Tetrov

You may want to check this one mate: Steering Wheel - Brocken Ball Joint

Hello friends, I just logged in to write about a problem I have and a warning when I saw thit thread:Steering wheel, wont center As I will be asking something I write this in a separate thread. From some time I was sure something was not right with my steering. It was hard (at moments) especially at full turns (low speed maneuvering). Another thing was that it felt like it needed help to center after a turn, also the steering was pulling to the right when stopping. On a strait road the steering wheel was strait – no pulling. I checked the hydraulic fluid – all good, tire pressure – ok. Tomorrow I was going to my mechanic but… Exiting a convenient store the passenger lower ball joint just broke!!! The wheel ended up at 90 degree to the road direction, the wheel almost bended the wheel arch as the car dropped onto the wheel. What amazes me is – how can this happen without any noticeable warning. The symptoms I described was kind of undistinguishable and I had have a brocken ball joint on other cars – the noises they make are hard to miss – not so on this one. I was only lucky that I was driving very slowly. Half an hour ago I was making 75mph!!! Now I have to find good quality ball joints as well as some other parts on the suspension. I don’t trust the dealers here (I`m in Bulgaria), e-bay is not very helpful either. Please can you point me to a good internet part supplier that can be trusted? Hopefully they will ship to my country. I will be very grateful. -------------- IS 200, 2000,2000

Hi Mates, Well I tried to search the forum but I didn’t find what I was looking for. It seems that everyone here is interested on high –performance and a wheel of 16” are shameful small  The thing is that I want to buy winter types (I’m in Bulgaria) and I want to buy a set of rims for them. I will use these tyres in conditions where caution is required and for 3-4 month a year. So I wanted a smaller size (cheaper). I also decided to go for steel rims (not alloys – same reason) Now I saw that IS200 doesn’t have a wheel spec smaller than 16” so i decided that will be my search. I found a dealer who offered a set of steel rims coming from a Toyota RAV4. I want to ask – is there any offset issue or some compatibility one for me to consider before buying. -------------- the car: Lexus IS200 2001, now with 17" stock Alloys Please if there is a similar post on this forum - just point it to me and I apologize.

Hello to all from Bulgaria. I just bought my IS200. I am new to this forum as to the RWD as well. I thought “how bad could it be” after all - all luxury cars have RWD and people are saying is the better one. Now I read a lot of threats on this forum (just to understand my IS200 better) and I stumbled on an frightening posts of how one loses his back end, how bad is the IS in the snow ect. So I am a little afraid now that as an FWD driver I probably have to be extra cautious. If it was just a car for fun – It will be all right, but I intend to use my IS on a everyday basis (go to work ect.) And at a point I will be distracted – it happens. Please tell – how bad it really is? Have I to be afraid of my car? P.S. Now I know that the driver is the most important peace but I am always aware that people (especially) men tend to overestimate their driving skills (including me). P.S.S Apologies for the bad English.