nc211

Well, I got under the car this past weekend to hit those differential mounting bushings. Althought the manual calls for removal of the differential completely "driveshaft and axles" you don't really have to do that. It's three bolts "the two bushings and one other to the frame. The two bushing bolts are NO joke to get loose. We hit it with an impact wrench, the whole nine yards with the 12mm allen wrench. I finally had to take it to my buddy at jiffy lube to break those things loose. Once we had the bolts out, all you have to do is lower the differential about 2 1/2 inches with your jack to get clearance. But, getting the actual mounts out of the car is a whole different story. Those things are in there, and I'm not sure how to get them out. There isn't a lot of room up there to work with. There is an SST for the job, but that would require removal of the differential. I think I can come up with something similar that will work. But anyway, on a side note, we were correct Army, that bushing is toast, big time. When my buddy put the car in drive, all the rips and tears in it came to light, it's bad and probably won't last too much longer. I think anyone who has this sort of vibration issues should check their differential bushings pronto.

Don't know why that posted 3 times?

:whistles: Oh yeah, sorry man. That's for a 95' model. I didn't realize your asking for a 92.

:whistles: Oh yeah, sorry man. That's for a 95' model. I didn't realize your asking for a 92.

:whistles: Oh yeah, sorry man. That's for a 95' model. I didn't realize your asking for a 92.

Here is a pdf on the bushings. Hope this helps. 15.pdf

I always 93. Used lower once on road trip, car felt sluggish. What's an extra couple of bucks to keep her running super smooth and happy?

Pachocco, 6 hours later, I've downloaded every single document from that site for a 1995 LS 400. Literally thousands of pages! I don't know who you are, but you saved the day. I've been looking for something like that for months! I even pulled down the tech's learning materials. This is sweet! Thanks!

Holy Crap Batman! Thanks for the hook up! I had no idea that information was out there! I'm all over it now! Thanks amigo!

Pachocco, can I trouble you for page SA-94 as well? I know I'm asking for the bible here, which would make you.....The Lexus God! :D Thanks!!!!

I agree with PK. Auto should not work unless the computer knows it's got the warm air to supply.

Ahhh, ok, that makes sense. The instructions list SST #'s (09527-17011). Know of any place I can check those numbers for a description? Thanks!

Pachocco, do you happen to have pages PR-3 and EM-123 by chance?

Thanks pachocco 1! That's exactly what I needed. I'm going to attempt the rear differential bushing this weekend, will take pictures for postings. The instructions site a tool called "SST" to be used. I'm clueless as to what that is? Do you know?

Good call Econ, I found the instructions on the shocks there. I don't know why I didn't think of that, been on that site a million times. I'm the one that needs the coffee The fronts look easy, no sweat. But the back ones look like hell! Army, do you know if they're really that bad? Do you really have to remove the back seat and so forth? These cars require some tlc, but when they're right, boy are they RIGHT.

I hear ya' econ, good suggestion! However, on this one, all they do is point to the tsb posting, no actual "how to" or "what's needed". But it might for the shocks, I'll check. Thanks

I am attempting to change my rear differential bushings this weekend. Both are worn out and causing the driveshaft to vibrate the whole are. Mechanics are killing me on labor prices. I know it's a tall order, but a few nuts, bolts and differential oil should do the trick. But, I need some literature on how to do it? That and some instructions on how to replace the shocks only, not the springs. I can't find a Chilton's manual that covers Gen 2 LS400's. The differential bushings are different on second generations, 1st has a TSB on how to update to the second gen. Any ideas gang? Thanks. PS, she's a 95 LS400. Shocks are toast, rear left diff bushing has a tear in the rubber "signifacant".

Hey Army, how's the wheels these days? Man, I've been through the ringer, and all but $$ broke with this thing. I've decided to take it on myself this weekend. Well, you were right, the shocks are toast. The dealer greased every bushing and mount, balanced the wheels and replaced the front right shock last weekend. The new shock killed the popping noise "on that side". The front left now pops when hitting dips in the road. They're all toast, tail sits too much, etc... Got three new shocks coming asap. I've still got that darn vibration during acceleration and I know it's the rear differential bushings. I don't have the $600 to pay for labor to get them out, and they don't seem like they require a press. I think it's a pain, but not like $600. I can't seem to find any literature on how to do it. The Chilton repair manuals I've found only cover 1st generation models. I'm in need of some place to find the instructions and tools required to replace the shocks and those darn differential bushings. Got any suggestions? Checked the library, amazon, borders...etc.... Got any of those handy charts you can attach? I'm heading down to the coast this weekend and using my buddy's garage to get under the car. Gonna put it up on two of those drive up ramps for the bushings, and jacks for the struts. I'm getting that "drone" sound now too. I know it's that TSB bulliten on the matter. When the dealer smiles at you when you pull up, and drive away :whistles: , you know you're being messed with. Thanks amigo!

It's over at the dealership again. I basically told them that I didn't pay $600 last week to have the thing worse off than before. They're good guys over there though. They're installing my new weatherstriping around the doors for free, so I can't complain about that. Took the mechanic for a drive, he heard the noises and felt the vibrations I've got. Said he'll get to the bottom of it. In the mean time, I riding in a 04' ES330. Nice car, but not a fan of Toyota's new electronic throttle set up. It's got a serious lag in response time, and very very shift happy, in my opinion. Dude, you got me on the gas milage , I haven't a clue as to why I get that milage, and I don't want to know.

I basically read the LS forums simply because it's the car I have. I check out the detailing section every now and then. I really don't mess with the other models because I don't want to freak myself out over somthing braking on my car, that my car doesn't have. hahaha

Thanks Army, yeah I made sure to avoid the air suspension option. I had a neighbor years ago that had the air suspension on his Infiniti Q45, it put him in the poor house. I did the test last night, it doesn't really bounce up and down that much, but it's pretty soft, too soft if you ask me. The whole car leans too much when making simple turns and she fells like the SS Loveboat. Thankfully the shocks are about $50 a piece, which suprised me since everything else is so expensive. I'm wondering though if the dealer didn't mess something up last week when putting on the strut rods, because this has all happened since then. Yeah is squeeked a bit before, but now it's aweful. Oh well, I keep telling my self that it's a Lexus for the price of a Kia. FYI: I drove 850 miles last weekend, city & highway, on 32.5 gallons of gas. That's an average of 26 mpg. Now on a V8 engine! I love these cars. That's better than my old 2001 Maxima, or my 99' Subaru Outback.

The car has been at the dealer a few times for inspection, and they say the bushings are fine. I can't figure it out, got me stumped. It's raining this morning and that seems to really quiet the noise down a lot. It's something that needs a grease gun. You got me on black top vibration too, it's strange. Smooth as butter on everything else, but smooth blacktop, and it vibrates. I really think the shocks are worn out. The bumpy roads would have them constantly moving and keeping pressure, but the smooth surfaces would have them stationary for the most part, and would be more effected by the spinning of the wheels. Here is what I've had replaced already. Motor mounts, tranny mount, stabalizer bushings, rear carrier bushings, front strut rods, lower ball joints. The dealer swears the control arm bushings are fine, so it's a mystery to me. Drives me nuts though!

Thanks Army! Got one more question for ya' if you don't mind. The dealer swore the diff. bushings were fine. Said he would change them if I wanted, but they didn't need it. Of course that would have been $500 in labor, so I told him no. The rear carrier's fixed the vibration to a degree. The front strut rods smoothed out the bumps a bit. But I've still got the squek and bad vibration on smooth black top surfaces. The stabalizer bushings are new, ball joints "lower" are new, and you know the rest. All tires are dealer balanced as well as alignment. The car is all over the road in a cross wind, and you can push down on the front and hear is squek like crazy. It's coming from the point where the shocks connect to the control arms. Question: is it time at 10 years and 95k miles for new shocks on the black beauty? I think the ones on there are stock originals. Wouldn't that cause the car to vibrate like a wheel was out of balance on smooth surfaces, but not on concrete surfaces, and do it more at higher speeds? I can't really tell if the "boat" ride is Lexus designed, or the car is riding on the springs now. The front comes up when putting on the gas, and dives when braking. What do you think? I would LOVE to know what your mechanic did to get those diff. bushings out for only $50. All my guys say it's super labor intensive due to dropping out the drive shaft and differential all together to get them to come out. Thanks Amigo... PS, my girl said yes this past weekend, we're gettin' married, so I gotta get this fixed before my mad money turns into floral patterns. Hahahaha.

As some of you might know, I've been chasing around a vibration and the infamous squeky noise from the front when moving slowly, or hitting a dip / bump in the road. I have replaced the rear carrier bushings which reduced the vibration on acceleration tremendously. I have replaced the front strut rods, front lower ball joints and stabalizer bushings. But, I can't seem to shake that dang clunk noise in the front. Since having the strut rods put on last week it's gotten really really bad! It's coming from where the shock connects to the control arm and can easily be heard by pushing the car down while in park. I still have significant vibration when driving, but primarily on smooth blacktop roads. Concrete roads and no vibrations, smooth blacktop, vibrations, especially the fast you go. Now I'm a bit ignorant "but learning" since I've never really owned a car that made it to 95k miles. Are these miles high enough to wear out the stock shocks on these cars? Would worn out shocks create the vibration? The tires have been balanced perfectly from the dealer, and alignment is perfect too. Thanks!

i'm dealing with the same thing on my 95 with 95k miles on it. I've replaced the front strut rods and lower ball joints in hoping to kill that noise. Do you have vibration issues up front as well? For me, I'm thinking it's the shocks in general that are shot. The car feels more and more like a boat these days.