Lexus Gs400 Shakes On High Speeds

[skfarid786]

I just got my 2000 lexus gs400 and im loving it. Its black on black and getting compliments everyday. But i got one problem with the car. On the highway, or on bumps the car starts shaking it also starts shaking at 60 mph and the steering column shakes too. I got the alignment done i even got the tires balanced but still the car shakes. Does anyone have an idea whats going on? Would i need new shocks, struts or something?

[AmolGS400]

Hey congratulations! I have a 98GS400 Millennium Silver. Incredible car all factory except the tires.

I had a similar problem, though my column wasn't shaking too much, just a strong vibration in the wheel itself, what I had done:

-Tire balance, recommended by Lexus dealer didn't work, made it almost worse

-Replaced the front tires, took 90% of the problem out.

-Changed the front rotors because i felt enough vibration braking at 60.

It's really a non issue now, but I keep my eyes, ears, feet and hands tuned in at all times because the car is that AWESOME and worth my attention

So I might recommend a second opinion on the front tires, in the end they were more banged up than thought on inspection by eye.

Tires wins races.

-Robert Duvall, Days of Thunder

Ha ha ha

[r0k0]

you should think about the tie rod and ball joints.. they might be coming loose and making the fron end shake at high speed

[dkimx004]

I just got my 2000 lexus gs400 and im loving it. Its black on black and getting compliments everyday. But i got one problem with the car. On the highway, or on bumps the car starts shaking it also starts shaking at 60 mph and the steering column shakes too. I got the alignment done i even got the tires balanced but still the car shakes. Does anyone have an idea whats going on? Would i need new shocks, struts or something?

Check this out. Read through everything. Its a simple fix for 99+ models. 98 models have a different rack guide / pretensioner adjusting "bolt". Apparently the steering racks on these cars aren't that great and seem to loosen up and get sloppy. Unfortunately I have a 98 model that requires a change / update of the rack guide (the adjusting bolt). This requires removal of the rack (only for 98 models) which is expensive so I might just buy a remanufactured rack off of a higher model year and replace. Hope this helps. There are alot of contradictions but if you read the TSB its legit. Some people aren't very helpful or are rude, so I figured I'd pass along info and share to those just trying to get a straight answer.

In the first link, theres the picture of the tensioner adjustment with the inward hex bolt shape. You screw that about 1/8" clockwise. But before that, you have to loosen the lock nut (the "square-ish" shaped nut with the angled edges on the outside of the pretensioner adjustment "bolt". This is what needs to be turned counterclockwise to loosen. and that's what the guy is talking about loosening with a flathead driver and hammer). When that is loose, you can then tighten the presentioner adjustment with the 5/8 bolt "tool" he made.

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-second-...adjustment.html

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-second-...i-searched.html

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-second-...ines-fixed.html

http://www.gainrecordings.com/lexus/1998%2...8%20field%20fix

[dkimx004]

I just got my 2000 lexus gs400 and im loving it. Its black on black and getting compliments everyday. But i got one problem with the car. On the highway, or on bumps the car starts shaking it also starts shaking at 60 mph and the steering column shakes too. I got the alignment done i even got the tires balanced but still the car shakes. Does anyone have an idea whats going on? Would i need new shocks, struts or something?

Check this out. Read through everything. Its a simple fix for 99+ models. 98 models have a different rack guide / pretensioner adjusting "bolt". Apparently the steering racks on these cars aren't that great and seem to loosen up and get sloppy. Unfortunately I have a 98 model that requires a change / update of the rack guide (the adjusting bolt). This requires removal of the rack (only for 98 models) which is expensive so I might just buy a remanufactured rack off of a higher model year and replace. Hope this helps. There are alot of contradictions but if you read the TSB its legit. Some people aren't very helpful or are rude, so I figured I'd pass along info and share to those just trying to get a straight answer.

In the first link, theres the picture of the tensioner adjustment with the inward hex bolt shape. You screw that about 1/8" clockwise. But before that, you have to loosen the lock nut (the "square-ish" shaped nut with the angled edges on the outside of the pretensioner adjustment "bolt". This is what needs to be turned counterclockwise to loosen. and that's what the guy is talking about loosening with a flathead driver and hammer). When that is loose, you can then tighten the presentioner adjustment with the 5/8 bolt "tool" he made.

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-second-...adjustment.html

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-second-...i-searched.html

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-second-...ines-fixed.html

http://www.gainrecordings.com/lexus/1998%2...8%20field%20fix

FYI - in the Technical Service bulletin (TSB) link, the "Rack Guide" is the pretensioner bolt that is turned to adjust the steering. Attached is a page from the Lexus service manual which details the rack and helps explain whats going on.

Again I hope this helps anybody out there. I spent alot of time reading through everybody's posts and putting this together.

Again, to clear things up with 98 owners, we cannot do this adjustment. The TSB is a guide for dealers to "fix" this problem by replacing the rack guide to the ones that are pictured in the other posts as the 98 rack guides look different (there is no inward hex bolt shape to insert a bolt).

SCAN2660_000.pdf

[alphanumberz]

Get a Balance, usually that's the problem.

[sakataj]

Get a Balance, usually that's the problem.

no its not....

try these posts...

(p.s. i have tried balljoints, brakes, alignment, road force alignment,tires, and now that i have aquired them...i will be doing my bushings in the next few weeks)

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-second-...ines-fixed.html

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-second-...adjustment.html

p.s. easiest and allegedly the best fix is the daizen steering rack bushings

here is a DIY for it

http://clublexus.com/forums/suspension-and...ck-bushing.html

[JAckerman]

I just got my 2000 lexus gs400 and im loving it. Its black on black and getting compliments everyday. But i got one problem with the car. On the highway, or on bumps the car starts shaking it also starts shaking at 60 mph and the steering column shakes too. I got the alignment done i even got the tires balanced but still the car shakes. Does anyone have an idea whats going on? Would i need new shocks, struts or something?

PUt the factory recommeded tires on it. Make sure you have the same speed rating as recommended (probably V rated)