Scott Gordon

Need advice and recomendation I have a 1998 sc300 it appears I need calipers and a rotor on rear driver side. the garage recommends replacing both sides even though only one side is bad. Also the calipers come with new brake pads and cost $234 each is this a good price? They are after market and was told were a top brand. the rotors on the other hand are either $200 each for Werner or $50 for a cheap china brand. My questions should I replace both sides now or only the one side which is bad? if I can replace only one side whats the down side to that such as will the car pull to one side or another f I apply break? if I go with cheap drums I was told they may squeek, one machanic said they would not as I was putting on calipers with good break pads. whats been your experence? can you recommend a good caliper and drum manufactor? thanks

Mercedes Benz is the car equivelent to the house in the movie "the money pit". The MB I owned was the worst car for number and cost of repairs I've ever owned nothing even close.

I guess I know where I am shopping for parts next time. Awesome service! So here is the hopefully end of my shocking story. Tirerack sent me a replacement shock the next day, no charge, and also paid me $94.00 on my credit card for the instillation of the replacement shock!! how manty companies would do that (the good ones) So I hope the KYB will last as long as my use of tirerack. What started out as a report on a shock ended telling about a company that stands behind their product and customer.way to be tirerack.

I was commenting on the high price of lexus parts and service. I agree let the market place set the price, and just goes to show there are a lot of folks with a lot of disposable income out there. I shop online and seem to save quite a bit.

Follow up on KYB GR2 shocks one of the shocks is leaking I* do not know if it is defective or if installer did not "stroke" shock prior to installation as instructions call for and which I pointed out to installer. The purpose of this entry is to speak (so far) highly of the "Tirerack" first I contacted kyb about this matter, they informed me to go back to where I purchase the shocks from which was the Tirerack. So I called the rack and custermer service could not have been more helpful. they will ship me a replacement no charge and ups will pick up the defective part. Also they will review my reciept for the cost of reinstalling the shock and see if they can work something out! This is why I mentioned in my initial post the reason I went with the Tirerack over other sellers who were a little bit cheaper. I have been using the rack for years with nothing but positive results ie. professional knowlegable service, lower prices, and speedy delivery, and now forthe first time, so far, trouble free delivery.

Now I do know better then to go to a lexus dealer for parts but I had to visit one to see what they charge for the wood trim that is located around my shifter on my 1993 gs300 as this thin veneer is cracking,and starting to chip Well are you ready for this $640.00 and that is not including installation. We all had a good laugh over this one. Anybody have any cheaper fixes? I was thinking maybe gold or jade LOL.

Jeremyp if you are still out there and can post the Supra part numbers that would help me out a lot. I have a quote from the Lexus dealer for 1900.00 to replace my control arms on a 1994 SC 400...also I have hear the 96 Supra control arms are better than the 94. Can anyone confirm this? Chasman This sounds like the most cost effective less risky option. If your not going to put the bushings in yourself the labor cost will be close to the new part price. Never ever go to lexus for parts if you can avoid it. way to costly.

Good for you. As you can see this is a good site with lots of great information. PS buy your neighbor a good bottle of wine,along with a thank you note.

On my 1993 GS300 I used McGreror scratchX and a buffer on my hand drill. I mask off with tape the sheetmetal paint around the lense. The car has 170,000 miles and is not garaged The lenses were like black holes no light could escape( relatively speaking ) and in less then three minutes each they are clear, not quite like new but very good for being almost 14 years old. I applied wax over the lenses because someone said it was a good idea. So based on what I 've read it seems like most any abrasive will work but start with the least abrasive and go from there. if you gotto cook them in the oven to get to clean the inside, well what do you have to loose

Just some shocking feedback, I have a 1998 sc300 use it as my daily drive and enjoy the somewhat sporty ride it offers. I was not looking to get into coil overs with their adjustability and ride lowering capability and $$$. I just wanted to replace the original shocks that had gone south witha shock of their equal or some what stiffer ride. I found out through prior posts and through checking the internet that their were three choices monroe, kyb, and tokico. I did not persue monroe since there were no comments that were positive (actually only one comment was found and it was negative). I guess no one uses monroe on Lexus. Someone mentioned that the Tokico blues were set at about the equalivelent to the three adjustment of their coil overs strut another comment by a poster mentioned that you would not want to ride for long distances on the three or above setting and stated that even the one setting on the tokico coilover was still somewhat stiffer then the factory installed shock. On another website three or four folks mentioned that the kyb were poor quality still others panned the tokico as to harsh. \ I decided to persue the kyb since I came to understand they provided the original equipment for the SC. Their website located some installers I asked them what they charged per kyb uninstalled they refered me to their distributor. He said that he would charge my garage $147 a shock. forgetaboutit I surfed the net and found many mail order places mostly on the west coast Calf. Washington. who would sell me the shocks for about $65.00 each and free shipping. I had used the tirerack in the past their price was $70 per shock and $50.00 per for the strut mounts. plus $21 for shipping. I payed a bit more and went with the tirerack because of my prior past positive purchases. I had the shocks and mounts the next day! UPS as they were shipped from their Delaware location to my PA. address. Oh the tirerack tech I spoke to said the KYB GR2 were about 10% stiffer then the original equipment. I took my first ride with the KYB and what a diffence they made just about what I was looking for nice confortable ride with a little butt shake from the road and real nice cornering for the buck! Now only time will tell if they hold up.KYB gurantees their shocks for the time you own your car. one last comment I could not find any web site that did any type of comparison, evaluation or review of shocks so its pretty much word of mouth and a best guess, Now I wonder what my ride would be like if I had went with the tokico's LOL, maybe next time.

you never know with ebay i bough 4 2006 gs stock wheels for $450 but one was a bit bent (not disclosed) dealer sells them for 499 each they look great on sc300 do homework before buying both ebay and wheel information need studing.

forgetaboutit

1993 gs300 156,000miles

Hi I have four of those Lexus wheels in chrome on my 1998 sc 300 they are 16" wheels. i am in the process of replacing them as I boughtnew rims I couls sell you one cheap say $50.00. plus shipping if you like. the only problem is the wheels I bought must fit my ride otherwise I will stay with the crome. I bought a set of four 2006 gs300 ten spoke rims which ebay guy says will work on my car. I will be geting them checked out today. Scott

OK those folks that said it was the starter are correct. And I watched the mechanic get to the starter bolts via a 3 foot extension on a 45% or so angle from under neath the carfrom the back of the engine!! You gotta have the tools and the know how to use them. cost installed $210.00 thanks for all your ideas

I would agree to go CPO for a 3 year old car because you have so much money invested in the decision. you may save $10,000 but you are still paying for a gs, ls, sc, in the low to high thirties. On the other hand since they do not have CPOs for much older cars say one 10 years old you are left with private sellers or used car dealers, in which case I take my chances with the private seller. From a style and ride comparing a 10 yr old lexus with low miles and in good shape, to a three year old CPO of the same model, the newer car's improvements in ride, speed, confort,and any other real or precieved improvemens economically speaking are in the context of a $20,000 to 30,000 saving infavor of the private selller over the CPO. Three examples of this view. Four years ago I purchased a 1993gs300 with 80,000mi for $10,000 the car has 158,000 miles on it now and I have spent next to nothing on repairs. For example I changed all fluids, replaced brakes, made oil changes etc. which I view as maintenance applicable to all vehicals. I have also replaced a front driver side control arm, and had the driver side window frame seperate (I fixed with autodouble sided tape). So in 4 plus years I spent $15. 00 for the window frame and $300 for the control arm replacement. I could have spent $30,000 on a newer lexus but for what a .10 sec. faster in the quarter mile. I also bought a 1998 sc300 with 48,000 mi. for $13,000, with all the bells and whistles it retailed for $48,000. one year and 60,000 mi.on the od later other then front brakes I have not paid anything in repairs in 12,000 mi. saving over new $35,000. and over CPO $20,000 there is a dark side to buying old Now the first time I purchased an older car I wanted to own a mercedes so I bought a 93 Mercedes 300e. . It cost me $15,000 it had 82,000 miles on it, it has 168,000 now and has cost me on average $2,500 in repairs in each of the 5 years I've owned it, and the tranny's shot. in this case I don't believe there was a cost savings from buying new and certainly no savings over CPO that is assuming the MB CPO aren't a piece of crap. So if money is the driving force and not the model year go older lexus and in general go Japanese over german and you can really save.

I learned that if you replace a battery in a new model (1998?) it takes the computer between 5 to 10 repetitions of turning the ignition off and on with the key,once the car starts it will everytime thereafter. the initial episode was caused by a dead battery.

thanks for your thoughts I'll get a rebuilt alternator at a local place that rebuilds them, put one in my 1993 gs300 two years ago for $150.00 and no problem.but symptoms are a bit diffrent here so I'll wait and see what my mechanic finds out its just to cold now for me to be messing with this outdoors as my garage is being replaced. Man I hate the winters in the northeast

Here is the problem about three weeks ago I went to start the car as I turned the ignition it clicked once but did not turn over at all. I tried it again and the car started and ran the rest of the day no problem. Later that night after the car had sat for a few hours I went to start it and again it clicked once but would not crank. I turned all accessaries on lights bright beam, radio, windshield washer blades, all interior lights and turned on the ignition again it clickedonce and all accessaries continued to function perfectly no light dimming occured, music did not miss a beat, the wiper blades kept moving etc. So I put a charge on the battery, which was 2yr 6 months old, and the next day the car started fine. It ran for about a week no problem then after a cold night that morning (today) it would not start same problem after turning on the ignition it would click once but the car would not turn over again all accessories worked. I put another charge on the battery but this time the car would not turnover. So I pulled the battery and took it to Sears and they check it out and told me it will not take a charge? so I buy a new diehard battery for the car, the correct one (it was fresh manufactored 12/05) I put it in and guess what the same exact problem all accessories work but the car will not turn over just the one click. I have no oil running over the alternator, I rocked car in gear ( auto transmission) it does not do any good like moving it off a flat spot in the alternator and I do not get that click,click,click you know the machine gun clicking you would expect to here when you turn over a car but it does not start. Could it be a starter ? is there a fuse or some other thing like a sensor Has anyone had this problem? any ideas ? I notice that when I turn on the ignition and all the idiot light come on then what remaines on is the check engine, battery and , oil light. The car has fresh oil filled appropratly to top of dipstick mark. Any ideas suggestion would be appreciated Thanks Scott

The stupid years it was 1970 I clocked 135mph (it took some time to get it to speed) in a 1970 240Z somewhere in colorado I was young and stupid, state cop pulled me over I opened my door reached to get my wallet from my back pocket .The poor cop though I was going for a gun and pulled his I screamed its my wallet, we were both rattled he let me go no ticket. another time same car driving down I95 in mass. got into a race with a guy in a big old deville he was driving insane in and out and around cars at well over 100mph I was crazy but not insane so I reached at 100mph as soon as traffic got in the way I sloowed down. the old wish I were young years Now I have a 1998 sc300 which I have for brief periods gotten to plus 100MPH on many ocassions once on I95 at PA NJ border I was in the middle of a dozen or so Nissan s2000 on a ralley we all were doing over 100MPH i looked down at 110mph. I have to say the s2000's sounded great like a formula 1 open wheel race lol

Thanks guys for getting back to me Jzz your information was excellent now I gotta come up with the bucks.

I have a 1998 sc300 and I am thinking of getting new wheels. I went to tirerack which seems to have a great selection and I noticed a big range of prices. Since I know zip about this subject I was wondering if anyone could explain what the diffrences are between a cheap and expensive wheels? What should you to look for what should you avoid and why? For safety is there a standard all wheels must meet? Do some types leak air more then others are there cast and forged wheels (like golf clubs). Are some more durable Sort of a wheels 101 for the uneducated. Is there a good web site to explaine this subject? thanks Scott

I got a 1998 sc300 for $13500 had dealer check it out and car fax it had 48000miles on odometer. carfax said no accidents but paint job and low milage spoke to contrary. none the less I bought it since it was cheap and 10000miles later no problems knock on wood. Your price sems fair market check intelli choice , kellys blue book and edmonds for price list also go to library and look at the nada book whicj=h is what dealers use to set prices.

.I had the same problem turned out to be clogged drain holes in the sunroof. here is how to fix get a plastic straw as it fits perfectly into the holes located front right and left corners. incert straw just a little now get weed wacker cord which is thick and feed it through the straw (the straw acts to strighten weed wacker cord) so it can feed through the drain tube althe way to the bottom of the car and it will clean it out. Here is what not to do, do not use compressed air to blow tube clear as it may dislodge the drain tube which then requires taking out the roof liner etc.

Hi I am interested I have a 1998 sc300 would they fit my ride ? I live around philladelphia PA do you know hat shipping would cost? thanks scott