| Author |
Message |
Aaron Mead
Goo Roo
NT
Celsior 1UZ-FE Mines, JZZ30 1.5JZ-GTE To4z
Posts: 2457
Reg: 03-2006
|
Well,
Did a ring around today to see if I can get my car looked at, three of the five dont want to know about airbag model LS400's from Japan, the other two sound a bit clueless and cant do anything until late next week.
So, how do I go about working out what needs replacing? Handy with a spanner, I am. Own air tools, I do. 
Basically, front end is rattly as hell. Wheel alignment seems to be impossible to hold, steering wheel is all over the place. Feels like Jelly up front.
Airbags seem okay though. Course I wouldnt know otherwise.
Suggestions? I spoke to Andrew Vlamos today and he's getting me some prices on bushes.
Been searching Japan Yahoo for some newer UCF21 front airbags too as per Rich O'Neil; do these need modifying apart from fitting the proper air fittings from the old bags?
All help appreciated. |
Andrew Duaso
TryHard
Victoria
V8
Posts: 317
Reg: 02-2009
|
Everyone will say bushes
but you shocks will be rooted
I had the same thing in the soarer. I have some new bushes but with the big wheels on it wAs horrible the kickback and steering shake etc...
Anyway brandnew airstruts and it awesome no rattle or kickback
Do NOT go to pedders
I got a suspension test recntly cos I wanted to see what they'd say
they reckon everything in the car is •••• and the only thing that dosent need replacing is the thing I think does!!!
Also they reckon some recently fitted bushes are very old and worn.
My real suspension place I go to was almost in tears lol
even my steering rack they reckon is shot. Funny that as I had all new mounts and it checked out perfect lol |
Mark Tierney
TryHard
NSW
Soarer GTT, Celsior, Ducati
Posts: 287
Reg: 09-2005
|
Hey Aaron,
I did the front of my Celsior with Vlamos bushes & recently also changed to coilovers (see earlier post). Car handles a million times better, subsequently stopping the float & rattles.
New airbags will be nice but costly. The Vlamos bushes are great ( little expensive) & the coilovers, as a cheaper option to the airbag replacement, have been a winner. Car sits lower & handles like a dream.
In my search for the coilover solution I found most places dont have a clue what they are talking about with Celsior suspension options. The couple that I did speak to in Aust want you to pay through the teeth. |
Peter Nitschke
Junk Filterer
South Australia
UZZ30 UZZ31
Posts: 10869
Reg: 11-2004
|
Some Pedders are good, some are bad, it all depends on the operator.
Aaron, what are your ball joints like? |
Aaron Mead
Goo Roo
NT
Celsior 1UZ-FE Mines, JZZ30 1.5JZ-GTE To4z
Posts: 2458
Reg: 03-2006
|
How do I check? The car has 181,000kms, it rattles over light bumps. |
Peter Nitschke
Junk Filterer
South Australia
UZZ30 UZZ31
Posts: 10871
Reg: 11-2004
|
No idea, but I think it's been covered before. Ball joints are replaceable on Celsiors, and I know of one owner that was pretty pleased when he replaced his. The car still floated like a hovercraft, but that's a different story. |
Mark Tierney
TryHard
NSW
Soarer GTT, Celsior, Ducati
Posts: 288
Reg: 09-2005
|
Set jack under the lower control arm and raise enough so that the tyre is just off the ground. Check for play in the tyre...move back and forth side to side, then try the same movement top and bottom. You'll feel straight away if there is any play & if so the ball joint is faulty. |
Aaron Mead
Goo Roo
NT
Celsior 1UZ-FE Mines, JZZ30 1.5JZ-GTE To4z
Posts: 2459
Reg: 03-2006
|
That, I can do. |
Mark Tierney
TryHard
NSW
Soarer GTT, Celsior, Ducati
Posts: 289
Reg: 09-2005
|
http://www.rockauto.com
load database, Lexus/LS400/year/suspension/ball joint
They have them for 1990 model, not sure what year you are after. Cheap as chips |
Mark Tierney
TryHard
NSW
Soarer GTT, Celsior, Ducati
Posts: 290
Reg: 09-2005
|
Have a look at this 2nd YouTube episode on LS400's (credits to Matthew Sharpe for pointing it out, nice one mate). Overviews checking front end ball joints & bushes. This should do the trick in getting your front end sorted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzMYT22PBeE&feature=related |
Aaron Mead
Goo Roo
NT
Celsior 1UZ-FE Mines, JZZ30 1.5JZ-GTE To4z
Posts: 2460
Reg: 03-2006
|
Cheers Mark, I bought some 4 pot calipers from rock auto last year, good guys.
That video is exactly what I needed (well the prybar in the control arms part) cheers! |
Rich O'neil
TryHard
Queensland
90 Celsior
Posts: 492
Reg: 05-2006
|
Aaron do you know if any work has been done on the front suspension and what is the mileage of your Cel?
If nothing has been replaced then it's a long list .
Lower ball joints , control arm bushes , upper control arm ball joint and bushes , rack bushes , rack rod ends and steering arm ball joints along with the big radius rod bushes and the last but not least is the sway bar bushes .
Problem is that they all work in conjunction , for instance if the sway bar bushes are shot then everything else has to work a bit harder to make up for it .
I would certainly get the rack bushes done as the rack tends to move back and forth in the bushes if they are old which then cuts out the shaft input seal and you have a leak .
That reminds me that you will also need to do the steering dampener .
I have done that to mine and a few others Celsiors and the difference is amazing .
Take in mind that somewhere in all that you will also need to replace the engine mounts and the rear G/Box mount as well if they haven't already been done . |
Mark Tierney
TryHard
NSW
Soarer GTT, Celsior, Ducati
Posts: 291
Reg: 09-2005
|
Great mate. On a different note, how do you find the 4pots? |
Aaron Mead
Goo Roo
NT
Celsior 1UZ-FE Mines, JZZ30 1.5JZ-GTE To4z
Posts: 2461
Reg: 03-2006
|
Mark: The 4 pots are totally fine, the difference is of course chalk and cheese over the factory slide calipers: which I had serviced previously, and with new pads and machined rotors, so the comparison is quite fair: No doubt there are heaps of people who upgrade from 2 pot slides in 15-20 year old condition, to new 4 pots and brand new rotors and fluid, and susequently say "oh wow, thats so much better!!"
Rich: I have an 89 model with 180,000 on the clock. I pretty much assumed that all of the above will need attention, so yeah, break out the credit card, toyolex, here I come
Regarding upper control arms, do they come with the two bushings included? I.E. Assuming the ball joint is stuffed, do you purchase the genuine control arm only as it will come with bushes, or do you have to also order the two bushes per arm?
I will have to inspect the ball joint(s) first to see if needs the whole arm replaced, or just the bushings, in which case I'll get a set of VFT bushes only. Assuming the ball joint is rooted though, can that part be fixed? or is that what dictates a new control arm purchase (notice that artnotts are pretty cheap....) |
Rich O'neil
TryHard
Queensland
90 Celsior
Posts: 493
Reg: 05-2006
|
As far as I'm aware no one does the upper control arm bushes on their own and not Lexus either .
Not to mention [ although I'm going to !!] that the ball joint cannot be replaced as it's a rolled/crimped in unit and why would you bother when you can have two brand new arms in your hands from Arnotts for Aus $500.00
I have had the Arnotts arms in for over a year now and they are still great , the only way to go as the arms come as a pair so you can just swap them straight in AND the bushes are Heime bushes like the originals not just some rubber/urethane thing squished in !!
As you would be aware going genuine with Toyolex is still cheaper than Valmos and I personally prefer to stick with genuine.
As a note also you are probably due for wheel bearings as well , save on freight and get them at the same time , just don't go over the $1000.00 mark or you will cop some import duty !! |
Aaron Mead
Goo Roo
NT
Celsior 1UZ-FE Mines, JZZ30 1.5JZ-GTE To4z
Posts: 2462
Reg: 03-2006
|
Sweet, thanks for that!! |
Aaron Mead
Goo Roo
NT
Celsior 1UZ-FE Mines, JZZ30 1.5JZ-GTE To4z
Posts: 2463
Reg: 03-2006
|
Actually, one more thing: I have the 4 pot conversion on my car, and it hits the rack nut at full lock: are the ball joints from toyolex part number 43340-59036 (Left Hand) to suit 95-97 model celsiors the correct part to let the calipers operate at full lock?
I remember you posting something about this in the celsior topic, but I cant find it! |
Rich O'neil
TryHard
Queensland
90 Celsior
Posts: 494
Reg: 05-2006
|
Don't actually know the exact part number just get the 95 to 00 ball joints . |
Aaron Mead
Goo Roo
NT
Celsior 1UZ-FE Mines, JZZ30 1.5JZ-GTE To4z
Posts: 2464
Reg: 03-2006
|
Done |
Mark Tierney
TryHard
NSW
Soarer GTT, Celsior, Ducati
Posts: 295
Reg: 09-2005
|
Thanks mate, the upgrade is underway |
Mark Tierney
TryHard
NSW
Soarer GTT, Celsior, Ducati
Posts: 297
Reg: 09-2005
|
Ahh Aaron, just found your post on the Celsior brakes. Great info mate. |
Aaron Mead
Goo Roo
NT
Celsior 1UZ-FE Mines, JZZ30 1.5JZ-GTE To4z
Posts: 2478
Reg: 03-2006
|
Ahhh, gold old LexLS to the rescue:
celsior ls400 suspension repair guide how to remove control arm
http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/suspension/ |
Aaron Mead
Goo Roo
NT
Celsior 1UZ-FE Mines, JZZ30 1.5JZ-GTE To4z
Posts: 2497
Reg: 03-2006
|
Hey Rich:
When you mention 'rack rod ends' do you mean outer tie rods, like these>
????? |
Aaron Mead
Goo Roo
NT
Celsior 1UZ-FE Mines, JZZ30 1.5JZ-GTE To4z
Posts: 2498
Reg: 03-2006
|
wait, I think you mean the part that screws into those pictured- the pictures are the outer tie rods.
When you say rack rods, do you mean inner tie rods perhaps, like this:
|
Aaron Mead
Goo Roo
NT
Celsior 1UZ-FE Mines, JZZ30 1.5JZ-GTE To4z
Posts: 2499
Reg: 03-2006
|
And while im at it, what is a steering arm ball joint? I thought the outer tie-rod connected to the lower ball joint that connects to teh lower control arm?
Yeah, i don't know much about suspension.....does it show?  |
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