kenhall

Basic method is to adjust first at each rear drum with “foot/ hand” brake fully released. The adjustment starred wheel inside the drum is accessed after removing the small rubber bung at the six o’clock position. The starred wheel is then turned one way or another with a flat blade screwdriver poked through the hole to bring the shoes in full contact with the drum and then backed off slightly to prevent binding. It is a bit of a pain to do I have found. From memory moving the starred wheel upwards brings the shoes into contact with the drum and vice versa. Replace the rubber bungs and then adjust the pedal travel to about 7 clicks (fully on) by adjusting the primary cable lock nuts behind the pedal (grovelling in the driver’s footwell required for access!!)

In my experience of many cars applying Waxoyl to exposed underbody parts where corrosion has already started is a waste of time because corrosion will still continue unseen under the Waxoyl. The best use for Waxoyl is to spray it hot inside box sections and sills to dispel moisture. As an aside, looking at the front subframe for sale pictures does anyone know what the purpose of the rectangular block of steel mounted in the middle of the rear cross section? Seems odd to have a vibration damper in such a position if that is what it is for?

I bought my 2007 RX400h at 66K miles from a dealer in early 2016. The Service Book showed a first stamp from the Bristol Toyota Import Centre (company car??) followed by four stamps from Lexus Derby (used by the previous private owner to me) and a final one from an independent garage who serviced and MOT’d it just prior to my purchase. I have always serviced my own cars as far as I’m able (Ford models early on followed by a wide range of Citroen’s) and my intention has been to continue to treat the Lexus the same way. Needless to say I was appalled to see the state of the pollen filter when I came to inspect it - it was absolutely filthy and I strongly suspect it was the original from when the car was new. The Lexus service schedule requires clean or replace at an Intermediate Service 10k miles / 1 year and replace at a Full Service 20k miles / 2 years. This was clearly never carried out on my car. My Lexus has never been “Serviced” by an official dealership since purchase and I intend to keep it that way especially after reading about member’s negative experiences with Lexus Carlisle, who are my nearest dealer. With my set of tools plus my trusty Techstream and practical info from this forum and US ones long may I continue - rust permitting (the car not me!).

If you don’t fancy drilling holes in your car then the alternative fix is to pull the sunroof drain tube out of the existing sill cavity drain and add more tubing to extend it under the footwell carpet/insulation and out through the large rubber floor grommet.

Here is the rack preload adjuster circled.

My inspections of the steering system has indeed shown that the play I observe is at the rack pinion. There are many videos available on how to adjust the preload plunger on various Toyota model steering racks which simply??? involves loosening off a large lock nut allowing the preload spring tension to be adjusted (trial and error) by screwing the threaded adjuster in or out. The aim is to adjust the preload to eliminate play without making the steering excessively stiff. Steering wheel torque settings are specified in the workshop manual. No information found on a similar adjustment on the RX and I think I know why after inspecting my RX. Basically the rack preload adjuster faces downwards / rearwards where access is made virtually impossible by the close proximity of the anti-roll bar and a subframe cross member. Toyota adjusters face upwards and forwards on the examples I’ve seen making access fairly straightforward. I conclude that the only way I can adjust my RX steering rack would be to take it off the car and adjust it on the bench!!

That’s the one! I must figure out to open the link in my post - any tips?

Apologies if this has been posted before. This RX330 owner Eric Kirkhuff, “The Swiss Army Knife” has a YouTube video showing how he overcame the awful Lexus design for the front sunroof drains where they basically drain into the chassis and exit via a slit drain. Restricted drainage due to crud build-up in this difficult to access area can lead to water overflowing into the footwell. The YouTube video is titled “Lexus 2004 RX330 Wet Carpets & Water Leaking “Hack-Fix” and Insight on other Models”. He has made more videos addressing other RX water leakage problems which may be of interest.

Lexus TSB for the RX400h says that cracking of the rubber is acceptable to a certain degree and replacement is only required when metal/rubber separation has occurred. I bought a pair of replacement arms from Febi for my RX400h for future fitting.

I replaced the split original rear rubber gaiters and top mounts on my RX400h a few years back with Febest units which have now gone the same way after about 4 years. It’s time Lexus woke up and fitted the more durable semi-hard plastic type (polyurethane?).

‘Nuff’ said - cheers!

Sorry to nitpick but I think you mean discreet not discrete.

My 98,000 mile 2007 RX400h SE-L has a small amount of steering wheel play which I would like to reduce or eliminate if possible. No MOT advisories have ever been received regarding this play, but I experience the need to make frequent small straight ahead steering corrections according to road surface conditions and camber etc. I had 4 wheel alignment done recently together with new front tyres which made no difference. My understanding is that the Lexus steering column has at least three universal joints plus a sliding joint so play could result from wear in one or all of these parts. Has anyone had experience of this problem and it’s resolution or is it just a Lexus characteristic to learn to live with?

As Steve suggests ‘Lexusofficialstore’ has the genuine item at £41 on eBay, item no 254119566223.

Heynershop dot co dot uk do a set for £19.99 delivered. No connection with the company just a highly satisfied customer who fitted their wiper blades to my RX a few years back. Just fitted their wiper blades to my wife’s Honda Civic.

As a matter of interest do you know if the condenser failed due to salt corrosion or stone impact?

I would be pleased to hear of any members experiences of four wheel alignment on the RX, in particular problems with the rear tracking adjustment. From what I can gather the eccentric adjustment bolts on the inner end of the track control arms can have a tendency to rust solidly in the steel centre tube of the rubber bush in the arm. Rotating the adjustment bolt then causes the rubber to twist and possibly shear. Removal of the seized bolt may result in destruction of both bolt and arm bush.

Have a look at the tutorial re diy fitting of reversing sensors to the RX400h. I fitted a cheap kit of Maplin sensors (ex EBay) to mine and they work fine.

Looks like the prop used to hold up the tool kit cover while you get out the jack etc??

Mine seized up without any prior warning. I found that the spindle was seized due to lack of lubrication and corrosion. I managed to free it off with WD40 and oil plus a liberal amount of grease. No further problems since.

I purchased two of these for my 2007 RX400h from MAG Engines who advertise them on eBay from time to time. With import taxes ( supplied from UAE !) etc they cost me about £170 each. There is a bit more to them than just a pressed steel dust shield, the thicker steel centre piece provides the mounting base for the wheel hub and attachment points associated with the drum handbrake brake shoes. It’s a pity Toyota didn’t make them in two separate pieces. The single coat of black paint (in common with the other RX400h underside components) provides poor corrosion protection for UK climate conditions.

Sounds like a duff or incorrect sensor or less likely a damaged toothed ring. What made you decide that this particular sensor was faulty? Where did you buy it from? I’m unfamiliar with the type of sensor on an RX300, however the sensors fitted on my RX400h have a resistance of 1725 ohms (coil and magnet type). In my experience of similar sensors on Citroen cars they mainly fail due to going open circuit which causes the ABS self diagnostics to turn off the system. No requirement for resetting ABS normally unless a permanent fault code has been logged which would require a diagnostic (Techstream) connection to clear. You are correct Right=Offside in the UK

Lexus appear to have used an inferior grade of rubber for these rear strut bellows. Both bellows on my 2007 RX400h acquired in early 2016 were split which obviously didn’t bother the MOT tester but did bother me!. I bought two new support/bellows pattern units made by Febest for less than £40 each from eBay and fitted them myself. It is possible to do the job without having to do the extensive interior boot trim removal detailed in the Lexus workshop method.

For DIYers You can buy 10 genuine sump plug washers from eBay for £10.50 delivered. Don’t pay the silly single washer prices!

Hello Mike, My 2007 RX400h has a worn n/s front wheel bearing which can heard droning on right hand bends eg roundabouts. I have found YouTube to be a good source of information on the bearing replacement procedure. Not many videos for specific RX models but a search for the Camry model (which has a similar hub set up) will turn up a useful video. Getting the hub removed from the vehicle is fairly straightforward for a competent DIYer but the hard part is pressing out the hub + old bearing and then pressing in a new bearing + hub. Ken