nc211

Bump. Was curious if Lexus400 fixed his problem? I'm still wrestling with this myself.

Yes, the LS does have sway bars, both front and rear.

I agree with the guys, DO NOT buy that car. You can do much better for the money.

Hate to say it....but it's probably the ecu unit. Is it a 95 LS400 or 96?

I fail to see why your mechanic has to detach anything to change those two cushions. It's two bolts to remove the U shaped cover and then it's pulling them off, putting the other on. They're split rubber, so it's not necessary to remove anything.

I had mine replaced and didn't need one on my 95'.

I believe it means "wide open throttle".

I agree...and judging by my replacement list below on my signature, you can bet I've been well lubed by the dealer before...but not that bad! Ouch amigo, I think you got taken. I'd complain to the dealer about that!

I've read a couple of posts in the past comparing the two, and the LS won across the board. I think I remember reading about the driving experience and material feel was much better in the LS? I think....I know it's out there if you do a search for Avalon.

LS430, hands down, no doubt about it. The two don't even compare in my personal opinion. Get the automobile industry's finest and watch the road melt for ya'. You'll love it a lot more than the Avalon, especially 2 years from now when you're still admiring how perfect the car is with 200k miles on it!

I don't remember seeing anything wrong with the tires when I had them off when I did the suspension stuff, but I didn't look for anything either. I'll do the slow roll test tonight in the office parking lot. I remember on my first car back in 89 "1987 VW Golf GT", it had bent rims from when the previous owner had it shipped back from overseas "military" and they dropped it. Feels like the same issue. Funny how memory works....Can't remember last Friday night, but can remember a wobble 16 years ago. Must be those beer cheerin' dudes

in addition: when the tires are "cold", it feels like a hop. When they're warm, it feels like a left to right wobble.

It's usually from 10-40 mph is when I really notice it the most, especially when the tires are "cold" from sitting for a long period of time. I've always noticed some type of shake at 40mph range. Is it something that a normal tire balancing service by the dealership should have easily seen at the time? The reason I ask is because they've been balanced several times at the dealership and I've never been told they are bad. But it sure sounds like that's the problem to me. Those symptoms you described are what I'm feeling.

And just think: If you had the dealer get involved, they would have probably put a second deed of trust against your house to pay for it. Hahaha

Glad to see even something as fancy as an LS400 can be fixed with a cheap can of WD40!

Is there a simple test any tire place can do to see if the rims are or are not bent? It is possible, since she's 10 years old. She's seen a lot of potholes I'm sure. But if the rims aren't bent, what in the world would cause the steel belt to seperate? A pothole hit as well? Can a tire place spot which one it is, or which "ones" :cries: they are? I'm coming to the conclusion that this vibration wobble thing I've got is tire/wheel related and not suspension/rotor related, since I've basically had it for a long time, even before I replaced all the control arms and struts.

yeah, it's your pads. there is a tsb on the issue regarding applying grease in certain spots to quiet it down. I'll have to hunt for it. But it's your pads shifting directions inside of the housing. It's normal in the sense that it shouldn't do harm, just anoying. i got the same thing.

Hahaha SRK!

Spiller, The south west may not want cha', but the SOUTH will take you any day! Get 'er done! Hahahha

It can be a couple of things. One is strut rods and lower control arms are going bad. The bushings in these are rubber and last about 100-120k on average. The other is the brake pads. Crackling noise....do you notice this if you press the brakes down hard when sitting still? Mine were doing this a few weeks ago and I had new pads put on. No more crackling, but I get a thump now too. it is due to the pads shifting around a bit when the direction of the car is changed. Example, i back up, push brakes, hear a slight thump. I go forward, and the first time i push the brakes, I hear that same thump, but only on the first application of the brakes.

I'm on the hunt after a funny vibration. I seem to have this wierd wobble in my car, and I think it's the tires. I also have what feels like a wheel hop from the back when the car is cold and i'm going slow, like under 25mph.. I've got the Mich. Energy tires on the car and have the psi set at 32. I've gone down to 29 before, smoothes out bumps, but makes steering heavy. I've also bumped them up to 38 on highway trips trying to smooth out the ride. That helps a bit, but makes the road seem harsh. So, what are your psi setting? Blake, I think we've got the same type of tires, I'm curious what yours are set at?

Thanks

Yep, I would agree. It sounds like you're low on fluid somewhere and it's swishing/swashing around, tripping your warning reminder.

branshew, i agree on the oem stuff. but last month I was in a pinch and had to get some semi-mettalic pads from autozone for the fronts. They were like $25 for the front set. I have no complaints at all with them. I think the guy who put them on however forgot to grease a couple areas as I now get the clunck noise from the pads when I go backwards, then forwards. The pads are shifting. There is a TSB about this, and I'm just gonna grease them myself in a few weeks. But, again, I used autozone semi-metalic and have no complaints whatsoever.

what are the symptoms you're having? How many miles on the car? It's a 2000 right?

I think you're right about the bad tire somewhere. It just seems to me after all these alignments and balancings over the past year, this problem would have been fixed, if indeed it was an alignment/balancing issue. I've got a full size spare in the back and I might swap that one out and test each tire. But I am wondering as well about the stabilizer bar link. I remember when I was doing the front suspension arms that I loosened one of the links, then tightened it back up, but it felt wierd, and the bolt felt week. What do these things do? and what happens when they go bad? It's #4 on the attachment.

Thanks amigos

The car this 95 Lexus replaced was a 2001, fully loaded to the hill, Maxima SE. The Lexus is far better in materials, ride, quietness, comfort and feel than that Maxima would ever be. I have no regrets not buying out my lease on that Maxima. Although she was fun on a twisty road, but GOD awful on the highway, thanks to those 17 inch rims and one funky suspension set up. Not to mention the WIND TUNNEL in the back seat, thanks to poorly designed rear windows. I think Nissan is more performance, as were Toyota is more refined comfort. Therefore, I would say the Q is more kick in the pants performance oriented and the LS is more road warrior, battle tank, refined cruiser beast of joy!!

Oh, I agree. But I bet if you called the seller and told them what full Nada retail really is, they'd have a tough time turning down the offer.