lx_and_ls

I had two whining noises on my '95 LS400. It was rather easy to find the culprit using a mechanic's stethoscope.

• A high-pitched squealing noise from an alternator belt idler pulley bearing. You can try to pry the cover off the bearing and repack it. The plastic seals can be re-inserted. I used a dentist-type tool.
  
• More of a whining noise from the power steering pump. Although I was very skeptical I decided to give the Lucas Power Steering Stop Leak (and Squeal) a try. See e.g. here. It worked perfectly and solved all squealing. I just emptied half of the reservoir and filled it back up with Lucas PSSL.
  

Hello Everyone,

I have recently purchased a Tactrix Openport 2.0 cable that I'm using with Toyota's Techstream software for diagnostics. Most of the communication seems to work with my '02 LS430, but I can not customize settings. The same result on my '00 LX470. The active tests don't seem to work either.

There is some discussion on forums about using the beta drivers to get things working, but I was unable to get the customizations to work. I contacted Tactrix, but their support consists of an email suggestion I do some Google searches and visit forums.

Anyone else experience the same problem? Any solutions? Should I return the $160 cable and get the $69.90 Mongoose knock-off? http://www.uobd2.com/wholesale/mini-vci-for-toyota-tis-techstream-v500028-1888.html

Thanks!

I would like to get a blank Lexus wallet-type key cut in the Greater Toronto Area. I have been unsuccesful in locating a local locksmith that can cut these types of keys. Lexus doesn't want to tell me where they have their keys cut.

Does anyone know of a locksmith in the GTA that I can have my key cut? Thanks.

Wow I'm impressed by that picture of the '96. Mine is exactly the same color, but there are a lot of stone chips on the front grill (especially down low). My previous '91 had that as well.

Did you re-paint the bumper at some time? Or are the streets just a lot cleaner in your area?

I have to say that I find it humorous that some people still think that a 240-290 horsepower Lexus LS should not be used to tow a trailer. You guys should drive around the U.K. and Europe - as I have done - and see LS400's and LS430's (and BMW and Mercedes sedans) towing campers and other sorts of trailers.

I couldn't agree more. I've lived in Europe for most of my live, and a lot smaller cars than the LS are used to tow trailers. The LS was even elected as 'camper towing vehicle of the year' in the 90's in the Netherlands. A lot of contractors also use regular sedans (or Chrysler minivans) to tow their trailers.

I have a hitch on my LS as well. Mostly use it for my bike carrier. However now and then I also tow a trailer. I havn't felt uncomfortable/unsafe with loads of around 1500 lbs.

After replacing the carrier bushings i found movement in my outer bush of the lower control arm which i also replaced with adus bush's. I had to get a wheel alignment done and was told the new bush's put the rear wheel alignment out about 15%. The car now drives much tighter. Don't know where adus are made, i gather they wholesale to business only.

I just put the carrier bushings in. If it hadn't been for the cup-shaped ball joint extractor, I would have never gotten those bushings out. They were rusted pretty badly (Canadian winters, eh). The rubber was almost completely gone. I'll have a look at the outer bushings as well. I havn't driven the car yet to see if there is an improvement.

I have two comments/questions:

- The 136 ft.lb of torque seems excessive for the little tubes in the Adus bushings. I think I was just crushing them, so I torque'd to about 100 ft.lb. The tubes are thinner than the original Lexus tubes.

- It looks like the the Adus bushings are made in a garage. I could have easily made these for $0.50 if I had know the dimensions. The polyurethane wasn't even degassed. I wrote down the dimensions for the rear bushings. Does anyone have the other dimensions?

www.foreignautosalvage.com. Not in Canada but you can order ADUS bushes in days from these people.

Thanks. I ordered my parts here. Very friendly people, and fast response to my email.

I did a search on ADUS but was unable to find the manufacturer's website. Are these Japanese import?

I just replaced the rear upper control arm of my '95 LS with 217,000 km because of excessive play in the ball joint. While doing this I noticed that the rear axle carrier arm bushings are totally gone. I'm planning to replace them as per: http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/suspension/rcabushings.html

I called my dealer in Toronto area, but they don't seem to carry these aftermarket kits. Does anyone know where I can buy these locally?

Thanks!

The rims may look thick but the flange surface should be about the same thickness for an oem stud.

The newer studs came with my 15mm spacer and fit perfectly.

Where in Canada are you?

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Thanks for that info. The OEM rim wheel nuts fit inside the rim (shank type). The other rims I have, have a bevel and use different wheel nuts. Therefor the engagement will be less, even if the studs stick out the same amount.

I live just North of Toronto.

Buy a H&R spacer kit

It comes with new studs and a hubcentric spacer for $150 .

I just installed mine last night to clear my front brake calipers as well.

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That's was my backup plan. But if I can find some studs I can save at least $100. $150 is getting close to the price of new steel rims. Did you pay CDN$150? Where did you buy them?

How long are the studs that came with the spacer kit? Reason for asking is that my rims are quite thick and I'm wondering if the studs will be long enough.

I have some aftermarket rims from my previous LS (a 1991) that I want to put on my 1995 LS for the winter. They have brand new Dunlop snow tires. However, it seems that the front caliper become larger sometime between '91 and '95.

I'm planning to machine some 10 mm hub-centric spacers (I have a lathe at home). However, I can't find any longer wheel studs. I need 14.3 mm knurl, 55 to 60 mm thread. Any suggestions where I can buy these (preferably in Canada)?

Thanks.

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95 LS400

00 LX470

I forgot to mention. I got 260,000 kms with air suspension on European roads without a single problem. Unfortunetly I had to sell the car because I moved to North-America. Otherwise I would still be driving it. I bought it at 210,000 km, and it still looked new.

I owned a '91 LS400 with air suspension in the Netherlands. During periods of moderate frost the suspension was very noisy. Maybe the bellows around the strut?