYIII2Vm%2BC8x3gL%2FYlAw7ag%2BojgcnpEWyjyAJPbZ6nvev74eGwhxRRXDVHleoUGSeuyL23dYpi6GrKVvJFrJ9nnZ8jRRi9qYLiMAonMTdm9zuBL2JHWyRW%2Fhciz%2BMgr0s7GB0ZBS24ADwtXR%2BWhLKR2dVGnBPCC%2Bdl61xko4ilhlVSzmLgeQ2TkH7vGApCPYA%2FcmuOuuYke0A4h8xUajPsS27ZlvXOpDmqJVOPutQOop1zb4Byq96CVzPGPPKqRRJk0%2FsEFpOjFUAfm11IHUZPrml6FSUwybViXOluRll6oCA3nIM%2BCFhCWtgoEjQLD%2FTLfi8a5XgbnoRxCumrU8vQ1wWK6b6k0NBDQezWapoWzM4rAVs2Go2efZWfDPapJvnVz%2Fn%2BNAwkMwuwcEOcc1iUr1uvetLuawhOZDJr4n3QZCvbuzIAR6cLXqJ%2Br8b0lVBjimqGrbsMc7%2B%2FMTq%2FXZAsCTvvXSQhnYIPccQIIBWNGXCvZQmQ0iybM7YZ8W%2FLa7JNfOoCPJzX45BUCJv3ppNtj7zM2f%2BiqYmJxu80E2zFo%2FQPmMdgRDt9B1Hmfd6Cl2Owj4F2QY6cjTgo3WOVgLlCELlX6Xet4Ccu7kYgy1w%3D%3D|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A2334524 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254844663226?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item3b55ecf5ba:g:bYUAAOSwCpVgDqkB&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACoPYe5NmHp%2B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSg3Ye8yTWgOW7pmE1t838dpjPkRU6BuB6gWJr9uKbZ5gBMeXBWxeV%2FYoxuDRIlXcUZTHnz5VsDN4mRNsPujrb%2BqDv%2Fyl%2Bv9oKKEjRDjGvrI3gjr2aJJGfYy7wnMv7qLOyEn%2FaRa2wgjN%2FhENOmbTnokYzx%2B6VPapdiJaBR%2BBN03%2F5soBOur8vZ3kTDHQoQS5XYLhaeRSiwVqLbF11pL4efax8jApSfgLPLA7nswn326x6jO4HQGqDMV9TPJWAqhz6YleritZ4i0ffLhyMSZKVzqD6Li%2FqJApCFW9%2FrNgasYS6LLperXLTL2ia5RcHsyh6vKzM6XZJQGnU3jh8FxNVxeEW%2FkCazH2MtJoEwUjZtMrQP8zBHLXND34S%2BZR7nIO6qv4NEMbUP1a94Oz4wmKm7D8KUXHhYkiEglS9sXYKEONHJAhE9hDVCnIQ%2BN7xedICDDJ5SsakBIQaenKlRv6OoUYzt039Yb%2F3w0Kk3yHUiONZUQZGeh0ziLOn9x3SQyf7%2FmZKwQg4J0ZrqMmN4PgGHeG1UpDaOEe5CiCnGpz%2BwUmWvy%2B8lBY1nnasEgUnDnjxlp46UCuVaiHe8NLNO8sHQWOCpBBiAUwZF5XmdcZQytozdjUPIJBCZNuRIxGI0KUqrl1zbRVevTLcDlRkTRGObM3MY15uf8IRdbdFlOJkegP2d7yra%2BnfQLjxeOT3NvGNI%2FUrXEFVJKHQ5moLwLK1yW2YwVNJ2nNONQkWQ8aMvC27viJ8eTI%2FsOuhQoWDidzOpFhKsl0Hs53xM4b2uVwBIt%2B8Nj2DScUzZmOyKda1UAYcwt3MfXE3AfxvqQbq%2Bp1gckIpbkMCZvs%2Fj%2BNWsh7YZQ%3D%3D|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A2334524
    1 point
  16. I did it online. It asks you whether you want to pre-order the 'Hybrid' or the 'Plug-in hybrid'. You then complete personal details (email address etc.) and are asked to nominate a Lexus dealer. In my case, the dealer contacted me within a day or two and then followed up a bit later asking for model, colour, interior preferences etc. When the new model was first announced, I had contacted Lexus support online for information about the launch and this has been followed up by some very helpful phone calls from Lexus UK which demonstrated excellent customer care. I must say I have been very impressed with 'the Lexus experience' so far.
    1 point
  17. I am,out of my window and mine looks exactly like the ad you show ,same colour. A J.
    1 point
  18. Would be interesting to know how much these two garages charged for this?
    1 point
  19. Sam, I think you are confusing the exhaust sound of the LC with the RCF. It certainly isnt overly quiet unless you are literally poodling around town,which is totally fine.The aftermarket systems shown on Youtube seem to create a loud but unpleasant soundscape,completely out of character with the LC.Just my opinion. I found the Lexus dealers only too willing to provide extended demo periods.Its just a case of whether they have a V8 available as they interchange demo units between Hybrid and V8 . Good luck. A J.
    1 point
  20. I had an Advance for a month, but there was an issue with the condition of it and I ended up with a Luxury instead. In day-to-day use the differences are minimal. The Advance I had came with the panoramic roof, it was a novelty but I don't miss it. Later Advance models have diamond-cut alloys which might need refurbishment. Earlier ones had chunky 7-spoke wheels, which I think are unique to that model. You don't need to worry about air suspension on the Advance, which is probably a good thing.
    1 point
  21. I quite like the random/voluntary/occasional 'donate' option you sometimes see elsewhere...
    1 point
  22. Official Lexus Site: https://mag.lexus.co.uk/e10-petrol/ "The good news is that the vast majority of Lexus models with a petrol engine or hybrid powertrain and that were officially supplied within the European market since January 1998 are compatible with E10 petrol. The only exceptions to this rule are the following models: Lexus IS 250 with 2.5-litre V6 4GR-FSE engine made between August 2005 and September 2007 Lexus GS 300 with 3.0-litre V6 3GR-FSE engine made between January 2005 and September 2007 Lexus LS 460 with 4.6-litre V8 1UR-FSE engine made between August 2006 and September 2007"
    1 point
  23. Mine is fine. Though I will be using V-Power as I tend to anyway...
    1 point
  24. Yeah the GR Yaris was a stunning "little" car, if a GR Corolla appears I indeed may be tempted by that I forgot about those rumours. Dont dislike the idea of a C8, such an agresive looking car just a shame about quality. On the upside our weathers int he uk are less harsh than alot of those in America Haha, I need to try organise a weekend test drive for one, I love that the engine has been tuned into the cabin like the LFA which really helps bring the V8 out. I would have the modify the exhaust like most Lexus's its just a tad to refined but the angles on this car 💖 I LOVE the QF GTAm its just to expensive for me, I also really would like an R34 BUT I hate dated interiors I would need to have the entire inside rebuilt for my stupid self which just takes away from the car Nothing spectacular, I was a branch manager for a well known UK electrical brand until January of this year. Currently work from home for sub 25k a year with covid related roles & also am an Immunizer. Got a few leads set up to get back into management with Customer service & sales office related roles which will put me back on a proper salary and less hours but I prioritize funds to fuel my passion of cars. No TV License, no Sky Tv, Sim only phone contract, dont smoke, drink less than 10 beers in a 6 month period on average, dont own my house but also rent from council in a lovely retirement area meaning my rent is hugely affordable allowing me to spend the money on the 3 kids or my own passions. Different people prioritize funds differently. Some of these forum members though sell illegal organs on the black market. I mean Hydrogen may hold a better bearing for myself than electric but I personally love the sound of an engine to much.
    1 point
  25. It may be due to Toyota copyright issues, I have access to the diagrams and full part numbers but this is restricted access with various conditions of use attached. If you go to www.toyodiy.com you can see the full part numbers but no corresponding diagrams just part descriptions..
    1 point
  26. Taken from the Lexus website. Recently, however, Lexus has made this worldwide phenomenon even more appealing with the launch of a new Advance trim level. Slotting between Luxury and F Sport grades, RX 450h Advance models benefit from a host of unique styling features, such as a deeper front bumper with a stronger rendition of the distinctive spindle grille, darkened 19-inch seven-spoke alloy wheels, intelligent-adaptive headlights, and the option of a panoramic glass sunroof that bathes the leather interior in light.
    1 point
  27. Definitely worth checking tyre pressures. For Europe, TPMS will trigger once pressures drop to 20% below the initialisation pressure, so certainly enough to feel a difference if only one side is low even without a warning light coming on.
    1 point
  28. I would send them to this guy for testing first, the last thing you want is the iridium tip coming off in the engine! Warning heavy reading but great on a long haul flight if we could get one. http://koral.ise.pw.edu.pl/~rrom/SPIE/SPIE10159-STL2016Jastarnia/papers/101590T.pdf
    1 point
  29. Definitely check them before use - they are a sourced part, not direct from the manufacturer or a named trusted source so be suspicious of them at that price until you can verify they are genuine. A lot of these as you probably know have been faked and sold through the usual auction sites and can kill your car so be very careful.
    1 point
  30. Thanks for this Philip but as I made clear, I’m not a statistician. I therefore employ ‘exponentially’ in the more common usage of ‘something growing at a rapid rate’. This is something we were all made aware of with the introduction of the R Rate. As it happens I didn’t introduce either 0.4% or 5% into this debate, so I can’t say either excites me. But your point about ‘contrasting attitudes to risk’ is an interesting one. I can understand your irritation over the differing reactions, but I suggest this has to do with familiarity. As drivers we accept a level of risk, perhaps because we feel we also have a level of control. But a pandemic was a totally new experience. No doubt some people were ‘scared witless’ but for the majority it all served to focus the mind. And finally, another correction! For ‘minutes’ read ‘miles’! 😟 Probably time for a nap….
    1 point
  31. I had my annual service at Lexus Cheltenham and asked whether my Gold membership would still provide a discount. Unfortunately not. (I don't know whether this is the case with all dealers who participated but I question I will find out before the next annual service. I have only used Halfords once so the Gold card seemingly offers little advantage for me. However, I appreciate there are costs associated with running a forum and was a 'site supporter'. when an activate member of a BMW forum for this reason. I did think about this when I was asked to agree to extend my Gold Member membership HERE recently. I did renew but feel the cost is rather higher than on other forums, perhaps deterring some members from participating, particularly in view of the forgoing lost advantages. I do wonder if consideration could be given to say members becoming 'Silver Members' (or whatever), without discount or other advantages as Site Supporters for say an annual fee of £15 whilst KEEPING 'Gold' status and perhaps some other advantage for those wishing to retain and pay for 'Gold Status'. I think this matter needs to be reviewed if lost advantages of 'Gold Membership' is going to lead to fewer members participating, possibly resulting in an embarrassing situation in respect running the forum,
    1 point
  32. woooooops ..... that can't be me then coz my contributions are often in-valid ...... non-valid ...... of presumptuous validity .......... that's why mine's always the bronzey looking variety Malc
    1 point
  33. No offence taken! I was more thinking about the installation (wiring) potentially interfering with some existing wiring, and resulting 'something' no longer working as it should. As you can see, I am not technically minded and rather risk averse where cars are concerned...
    1 point
  34. I’m no statistician, as many can attest, but what I queried was the validity of trying to compare a road accident with a viral infection. As I understand it, you were relating your 5% figure to Malcolm’s 0.4% figure and suggesting that therefore the former posed the greater risk, statistically. My apologies if I’ve got that wrong! My point was that while statistically small, 0.4% of asymptomatic Covid carriers would be large in numbers - with each individual having the ability to spread the infection exponentially. This is not a characteristic of a road accident. It is I who should have been more specific! ‘Within 15 minutes of home’ was the information I was trying to convey! But I see it could be read as ‘more than 15 miles from home’. Oh the shame! 😦
    1 point
  35. Pilkington manufacture original fit glass for a number of car makers including Toyota,maybe the only difference is the factory stock is etched with the brand name but replacement has their name.
    1 point
  36. Super article Rob I am sure it will be of helpful to lots of people alongside the Ian hunter YouTube vid on leverage. 😎
    1 point
  37. You'll likely hear me before you see me 😂, we should sort out some spirited driving at some point as we seem to be so local to each other! 💪
    1 point
  38. Would love to shoe horn that engine into another Lexus model, not sure what would be a worthy shoe. GS-F possibly? I found a page for the GS430 parts too: https://www.nengun.com/oem/lexus/gs430-uzs190-264321
    1 point
  39. I have just picked up my new Lexus NX and had a Next Base Dash Cam installed , they use the 380GW which was made for retail sale as it is possible to make it anti tamper by the driver. It works fine.
    1 point
  40. Another video - this time a comparison between the original and the new from Poland, and with an under car view, interior and boot size comparison
    1 point
  41. Had all my cars converted over the past 25 years. Not one of them ever gave me a moments worry and my bank account is better for it. My LS400 was converted by Andrew at Profess Unit 2, West Road, Penallta Industrial Estate CF82 7SW Hengoed Telephone 01443 812893problems. I have never had any sort of flash lube fitted on any car as there is just no need for them, just a way of the don't care fitters to get another £100 or so out of you. I think Andrew is charging £1000 + VAT and he will lend you a car while they install your system in a day. The work is neat and very professional. My present LS400 was converted by Andrew 11 years ago and its done 100,000 miles, all without a moments worry.
    1 point
  42. yep, absolutely best to avoid politics for sure Malc
    1 point
  43. When I presented my Gold card when purchasing a Halfords recently, there was a similar situation in that the initial counter person was unaware of the discount scheme. He then referred it to an older person who said in my hearing that it was in order in the same way they have an arrangement with Mazda. As regards politics, any views expressed are likely to be contentious, so perhaps generally best avoided on a car forum. I am biting my tongue as I am a member of a discussion group and the ramifications of political decisions figure quite often!
    1 point
  44. https://carsifi.com/ Will complete my Takumi 👍🏻
    1 point
  45. Straight from the Horses mouth! Lexus Customer Relations Thank you for your email. This is an interesting topic that you have raised, and one that I am certain does cause much confusion. Please note that changing tyres would not void your warranty. There is nothing mentioned in any of our documentation that supports the claim that a warranty would be voided. Unless there is clear reason to believe that the tyres have led to cause an issue with you suspension, which is it unlikely to, there would be no issues. If there were issues related to the changing of tyres, we would refer a customer to speak with the tyre manufacturer. Our warranty team confirm that issues related to the warranty change of tyres is all but non-existent.
    1 point
  46. I take it Philip, that you – or rather The Guardian – is referring to the Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies TR-595 (Rats) and TR-596 (Mice) Exposed to Whole-Body RF Radiation that are actually dated November 2018. I wonder if you’ve actually read these Reports, or even the Abstracts? To simply claim that “there is clear evidence” that radiation from mobile phones causes cancer” strikes me as ‘data mining’. Firstly, does the Guardian report make it clear that, in the 28 Day Study for example, these test animals are subjected to up to 18 hours and 20 minutes per day of intense RF Radiation? And in the Two-year Study, it’s daily exposure for up to...well, two years! Does it mention that the rats and mice were each separated into two groups? That one group – the Sham group – were in identical conditions, except they weren’t radiated? Does it mention that in one Sham group three animals developed carcinomas while in the partnering radiated group there were none? I note that in the conclusions of the Two-year Mice Study, for example, under the four parameters of carcinogenic activity, the worst that could be established was that the evidence was ‘equivocal’! I can only find the phrase ‘Clear evidence’ applying to two of the parameters for the Two-year rat study. And that, remember, involves high levels of radiation too. I’d also point out that in most cases the radiated and unradiated animals had the same survival rates – although I did note one instance in which some of the radiated animals lived longer. In short, I would suggest that this ‘Landmark US Government Study’ is probably best regarded as ‘equivocal’.
    1 point
  47. So we have a un-Lexus type car. Think it is just great. Has a lot of quality I never experienced in ano other car (mostly because of the ML audio). Seat fit fine and automatically adjusted to me as soon as I touch the car handle and I spend much time sitting in the car listening to music when wife and little one are shopping (am not the shopping loving type); no other car we previous have had has air-condition while engine not running and that is needed here where temperature seldom is below 25°C and sun is shining most of the year, plus the audio is really good. Have a top of the range B&O home with a huge sub and the ML is better, maybe because the smaller volume in the car than in the living room. Not many car audio systems can play the double bass from Niels Henning Ørsted Pedersen half as good. Have never been in another Lexus so maybe it is correct. Have had many cars more expensive (the worst was the MB 300SEL 6.3 (in price and fuel consumption)) but in it was only a Becker radio that could receive the whole world in longwave, mediumwave and shortwave and did not sound bad then. Or maybe the good old days are only good when they are gone.
    1 point
  48. Waxoyl properly applied will repel moisture and does not go hard. I experimented with a piece of bare sheet metal, coating one half with Waxoyl and leaving the other bare. After just a few days the difference was noticeable. After 3 months there was no rust on the coated part. My wife made me throw it away, otherwise the test would have been longer. What it will not do, is prevent rust from the inside. If water gets into sills for example - they will rust from the inside out. I sprayed a two-year old Mitsubishi Galant (1982) with Waxoyl - messy job but it kept it free from rust for many years. The only rust that came through was on the door seams. I took off the sill plate and poured it into the sill cavity, thinned down with white spirit. The only downside was the stink of white spirit for about two months! I have had my LS 400 coated by a garage but if you do it yourself, make sure you cover the exhaust with a cloth, otherwise your lovely ISF could become a bonfire. Yes I would recommend this product!
    1 point
  49. Correction; the rear wishbones were £250 from Lexus Coventry. If you havent done the job yet, heres how; Here is a quick “how to” for replacing the rear upper wishbone that carries the upper ball joints, without having to removing the drive/half shafts. I’m not an author or a trained mechanic so, don’t shoot me down if this isn’t text book and doesn’t read well. It’s also 2 weeks since I did the job so it’s also from memory. Usual rider; you are responsible for ensuring your own safety and your own workmanship. This is just what I did and is meant to be a guide only, its not advice. (If you think you are going to squash yourself under your car, drop me a PM beforehand and I’ll sort you out with some life insurance; I’m an Independent Financial Adviser. It’s what I do). Here we go then. The upper rear ball joints had too much play in them for about 12 months now so needed replacing. My car is a 93 LS so everything will have been good and rusty so here what I did. August 2011; cleaned (wire brush) all the nuts and bolt that I thought I would have to remove and treated them to a good bath of WD40. This included everything around the rear suspension. Between then and now (June 2012) I have repeated this about 6 times and it’s paid off because there were no dramas in getting anything apart. Parts from Lexus Coventry were £253 delivered (i live in Cumbria); I haggled a 15% discount and Coventry gave me excellent service and even photocopied a few pages from the workshop manual for me. The removal procedure is as follows; Remove the seats and rear parcel shelf. This will give you access to the top of the rear shockers (more on this later). Jack up both sides of the rear of the car and support on axle stands. I always lower the car onto these and then wind the jack back up so it is “just” taking some of the weight (I like the belt and braces approach) and i have 2 jacks. Remove the road wheels and slide them under the car just below the rear foot well (more safety). Remove the rear callipers from the hub and wire up out of the way. I removed the pads as well, because I replaced the rear discs and pads while I was doing this job. Using spring compressors, compress the rear suspension spring down to about 8” so that you can remove the shocker and spring as one assembly. You cannot change the wish bone without removing the shocker and spring assembly. And you wont get the shocker and spring out without compressing the spring. Undo the nut at the bottom of the shock absorber but do not remove the bolt yet. Now that the rear suspension spring is compressed you can undo the top nut from inside the car. This is why you removed the rear seats and parcel shelf. Under the parcel shelf at the bottom corner of the rear screen, on each side there is an inverted steel cup held down with 3 nuts. Remove this and put to one side. Under this cup is a 14mm nut that you need to remove. This is what holds the top of the shocker in place. You are now ready to remove the bolt that holds the bottom of the shock. I used a ¼” socket extension bar to push it out. You should now be able to push the shocker upwards so that you can remove it from the car. It’s a bit tricky and you might have to compress the spring a little more to get it out. Warning; be careful because if the compressor clamps come of the spring while you are doing this it will take your fingers off; really. Put this shocker and spring unit to one side. I took the pressure of the spring so as not to stress it for too long. Undo the 2x 10mm nuts that hold a U shaped clamp to the wishbone and tie out of the way. You are now ready to remove the rear upper wishbone and ball joint. You will need a 12 point and a 6 point 19mm socket, a straight 19mm open and ring spanner and a double cranked 19mm ring spanner. If you haven’t got a double cranked 19mm ring spanner you will not be able to get the wishbone off. Having the shocker removed will give you just enough access to get your (probably newly acquired) double cranked 19mm ring spanner onto the nut that holds the ball joint. You will be on your back under the car and it will be very tight but your months of cleaning and oiling with WD40 will have paid off. Mine had been on for 19 years but I got them off with just the ring spanner without drama. Here is the big tip; access to this nut is really restricted. As the nut winds down the thread of the ball joint, there comes a point when you cannot drop the ring spanner off the nut to move the spanner round another 1/8 turn without tightening the nut back up. So you have to wind the nut back up until you can slide the ring spanner out. Carry on with the open end 19mm and the nut falls off into your hand. Well actually, it will probably fall onto the floor and roll off onto the dust and dirt but you shouldnt be reusing it anyway. Next, using a trolley jack, take the weight of the rear hug. Remove the 2 nuts and bolts that hold the other 2, inner ends of the wishbone and slide out the bolts, taking care to make sure that the wishbone and hub don’t fall outwards towards you and pull at the drive/half shafts. (Months of cleaning and WD40 pays off again because I had no problem getting these out. All that should be holding the old wishbone in place now is the ball joint. I have forked ball joint splitter but for me these are a last resort because they damage whatever you hammer them into. Take a decent hammer and give the old wishbone a few clean horizontal knocks at the side of the ball joint and it will just drop out (don’t hit the hub. You don’t have to). And that’s it. The old wishbone is removed without removing the drive/half shafts. Fitting the new wishbone is simply the reverse procedure. Here are a couple of tips that might save you the time that I lost. Tip 1; if the new ball joint turns while you are trying to tighten a NEW nut onto it, you can use a G clamp to hold the new wishbone and hub together. It holds the ball joint just tight enough to get the nut on. Tip 2; the new wishbones from Lexus don’t come with the ball joint nut. You have to order them separately; £1.06 each. DO NOT REUSE A BALL JOINT NUT. Tip 3; And this drove me mad until I spotted what was wrong (and to think that 2 years ago I replaced both rear springs and should have known this). The thread on the top of the shocker has 2 flats on it where it passes through the underside of the rear parcel shelf. 1 at each side. It won’t go through the hole in the rear parcel shelf unless you line these up properly. Jiggle it about until you get the top thread through the hole and get someone inside the rear of the car to get a couple of turn on the top nut when it comes through. I managed this on my own but I’m a hero (No really!; I wear my undies on the outside of my pants and fly through the air at night looking for villans and righting wrongs). You can now push the bottom of the shocker into place and slide the bottom bolt into it. Then remove the spring compressors. Footnote; I was dreading this job but it wasn’t that bad. Mainly because I have spent nearly 10 months spraying WD40 at it. It took me a couple of days but that included cleaning all the dried dirt off the underside of the rear end and wax oiling everything that I could get to (I got 12kg of dry dirt, just off the back end). The 2 days also included changing the discs and pads and cleaning the inside of the car. I have taken the time to type this up because I would have liked to have had something similar before starting the job myself. I hope that someone finds it useful. And if you need an IFA drop me a PM and I'll have a chat with you.
    1 point
×
×
  • Create New...