Wednesday, August 17, 2005 - 07:11 pm, by: Roger Costello
Hi
This is a thread to see if there are enough potential deposit placing customers to justify a run of VFT suspension bushes for 89-93 Celsior/LS400's. Andrew had nearly finished the tooling for this but with not one customer in the US putting up a deposit he pulled the pin on going further. Let them wibble around in their cars, I want a full set. Is there any one else interested in some, any or all of the required rubber and are you interested enough that if he gave us prices you would send him a deposit? The UZZ32 rear bush interest was enough to justify doing a run of 25. Are there that many Celsior/LS400 owners out there who care about their shagged rubber? If we get to 10 I will ask Andrew to work out a price and estimate how long, if we got to 20 sets the prices might end up comparable to the Soarer parts. Sorry for harping on about this but we already have the technology we just need the will to make it happen.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005 - 08:30 pm, by: Ken Bruns
Roger, this could be of some interest to me, but my technical knowledge is limited and I depend on others largely. What are these bushes and at what milage am I likely to need them and what are the current options? Currently my Celsior seems to be going great but I am interested in this as I see this car as being part of a 5 year plan,...so who knows. It would seem that I am catching up with one P.Scott next week and I shall press him somewhat on this issue also.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005 - 09:09 pm, by: Roger Costello
Ken
When released the Celsior was one of the best riding and handling sedans ever made. The rubber components of the suspension start to deteriorate after about 6 to 10 years/60 to 100 thousand Kms. The Celsior has very different rubber bushes to a Soarer, softer and larger. The front upper A arms usually go first and then it all turns to custard. The bits from Lexus/Toyota to renew everything cost more than half the value of the whole vehicle so that option sucks. There are dodgy after-market parts and a few genuine Toyota bushes. Andrew went through the exercise of making the tooling and molds some time ago for the factory bits you can't buy. This was non trivial and done for the American LS400 market because lots of punters there claimed they wanted the parts. Given most of the work is already done it seems a waste not to make a batch and restore our antipodean underpinnings. I will get some guestimates of the individual components prices but would really recommend doing the lot in one go if at all possible.
Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 12:23 pm, by: Peter Scott
Yes the bushes are an excellent idea.
There are disadvantages to polyurethane for sure, squeaking and terrible terrible terrible noise, vibration and harshness. The installation and wheel alignment costs are the same for both bushes. Save a few bucks on the plastic bushes perhaps, but the labour costs are the same and then after the the sweetness of a few bucks has gone the bitterness of the ride, noise and harshness remains.
Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 05:52 pm, by: Perry Morgan
I had newish urethanes on my 32 and had tramlining which I put down to my offset being 38mm. When I put Andrews bushes in the tramlining went and the cars has a lot less road noise.
Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 09:47 pm, by: Roger Costello
Ok,
It seems we have enough interest to justify a run of Celsior/LS400 bushes. Prices according to Andrew Vlamos will be close to those of the equivalent Soarer bushes. On a Celsior the Front Upper A Arm Bushes are usually the first to go. These will cost approximately $300 a set.
Do we want to have all of the other different bushes required made at the same time or as with the Soarer, make them in the order they most often fail aver the next few months?
If everyone who has expressed an interest could say if they want the front upper A Arm Bushes at $300 for the set and if they are interested in the other bushes at similar prices Andrew can get organised.
If you decide to order you will need to send a deposit to VFT bushes to secure a set from the initial run. If we go ahead with this I will hand the process over to Andrew Vlamos, he will organise the deposits directly and advise on the production time.
Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 09:56 pm, by: Brett Cashmore
I am keen for a set of uppers @ $300. I also think we should do them in batches but open to others ideas. Having said that, noting we only have two lower bushes I would expect these to be fairly well priced so may be worth getting at the same time. This may save installation costs to fit all the bushed at the same time. Might be worth seeing what Andrew can do the uppers and lowers as a package for.....
Thursday, September 08, 2005 - 10:14 pm, by: Tim Norton(Nort01)
Hi,
I am new to this board, from the US, and I don't want my '96 LS400 to "wibble" around. I recently picked up my low mileage (54k miles) Lexus and I am looking into control arm bushing replacements. I am very interested in this group buy if it applies to my car. I received an email from Andrew with a link to this discussion, so I am hoping it might apply. Also, Andrew is looking into whether or not the bushings will fit my '96. He also indicated that the uppers were not ready. If anyone has information regarding fit and/or availability I would be grateful.
Thanks ... and count me as very interested (did I say that already?)
Friday, September 09, 2005 - 02:03 am, by: Roger Costello(Roger)
Tim, I will try and find out which bits are compatible with a 96, it would help if you could post the full chassis number etc. of your car and we can do some proper cross checking. Thanks
Brett, I hope to have a price on the front uppers and lowers soon. After that Andrew will probably start a thread in the VFT section for people to register for the group buy etc. Most likely we will do the front bushes first and then the rears. I will also try and produce a list of engine and transmission mount part numbers along with roll bar rubbers and other available Toyota bushes.
Saturday, September 10, 2005 - 05:36 am, by: Andrew Vlamos(Vlam)
Hi all,
I will honour the original quote I gave Roger and keep the Celsior/LS400 front upper bushes at $300.00 per set plus shipping $10.00 even though there has been some movement in price. I will require payment 50% deposit and payment of the balance when the bushes have been completed and are ready for shipping which will take about 3-4 weeks.
For those wanting to place an order please confirm your order by email to; vlamos@bigpond.net.au
I will compile a list and when I have the final numbers I will forward you all my banking details requesting the deposit so we can get started with the bill of materials & production.
Just in case we miss anyone I will also post the list on SC ALSC before we go into production.
Sunday, September 11, 2005 - 07:25 am, by: Brett Cashmore(Celsior_dude)
Roger I look forward to your list of part numbers, also thanks for organising this group buy. Andrew Email sent, also keen on a price for the front lowers.
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