messerschmidtt

Just trying to save $$$$. I know my lower spring isolators were shots, yours will be too (they are rubber), and bumps stop will be gone/hard as a rock/ The boots might be okay and I hope the bearings look nice. Just that it would suck to put just the top mounts on and then down the road the rubber seats go (metal on metal), or the bump stops split... Good luck..I had the noise for about 2 months and could not take it anymore...Worst part is the damn spring compressor.....like a rocket when doing it. yes but the condition of our roads and highways here are much better than yours, I travelled through the US in '88 in a 78 t-bird..I couldnt believe the state of the roads..suspension wrecking stuff..and, we dont have extremes of temperature from summer to winter here in the south west of australia..all my rubber components, apart from the top strut mounts..seem to be fine

But you are nuts to just replace that one item. That is why I posted above to replace other items while you are in there. The mounts are the highest item..Do the items I listed and be done for like 100+K miles. yes you have a goood point..but, here's a thought worth considering here too: A- the car, in every other respect is in remarkably good condition..all the other suspension and steering components, drive assembley etc. has been checked and is in great condition, and.. B- The simple fact that here in australia we dont have access to the huge range of well priced, quality after market parts like you guys do..I can see them at online stores..but it is not so easy to access them..,most of the good US online auto parts traders DONT ship outside of continental US, and the ones that do,shipping costs are prohibitive..and genuine parts for toyota/lexus are notoriosly expensive here in australia. but..... the issue has been resolved..The top strut mounts(part #'s 48603-33021 and 48609-33121) have been changed and the noise has completely gone

But you are nuts to just replace that one item. That is why I posted above to replace other items while you are in there. The mounts are the highest item..Do the items I listed and be done for like 100+K miles. yes you are probably right..but as this problem has been literally doing my head in for the last couple of months, and I'm so wanting to pinpoint the offending component for my own piece of mind..and the fact that on inspection, everything else around the front suspension seems to be in remarkably good order (the previous one owner really looked after this car)..and, have to consider that over here we just dont have access to the huge pool of cheap after market parts like you guys do (genuine toyota/lexus parts are notoriously expensive here)..I'm going to just start with the top strut mounts..I do the job this tuesday..I'll post the outcome..

yes, well, today, this afternoon in fact, I took it back to the same mechanic, with the car rattling all over tha place..and insisted he take it for another drive..just slowly..on a sealed road..and sure enough..without any prompting, he came back and said it is definitely..100%, without question..top strut/shockie mounts..then I came home and found your post..nice work my friend..you are spot on..thanks

yep howdy ho, I live in margaret river a small wine growing region in the south west of western australia..I know I'm a bit out of my territory here, but the australian lexus owners club is fairly limited in it's activity..population issues you know.. a couple of months ago I bought an es300, 2000 model with 172000kms on the clock..my 1st lexus (I've had mercedes benz all my life till now..though I still own a 280E), for around US$8200..the car was a one owner..serviced all its life at the local lexus dealer(lexus of perth)..the log book is full and complete with lexus service seals up to and including the major service at 160000kms(100000miles), with the last service done by "the dodgy brothers"..the dealer where I bought the car, back in early april, 2010. Not their real name of course, but, 24 hours after I bought the car, which, by the way, is pretty well perfect in every other way bar one little problem..yep, 24 hours after I bought the car, suddenly, it started to develop a consistent, persistent..rattle in the area of the front suspension. It just rattles, everytime the car goes over a slight bump or inconsistency in the road surface..it rattles, like castanets..rattle, rattle, rattle...its so annoying..as the rest of the car in every..and I mean..every respect..is damn near perfect. I suspect that "the dodgy brothers" had concealed this 'rattling problem'..perhaps with a shot of crc or grease to the offending component for a short term fix. I've been back to them of course..but hey...tha dodgy brothers...."no mate, what rattling, we didnt hear it rattling..etc". Oh well, I'm currently trying to get to a solution for this problem..it's driving me mad..especially as the rest of the car is pretty damn nice..members in this forum have been very helpful so far

thanks to all you people for offering your thoughts and experiences re: my problem with a rattling front end..this website/club rocks!! I now have a great deal of information to work on and have decided to get the problem looked at at the mechanical shop over the road this friday (they have a hoist!), but now have a virtual pool of helpful information to suggest to them in the search for the problem. I will post the prognosis and certainly the ultimate solution when it is found. you americans are so..information sharing savvy..that's fantastic..I'm very glad to have joined your club, peter

I have joined your club because the australian club isnt really what you would call active, ancient and generally irrelevant posts..no useful information..there is just not enough members in such a small population as ours Isuppose...anyway, I recently purchased a lexus es300 2000 model. I'm happy with the car..very smooth..a pleasure to drive..apart from an annoying rattling noise from the front wheel arches when driving over slightly bumpy roads, which is, quite frankly, doing my head in. But I will take this little problem to the appropiate forum of course..I have already gleaned a little useful information regarding my 'little problem, from the post below with the chilton library link. Thanks very much! messerschmidtt

hi, I recently bought an es300, 2000 model, my first lexus, so I know very little about them. The car has done 172000kms and has been serviced all its life at the local lexus dealer. The log book is full and up to date. The car, in almost every respect, is perfect. However, at low speeds, over slight bumps and repairs in the road, the front end rattles, incessantly..the rattle seems to come from the wheel arch area..both sides, but definitely louder from the right side..its rather a, perhaps, mechanical type of rattle..most annoying..has anybody got any ideas, could it be the shock/struts? I thought perhaps someone may have had a similar problem with their es300 and resolved it..I contacted the lexus dealer, and they are a lot of help..they have been doing the services..but I bet they never actually drove the car, so how would they know about the rattle..there is no record of this problem in the log, which is strange..as it is extremely noticable and annoying,