Ball Joint Problem

[cfeng]

I took my 2000 GS300 to the dealer recently for its 55,000 mile service. The mechanic at the dealer told me that the lower ball joints are worn and the condition makes it dangerous to drive. Does anyone know if GS300 has ball joint problems? The car is only 5 years old and I thought I bought a high quality performance car.

Thanks.

[GuyTelefunken]

Parts wear out on all cars. Lexus is no exception. Though no particular problems are noted, it can happen. I replaced mine at 62K miles.

If you don't trust your dealer, seek a second opinion.

[monarch]

The car is only 5 years old and I thought I bought a high quality performance car.

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The ball joints of a grandma owned Toyota or Lexus that's driven on smooth roads will still be like new after 55,000 miles. But very few GS owners drive like grandmas so the result is rather rapid suspension and steering linkage wear.

Now on the other hand, if you are not a hard charging and hard cornering kind of driver then I'd get a second opinion on the amount of wear in the lower ball joints.

[NJLexusGS]

I have a 98 GS300 (90,000 miles) and one of my ball joints was making this very annoying sound (like screeching) when turning the steering wheel especially in the parking lot at slow speeds.

Eventually the ball joint popped out and the whole front-passenger side suspension fell to the floor bending my fender. Thank god it happened when pulling away from the gas pump rather than on the highway at 70mph.

I got both lower ball joints replaced and everything seems great for now.

My thoughts on this are: this happenned because my car has been lowered for the past 5 years with Eibach springs and it has had 20" wheels for at least 2 years and the ball joints just couldnt handle it and gave out. If you are having problems with the ball joints get them replaced they cost $100 each and about $100 labor/each(local mechanic).

You are better off spending $400-$500 now. Then thousands later when one of them pops out and gets you into an accident or even kills you.

[GuyTelefunken]

Just a thought...Most times, wear in the ball joints is noticed when getting a wheel alignment. Aparently, you didn't have an alignment lately or the mechanic didn't bother to look/tell you. A ball joint worn badly enough to come apart should have been noticed a long time before it actually seperated. Most states require annual safety inspections. Surely, the mechanic doing this should have looked at the suspension?