SuperCoupe400

Okay, so just before winter I changed my p.s. pump (& alt.) which completely fixed my p.s. fluid leak issue. Engine bay has been dry as a bone ever since - and still is. Problem is, I never was able to get to the p.s. screen filter in the steering rack solenoid to clean it out. And now (starting last week) I'm get ocassional p.s. pump noise when turning the wheel at a stop. It's the exact same type of low howl noise you get when the fluid is low. Usually before the car has been driven. But only on ocassion. It didn't do it at all when I started my car up this morning. Strange thing is, my steering was looser this morning standing still than after the car got warmed up. Any idea what may be causing the noise? btw, the fluid is topped off at the correct level.

I could easily enough Photoshop some images of my car to see what it would look like without emblems. But I'm just wondering if anyone here has shaved them. Are they attached with adhesive only, or adhesive and pin-holes? Also - if you've done this, did you leave the Lexus "L", or shave it too? I'm also interested in knowing people's thoughts on shaved emblems all-together - for or against. I think the right car can be nicely enhanced by the 'semi-stealth' look shaving adds (late model Audi A4's, A6's & A8's; last generation Mazda RX7's; etc.) But not all cars benefit from it. My opinion is this is the one cosmetic enhancement that can never be considered 'rice' - because it's not adding anything to the car, just removing visual clutter. Kind of like gettting rid of those irritating Dealer Name license plate frames that most people don't care enough to ditch. Give me your feedback.

Thanks. I'll probably be swapping out my sway-bar bushings, steering rack bushings & control arm bushings sometime this Spring then. After I get my front wheel bearings replaced.

Are these bushings sold (and replaceble) independent of the control arms themselves?

Welcome to the forum starkz.

Umph! Stuff like this is what transforms the 'make it quick and dirty' people into 'do it right the first time' people. Yours truly included. I learned that valuable lesson years ago - the hard way, of course.

Bartkat, I'm diggin' that new avatar. Gotta love Felix the Cat.

jimbrem007', Check out what this Sc owner did to his wood trim, he repainted the trim Gunmetal. It looks really nice. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. :o Oh well... To each his own. I wouldn't dream of covering up the one feature of the interior that speaks "luxury" - the genuine wood trim. Especially when so many other car makers are using the fake stuff. But, hey, whatever you do, 'make it yours'.

Those prices are better than what my import supplier wants for bearings. I'm going to have to call my dealer and see what he's charging for them. I won't be doing mine unitl the weather breaks here in Michigan. Regarding the noise, that definately sounds like the bearings. You can save yourself some money by removing the hub assemblies yourself (rent a hub assembly puller from your local car parts store) and taking them to an autoparts store or machine shop that presses bearings. I've got a local shop that'll only charge $25/bearing to remove old and press in new.

http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...showtopic=35057

Yeah, that's definately something i'm going to have to give some thought to. For us to be the "Motor City", Detroit roads have got WAY too many potholes, bumps, cracks and every other garden-variety option for utterly annihilating any cars suspension and alignment. If I were to lower my ride (the preferred look) It'd definately shorten the suspension life-expectancy. On the other hand, I don't like plowing into corners like some big, dumb Camaro (with the stock setup) either. What to do, what to do. :whistles:

I didn't even know there was such a beast as an "independent" Lexus shop. Hmph.

You really find Eibachs and Tokicos to have bad quality? Or just not the ride (comfort/handling) you're looking for? If so, then I'll make a note of that and just go for the Teins when I get the cash to swap my stocks.

Good choice.

Yeah, Kavvick, that Silver Spruce Metallic is not one you'd see everyday back when our SCs came out with it. Of course slightly different variations of the color are being used by several manufacturers now. It's really caught on. Definately get a spoiler. IMHO, an SC without a spoiler is just plain naked! I'm not one of those purists who beleive that the spoiler ruins the form factor - as many people screamed about when Audi put one on the TT (I love it on that car too) - but within reason though. I do maintain a heavy bias towards the 1st-generation spoiler. I think Lexus should have left well-enough alone and never changed the design on the '95 & up model years. That open-air spoiler just doesn't flow with the design language of the automobiles sculpture. But...personal preference always wins here.

Decided to call the dealer up and yes, there actually is an outer (only) seal that will need to be replaced along with the bearing.

I'm just now gearing up to replace both front bearings. And in doing so, found out from the place that's going to press the bearings that there may be inner and outer sills needing replacement also - and if I don't supply them I'll get charged extra for the press job. Can anyone tell me what, besides the bearings, gets replaced with the bearings? (One day, I'll just spring for the shop manuals, but until then...)

I beleive the piece you're refering to is in the coolant reservoir. It's got two little wires coming off it and is covered by a round, black rubber flap/cap.

This year SC actually didn't come with fog lights per-say. What appear to be fog lights to some are really just turn assist lights (the ones pingpong referenced). Fogs didn't show up until the '94 or '95 model year. There is, however, a way to re-wire these turn assist lights to 'act' as fog lights. Go to http://www.intellexual.net/faq.html#091 to "Converting cornering lights into fog lights". This still won't get you a true fog light, as the prismatic pattern behind the lenses lexus used for the cornering lamps directs most of the light off to the side. But they'll help a bit - plus it'll give the car a better look at night.

Nice job. Hoping to do the same with mine someday.

I've always thought the SCs should have had the "Lexus" embossed, brushed/polished stainless steel running boards. Perhaps I'm refering to this piece incorrectly. What I'm talking about is the horizontal strip of ribbed black plastic (concealed when door is closed) that you step over as you enter/exit the car. Anyway, does anybody know where I can get steel plates (like the ones in the LS430) that read "Lexus" to fit the SC? Just seems to me this would be a fitting accessory for Lexus to have made available. (Who knows, perhaps it was available and I just don't know about it). Thanks.

To my knowledge all cosmetic parts (including windshields and windows) are shared between the 400s & 300s with few exceptions (such as front bumpers and tail lenses, which only vary according to what year it is, not depending on 300 vs. 400 classification). However, I beleive the '92 & '93 body styles were identical. But just to be 100%certain just call up the parts dept. of your local lexus dealer.

Though I understand your frustration geoffreymg, your post could have been worded a bit more diplomatically. No need lashing out the insults. Just start a new post bringing the topic to light, that's all. Then you won't be asked to take the stick out your !Removed!. I'm usually one of the last to throw stones (playa' hate), but I have to second the general observation. I've also got a membership over at bimmerforums.com where there certainly is not only much more action, but more intelligible action per-capita. And yes, there are quite a few younger owners (25 & below) here - which contributes to the likelyhood of posts with bad grammar and/or text-message ease. Mainly because the SC is a car that many (like myself) fell in love with as a youth and now the 1st generation SCs no longer require a $60,000 job in order to purchase. Furthermore, short of me laying down an Oprah Winfrey-esk slam on the quality of public schooling here in the U.S., I must say that perhaps we all need to elevate our communication skills - some more than others. For the sake of those reading your posts, but moreso for the sake of your own advancement in your profession/occupation and in society in general. Let's take the time to check what we write before we post, people.

Check your motor mounts. It's probably time for them (and the tranny mount) to be swapped. Even if this is not what's causing the specific vibration you're getting, if you've got more than 100k on the original mounts, it's definately time for new ones. btw, the engine's got two mounts, and tranny just one.

So are you saying that the heated mirrors are/would be heated by the car's hot air supply as opposed to an electric filament behind the mirror itself? I can't imagine even a domestic carmaker designing a heated mirror to function that way. Sounds totally archaic. But something tells me you probably meant something else by that post. Can you elaborate (plus, i'm sitting at my desk right now and won't be able to check for "air ducts at the top of the door" until after work.)