LS430 Front Shock Absorber - Sourcing new or used

jenkiadr · February 29, 2020

I have had my 2005 LS430 for a year now and it's proving to be a great car. One issue is that it needs a new front left shock absorber (air suspension). Does anyone know where I can get a new or good quality used OEM part? Lexus quoted me £1,065 including VAT for a new one with 1.2 hours labour on top! The car has done 94,000 miles and is in very good condition, so definitely want to go OEM and don't want to switch to coil springs. Any help and advice would be gratefully received.

LexusPartsDirect · February 29, 2020

@jenkiadr we supply genuine Lexus parts at discounted prices, all parts delivered to your door. We can supply you with this part for only £852.36 + £5.99 for delivery. Please see a link to the product below. If you have any questions or need any more information at all just let us know.

https://www.lexuspartsdirect.co.uk/parts/lexus-ls/lexus-ls-phase-iii-2001-2006/lexus-ls-3-steering-suspension/lexus-ls430-n-s-rear-shock-absorber/

cruisermark · February 29, 2020

Lee he is looking for a front strut not rear

The-Acre · February 29, 2020

I would contact lexussparesdirect via eBay and get a decent used one. A pity this wasn't three weeks ago as I sold a good one for £95. The front struts fit either side whereas the rears are handed.

steve2006 · March 1, 2020

Amayama price but bear in mind possible customs and VAT on top.

steve2006 · March 1, 2020

Interestingly there is an optional “Rough Road” spring available for the conventional LS430 rears, I assume given the UK road conditions these are fitted as standard here!

Malc · March 1, 2020

2 hours ago, steve2006 said:

Amayama price but bear in mind possible customs and VAT on top.

my first rate personal experience with purchases from Amayama are simply to look to the basic purchase price just about doubling when landed in the UK with carriage, VAT and Customs Duty and local handling charges here in the UK

My UCAs were brilliant Toyota branded OEM products and even when landed, delivered to me in the UK worked out about 50% of the local Lexus / Toyota store price after all costs above

Malc

jenkiadr · March 1, 2020

Thank you all for the replies and yes I need a front shock absorber (air suspension). Will try Lexus Spares Direct via eBay.

Does anyone have any experience with Nippon Auto Spares in Derby?

The-Acre · March 1, 2020

1 hour ago, jenkiadr said:

Thank you all for the replies and yes I need a front shock absorber (air suspension). Will try Lexus Spares Direct via eBay.

Does anyone have any experience with Nippon Auto Spares in Derby?

I've not had any personal experience with them. Sadly no one produced an aftermarket air strut until Arnott which I now have on mine, so competition for new parts is very small. Replacing the fronts is very easy and can be done within an hour or less.

steve2006 · March 2, 2020

12 hours ago, jenkiadr said:

Thank you all for the replies and yes I need a front shock absorber (air suspension). Will try Lexus Spares Direct via eBay.

Does anyone have any experience with Nippon Auto Spares in Derby?

Yes I have.

I once needed to replace my front UCA due to ball joint failure, the choices were a brand new OEM one from Lexus priced at £521.00 or an after market one of dubious quality for around £60.00.

I was just looking at the usual eBay offerings and found a brand new OEM one for £130.00 from Nippon Auto Spares....I couldn’t have pressed that Buy it Now button any quicker!

Part arrived the next day and was exactly as described, brand new Toyota part in bag.

Very lucky as never seen another since but as for the company worth a look.

Looks like they have some in stock.

https://www.nipponautospares.com/stocklist

steve2006 · March 2, 2020

Here’s another option, unfortunately there is no price quoted.

https://www.arnotteurope.com/products/lexus/ls430-xf30-chassis/xf30-chassis/2003/as-2894-arnott-new-front-air-strut-lexus-ls430-xf30-00-06.html

steve2006 · March 2, 2020

I am now looking into the possibilities of obtaining repair/rebuild parts for these air struts but would like to get my hands on a faulty/scrap unit for examination and tear down to see what is involved.

The separate units are available but need to source the dust covers also.

If anyone has such a unit they are willing to donate I would be grateful.

I am also contacting SGS Engineering, who many members will know supply the replacement bonnet struts, to see if they could provide a repair service.

jenkiadr · March 2, 2020

17 hours ago, The-Acre said:

I've not had any personal experience with them. Sadly no one produced an aftermarket air strut until Arnott which I now have on mine, so competition for new parts is very small. Replacing the fronts is very easy and can be done within an hour or less.

Phil - thank you and how have you found the Arnott strut works once installed?

jenkiadr · March 2, 2020

6 hours ago, steve2006 said:

I am now looking into the possibilities of obtaining repair/rebuild parts for these air struts but would like to get my hands on a faulty/scrap unit for examination and tear down to see what is involved.

The separate units are available but need to source the dust covers also.

If anyone has such a unit they are willing to donate I would be grateful.

I am also contacting SGS Engineering, who many members will know supply the replacement bonnet struts, to see if they could provide a repair service.

Steve, thank you for your advice and I'd be happy to donate my old one for this purpose. Adrian

steve2006 · March 2, 2020

6 minutes ago, jenkiadr said:

Steve, thank you for your advice and I'd be happy to donate my old one for this purpose. Adrian

Cheers Adrian,

No rush just let me know when you are ready and I’ll arrange courier collection from you.

The-Acre · March 2, 2020

1 hour ago, jenkiadr said:

Phil - thank you and how have you found the Arnott strut works once installed?

As far as the ride goes I can't say it feels any different to the originals. The fronts at the moment are around £380 each plus vat and shipping, for some reason the rears are over £500 each.

jenkiadr · March 2, 2020

Will do Steve - may be a month or so before I get it done. Adrian

jenkiadr · March 2, 2020

HI Phil, really good to know and I may go down that route as it's a significant saving over OEM and would ideally like to put a new one on and plan to keep the car for a while. Did you replace both or just one?

Will also look at US prices as have a business trip coming up in a few weeks and could bring back in my luggage potentially.

The-Acre · March 2, 2020

35 minutes ago, jenkiadr said:

HI Phil, really good to know and I may go down that route as it's a significant saving over OEM and would ideally like to put a new one on and plan to keep the car for a while. Did you replace both or just one?

Will also look at US prices as have a business trip coming up in a few weeks and could bring back in my luggage potentially.

I replaced all four. I decided just to bite the bullet and be done with it. The total with shipping and vat came to £2,400. I fitted them myself so that saved a bit, there's nothing very complicated involved. I wouldn't be happy with one new Arnott, I'd want to change them as a pair.

jenkiadr · March 2, 2020

58 minutes ago, The-Acre said:

I replaced all four. I decided just to bite the bullet and be done with it. The total with shipping and vat came to £2,400. I fitted them myself so that saved a bit, there's nothing very complicated involved. I wouldn't be happy with one new Arnott, I'd want to change them as a pair.

Hi Phil, Good to know. Thank you. Adrian

jenkiadr · March 16, 2020

On 3/2/2020 at 3:28 PM, steve2006 said:

Cheers Adrian,

No rush just let me know when you are ready and I’ll arrange courier collection from you.

Hi Steve,

I've had the air strut/ shock absorber replaced today with a second-hand part I bought from Nippon Auto Spares In Derby for £129.

The part is in very good condition and has transformed the driving experience. Turns out that the old strut had a worn bush at the bottom that allowed vertical movement of about 2cm, so was very skittish on uneven road surfaces and when pushed on that corner.

I've got the old strut in a box in the boot of the car, so just let me know when you'd like it to be picked up.

Regards,

Adrian

The-Acre · March 16, 2020

3 minutes ago, jenkiadr said:

Hi Steve,

I've had the air strut/ shock absorber replaced today with a second-hand part I bought from Nippon Auto Spares In Derby for £129.

The part is in very good condition and has transformed the driving experience. Turns out that the old strut had a worn bush at the bottom that allowed vertical movement of about 2cm, so was very skittish on uneven road surfaces and when pushed on that corner.

I've got the old strut in a box in the boot of the car, so just let me know when you'd like it to be picked up.

Regards,

Adrian

Just out of interest, can I ask what you were charged for the fitting?

jenkiadr · March 16, 2020

2 minutes ago, The-Acre said:

Just out of interest, can I ask what you were charged for the fitting?

Hi Phil,

2.2 hours at £70 an hour plus VAT, so significantly less than Lexus Reading's £180 per hour or whatever they're charging now.

Up until recently we've always had German cars and we have an excellent German specialist locally whom the local BMW and Merc dealerships send their cars to when they can't fix them!

Although they're not terribly familiar with Lexus, the guys are proper mechanics and so made a tool to lever out the old air strut!

The-Acre · March 16, 2020

22 minutes ago, jenkiadr said:

Hi Phil,

2.2 hours at £70 an hour plus VAT, so significantly less than Lexus Reading's £180 per hour or whatever they're charging now.

Up until recently we've always had German cars and we have an excellent German specialist locally whom the local BMW and Merc dealerships send their cars to when they can't fix them!

Although they're not terribly familiar with Lexus, the guys are proper mechanics and so made a tool to lever out the old air strut!

A shame you're not near me, I'd have done it for you. Still, good to have it done. Was it drivers side or passenger? The drivers side is a little tight when removing the airline.