fldreamer

I'm in Chicago and have been through 3.5 winters in my GS400. Don't know about where you are in MA, normally we have decent snow removal, but occasionaly the snow gets ahead of the plows. I haven't had many issues with the car in the snow. Only, 2, to be exact. I definately have a love/hate relationship with the traction control/snow setting. Once in a really bad storm, I had to stop before turning right and imediately procede up an incline overpass. I got about 30 ft. and then stopped dead! I waited until the trailing traffic passed, turned off the VSC, put it in power, got the wheels really going and "walked" it up the overpass at a 45 degree angle! That was so much fun I had to stop in a big empty parking lot on my way home and do it all over again in little safer environment. Only other issue was another really bad dumping and had to try to power it up the driveway through 12 inches of the white stuff! Not really the best plan ... I got about 5 ft. in and damn if it didn't stay there until the next morning when I could shovel it out! Fun times. I love my GS and wouldn't trade it for the AWD version unnless they figure out a way to remove the "bump" next to the drivers leg. It's a sweet ride! Enjoy.

Did you figure this out? It could also be the upper control arm. How many miles on it? I'm changing both the UCAs and the LBJs this weekend. No clunking but too much play in the left front. It's better to replace them before your front tire goes 90 degrees while you're driving it - not pretty. Can you DIY? If so raise it up remove tire and rap on the UCA with a mallet. Support the car and use the jack under the LBJ to simulate load and do the same with the LBJ if it sounds solid you're probably fine, if not you'll hear it for sure. It's not a tough job on these wonderful cars and the parts are much cheaper if you shop around. Good luck ...

Hi, Really new to this forum. It looks great and I'm excited to spend hours, days months years researching the threads as I have recently made the decision to do anything I can on my car myself ... I have a'00 GS 400 that I use as my daily driver and clone taxi. I'm the 2nd owner. Bought it from Field's Infinity in Glencoe, IL for 12,900 in Sept. '08 so I've had it for 2.5 years almost. It had about 90k on it then and it's up to almost 125k now. It was sooo cherry when I bought it and it's holding up pretty well considering ... I've not had any real problems with it until recently and they're not even problems really, just replacing normal wear and tear items ... Last Spring I had the rear rotors turned and pads replaced, oil just because, and a bunch of regular service stuff recommended by Bredeman Lexus in Glenview, IL (that was around $1000 if I remember correctly). I also wanted them to look at the front brakes because of a wobble under hard and fast braking. They said that it wasn't anything serious and advised to wait till I wore a few more mm off the front pads to repair/replace ... FF to this last week - Took it in for the front brakes: new rotors, new pads and a new right front caliper ($1400) plus they wanted $2225 to replace the UCAs and LBJs on both front left and right! I hesitated and only authorized the brake work - big regret because looking at the suspension cost (them vs. DIY) I decided to start getting greasy again and do it myself. Now that I'm going to be down there anyway I could have done the brakes myself, upgraded them to something awesome and still save some cash! Oh well, spilled milk and all ... The new brakes work awesome tho ... I'm replacing the UCAs and LBJs next week pending part delivery and while I'm down there I'm going to replace the shocks with KYB GR2s and I'm trying to find out if there's anything else i should do while I’m down there as well. Bushings, tie rods, dunno yet ... I would like to mod it eventually, but not until it's no longer my daily. I've got my eyes on a cold air intake, mod chip and Borla exhaust for starters. Then if I like that I might upgrade the brakes and suspension as well. We'll see ... I've got skills, but lack knowledge and experience on this make so wish me luck ... Any advice is also welcome ... Pics will come eventually ...