mwc0610

So NC, how hard was it to change out the left and right motor mounts? Damn, those things are expensive - $112 each. Any tips on how you do this. I figure just have to jack up the engine slightly. I just want to make sure I don't hurt/bend anything else in the process. Also can you tell me where the rack grommets are located and how easy they are to replace? Heck, I'm willing to spend money to have my baby back riding like brand new.

Sorry for the excitement and misprints below. I spent 45 minutes to fix the problem. The problem was the top metal plate of the transmission mount was sitting on top the bottom plate, causing the vibration, but the two rubber supports looked perfect to me and 3 other mechanics. Gosh, i sure hope this fixes your problem. Jack up your car, and hold it up with stands and then take your jack and slightly support the tranny, don't rise it, just support. Remove 4 nuts on the transmission mount, then remove 4 bolts on the plate that the mount connect to. This will leave the mount connected to the tranny. Remove the 4 bolts holding mount to transmission mount, and then install new one. Good Luck guys I agree 100%. The rebuilt driveshaft finally came. I will send it back. Although advertised on-line to fit a 1991 Lexus LS-400, the front drive shaft section was a different design and 2 1/2 inches shorter in the spline than mine. Not enough spline length to adequately join it to the other section and no locking nut like mine has to secure the spline to the other section. I don't know what car it came off of. The biggest disappointment was that it was not rebuilt as advertised. Under the fresh flat black paint was a rusted, apparently used U-Joint and center bearing. This for almost $500. I have never seen a rebuilt part come in in this shape. It was obviously pieced together from parts, somewhat cleaned and sprayed black. One other detail, it was phased wrong in the yokes and could not be corrected due to a keyed spline. Ordered one from Lexus today (ouch!). Elvis

ELVIS and Other, I finally had a breakthrough with my vibration issue. You gotta read this and you're going to flip if this works for you. MY CAR DRIVES LIKE A BRAND NEW ONE NOW... I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER. Here's what I did. I took my car to Lexus and ask them to diagnose the problem. They said I needed to replace all my mounts, even after 3 others told me that I didn't and by looking at the Transmission mount it looked perfect, BUT BUT BUT... That was the problem. Get this. I went and purchased the transmission mount for $42 from the dealer. It took me a total of $45 minutes to replace it and low and behold it was the culprit. Here's what's happen. Even though the mount looked perfect, it was collapse just enough for the top place to sit on top the bottom place, causing the vibration. The new mount has clearance between the top and bottom but you can't hardly see it. The mount looks perfect from the eye but it's the culprit. I was so freaking happy I took my car for 2 rides last night and had the wife get in the car to brag to her. I've been driving her crazy for the past 10 months. My car drives like new. Let me know if this fixes your problem. I sure hope it does. I'm not touching the other mounts right now. I agree 100%. The rebuilt driveshaft finally came. I will send it back. Although advertised on-line to fit a 1991 Lexus LS-400, the front drive shaft section was a different design and 2 1/2 inches shorter in the spline than mine. Not enough spline length to adequately join it to the other section and no locking nut like mine has to secure the spline to the other section. I don't know what car it came off of. The biggest disappointment was that it was not rebuilt as advertised. Under the fresh flat black paint was a rusted, apparently used U-Joint and center bearing. This for almost $500. I have never seen a rebuilt part come in in this shape. It was obviously pieced together from parts, somewhat cleaned and sprayed black. One other detail, it was phased wrong in the yokes and could not be corrected due to a keyed spline. Ordered one from Lexus today (ouch!). Elvis

Elvis, Can you tell me how you got around replacing the driveshaft and found another universal joint that would work in your lexus. I have a 95 Lexus ls400 with the same exact problem. I've been told everything except the driveshaft by other mechanics and they were all wrong. I can't afford to buy a $500 driveshaft but want to make sure I get the right universal joint to put on. Also you talk about changing the Driveshaft center bearing. I don't know a lot about driveshafts and would be very interested in where you found your parts to do instead of replacing the entire driveshaft. I pulled the drive shaft out today as well as the transmission mount. The driveshaft has a single u-joint in the middle near the center bearing. Mine is definitely bad. Should have caught it the first time. You can feel that it is grooved when its moved. Its very rough. Feels and sounds exactly like what I feel in the steering wheel and gas pedal. I have high hopes. I'll know in a few days. The u-joint is staked. No one lists a part number for it since they consider it not serviceable. Easy to get around though. Its a common u-joint. I’ll replace it with one that has the in-board cir-clips rather than staking a new one. The trans mount looks like its seen better days. Its not broken but the rubber is soft and flattened Will change it and the driveshaft center bearing. Elvis

The Cabin filter can be located right behind the glove compartment. There's a little piece of the glove compartment that can slide out and the filter is located in a small compartment behind it. Squeeze the tabs and the compartment cover comes off. The filter is in a holder and you just need to pull it down and slide it out. The filter is around $50 at dealer and is very easy to install. Make sure you install the filter in the holder correctly. There's a air flow arrow on the side of the new filter. I did this yesterday in my LS400. Hope it's the same for you.

Just became the new owner of a 95 Lexus LS400 and it has got to be the smoothest ride I've ever felt. I can't even believe this car is almost 9 years old. Thanks to everyone here for all the information you posted. It help me make my final decision. I do have a question for the team here. I need to replace the gas struts that support the hood and wondered where I could find dependable, but cheaper struts than from the dealer. I've seen the ones on ebay - True Lift, but was wondering about them. I plan to keep the car for many years so don't want to revisit this anytime soon, but know there's got to be cheaper ones out there. Also am thinking of looking at a salvage yard... any advice on this would be appreciated...