steve2006

Hi Graeme and welcome to the LOC. Nothing like getting to the top of the Lexus tree in one move. Did you manage to buy through Carwow who offer great cars at great prices 😀.

There are a few of us (Phil and myself included) who own JDM imports, Altezza models are around also. Suspension wise original parts are still listed but very expensive, I would look for a decent aftermarket set of coil overs. Wheels are standard Lexus fit, 5 stud 114.3 PCD 60.1 bore and 45 ET so plenty of choice around.

Lexus ES300 outside of Japan, the earlier Toyota Camry based model was launched alongside the LS400 in 1989. It was never available here in the UK until recently. Unique for a Lexus being FWD. Very rare now days even more so in the UK. Let’s see some pictures please.

I replaced mine many years ago with OEM Lexus parts, you could move the old swivels around with light finger pressure but the new ones required gripping them between the thumb and finger to get them to move in the socket. As others have suggested let them “bed in” for a while before investigating further. If you still have doubts after here are the OEM ones.

Cheers Paul, I was pretty sure I had seen that picture somewhere showing the bolts ( but only 6 copper washers). The place I bought the kit from now say that the bolts don’t always get supplied but they are happy to send me 4 FOC, just hope they are stainless steel. I also ordered a replacement 10mm brake pipe spanner from an ebay seller but received instead a 1/4” socket! but to be fair they were very apologetic and now sending the correct spanner. Oh well after 26 years service I don’t think another few days will be an issue and it gives me time to decide where all those BF Goodridge stickers can go.........not.

Did my routine service maintenance the other week which included the replacement of the front brake pads, the old pads although only half worn produced so much dust and groaned when applied at low speed like when gently edging up to the garage end wall. I noticed that the flexible brake hoses were finally showing signs of cracking ( Advisory once during an MOT back in 2006 along with “Front Discs Scored” which are still on the car and neither mentioned since). I have purchased a set of BF Goodridge stainless steel replacements for just under £100.00 rather than OEM Lexus or Rockauto offerings. They are custom made and have a “Lifetime Warranty” The description did say the kit includes “all bolts and washers” but there are no bolts in the box, I assume these should be the banjo to calliper bolts so I have messaged the vendor. Unfortunately I need to cut the grass today so hope the present weather holds out for another spell of DIY.

We have both had our first AZ jabs with no side effects other than an increased desire to get off to Rhodes for 3 weeks 😀

They look similar, weird seeing the engine being chain driven earlier models were belt and direct cog drive on the cams.

Does the pedal feel like it is pulsing up and down under your foot when it makes the noise?

Hi Ronan and welcome to the LOC. Good choice of Lexus model, I’ve heard road taxes are very high over there? Only been to Dublin once for a break, stayed in a nice hotel on the outskirts but the Dublin Bus Pass got us around nicely. Also took the train around the bay which we enjoyed.

Picture below shows the pipework involved, sounds like a pipe off or broken inside the bonnet.

Yep, had my first dose and pre-booked for the second at the end of May. By this time hopefully travel restrictions will have been eased and we can arrange something.

No idea what you mean Brian, all UK roads are well maintained due to all the money we pay to keep them like that 😀

Genuine UCAs are around £400.00 each with LBJs at £100.00. Amayama prices are around 75% of this including shipping and VAT. Rockauto have UCAs from £15.00 and LBJs from £12.00 plus Shipping plus VAT if you want aftermarket offerings.

Thanks Marcis for coming back with the update, all information is valuable and may help other members.

Hello Gordon and welcome to the LOC UK. Nice choice of Lexus model, what did you have last time?

The loom may be there ( even on my 1994 LS the loom and plug are under the rear seat for the recline and massage option) but I would imagine the cost of the conversion would be expensive. There is a “Luxury” version that has for example a different wiper stalk ( maybe a additional position for rain sensing) then the sensor itself. There have been issues with replacement windscreens resulting in sensor problems too. It sounds like a lot of money and work for the convenience of not turning the stalk when it begins to rain. One thing I did discover is that the wiper has an inbuilt defrost system, I assume this is to stop the wiper blade sticking to the glass....a replacement relay alone is £68.00.

Now you see it , now you don’t. This car appears for sale occasionally then disappears for some years before re-emerging, last MOT expired in 2018 so been stood probably since then. Looking through the history it appears not to have been cared for in it’s later life with failures for binding brakes because no one looked at the slider pins. Also mentioned in underbody rust so body and chassis probably on the way out. Perhaps the owner took my advice from the 2012 thread when I suggested putting it away as a pension fund investment and is now trying to make a profit although a misfiring engine won’t help. It looks more like It now needs to go immediately. Having been unloved for years, with a wrecked interior and other issues I’ll pass.

I once ordered something on “Wish” purchased the item then they offered a “Free gift”. The gift was free but the shipping was £9.99! Managed to get the whole order cancelled and refunded. Just be careful or you’ll wish you had.

You won’t know for sure until you pull the trim but it does sound seized, there are no external moving pieces/ linkages as it is all contained within the motor drive unit. You could strip the drive unit down or as a start remove the arm off the spindle and dose the shaft with WD40. New ones are listed around £200.00 so a good used replacement would be the option if all else fails.

I can’t find anything like them, perhaps contact the seller and ask them?

You need some of these to go with your drink, possibly the only time you’ll get 50% extra from Lexus 😀

Here’s Rockauto’s offering, even adding in the shipping and prepaid VAT it works out less for a pair than one from Lexus. This is for a pair! Personally I would give them a good coat of Hammerite paint before fitting them.

Shortly after buying mine I replaced the headlights with HIDs. Not a problem with MOT and just the occasional flash from oncoming traffic but main beam were still standard bulbs so useless. I decided to go back to conventional so refitted the original bulbs I had carefully stored...they still work perfectly after 26 years. The only thing I have found is that even decent quality aftermarket LED side lights (wedge type) never seem to fit very well in the socket, I have one now that is intermittent. With the amount and types of available bulbs it does get confusing particularly when the latin names are used, there’s nothing like getting a “Pick and Mix” selection when it comes to a Lexus Giganticus.

My Celsior is now suffering from the dreaded Rover 800 curly dash problem, it started on the passenger side but has now continued to the driver’s side. Unfortunately it peels away and lifts right where the windscreen is so getting access to it means a dash out job and some very strong adhesive.