I have just had the rear springs and shock absorbers on my 1996 LS400 replaced by my friendly local garage. To aid the fitter I copied the (American) instructions found at www.lextreme.com/ascon.htm. We found the instructions had some shortcomings so here is the easier way that worked for me.
Back seat removal.
1. Seat squab. Where squab fits into the base, at a distance of about 9" inwards from the corners, push the front side towards the rear to release catches from the retaining hooks. Lift out seat base.
2. Raise both rear headrests, open flaps in seat back and undo both bolts. Drop down centre arm rest, open flap at rear and undo bolt. Undo the bolts at the bottom of the backrest. Lift backrest upward and remove from car.
3. Lift parcel shelf just high enough to reach the S/A cap.
Shock absorber removal.
4. At parcel shelf slacken off the large centre nut from the S/A but DO NOT REMOVE IT. this is just to make it easier to take off when the S/A is off.
5. Slacken off wheel nuts and jack the rear of the car as high as possible off the ground, supporting the car on axle stands. Remove the wheels.
6. Fit a set (2 min) of wheel compressors around the spring and compress as much as possible. This will shorten the distance between the top and bottom of the S/A making it easier to remove. Undo the large bolt securing the bottom of the S/A to the axle carrier. Undo the three nuts under the parcel shelf. You should now be able to remove the unit from the car.
7. Undo the central nut from the S/A and remove mounting plate, insulator and spring bumper. Carefully slacken off spring compressors and release spring.
8. Fitting the new items is a reversal of this procedure.
Torque figures; S/A to axle carrier 101 ft. lbs
S/A centre rod nut 20 ft. lbs
Wheel nuts 76 ft. lbs
Part Nos. Springs Lexus ZL48231-50100
S/A Lexus ZL48530-59126 (very dear)
S/A Boge 30-B37-A (around £55 ea)
emdg
An old post I know but I used these outline instructions to change a rear spring on my 98 LS400 yesterday and it all went really well.
This is not my first rodeo where spring change is concerned i've done the front on this car and many others on other cars.
Reading around the internet people seem to see this job as a bit of a nightmare on this car but from my perspective it is far from it. I rate this as 5/10 on the swear scale, which is pretty good really.
I always use a certain technique when doing springs, some may see it as a bit bodgey but it has worked for me so many times....
to get the spring off and on to the car compressing it is necessary but there really isn't enough room to get a compressor on so I use a 1 ton ratchet type tie down strap wrapped 4 or more times around the spring as high up and as low down as I can then ratchet it up till the pressure is off, this makes removing and later installing it really easy. However when you actually remove the strut from the spring use proper compressors, if the strap did let go when not captive it could ruin your whole day or more!
Ls400 Rear Spring Removal
in Brakes & Suspension
Posted
An old post I know but I used these outline instructions to change a rear spring on my 98 LS400 yesterday and it all went really well.
This is not my first rodeo where spring change is concerned i've done the front on this car and many others on other cars.
Reading around the internet people seem to see this job as a bit of a nightmare on this car but from my perspective it is far from it. I rate this as 5/10 on the swear scale, which is pretty good really.
I always use a certain technique when doing springs, some may see it as a bit bodgey but it has worked for me so many times....
to get the spring off and on to the car compressing it is necessary but there really isn't enough room to get a compressor on so I use a 1 ton ratchet type tie down strap wrapped 4 or more times around the spring as high up and as low down as I can then ratchet it up till the pressure is off, this makes removing and later installing it really easy. However when you actually remove the strut from the spring use proper compressors, if the strap did let go when not captive it could ruin your whole day or more!
The whole job took me 2 hours on my driveway.
Anyway thanks for the instructions
Dave