New Atlanta Member 2011 GX build beginning/ questions (1 Viewer)

[KyleXScore]

I wanted to say hi,
I just picked up my first lexus truck, Its a beater with 178k on the clock. I took it by a local atlanta shop for an inspection and was told it needed brakes which I knew, and it needed inner tie rods. I was also told a previous owner did a jacked up job on the rear axle seal that should be corrected. I work on motorcycles and have just started doing my own car work, I can do alot on my BMWs but I also have a new porsche that I dont even try to mess with. I'm hoping the lexus is more forgiving than my german cars.

Here is the rundown I was given
Front brakes - pads only $305
Rear brakes pads and rotors $480
Rear axle seal $385
Inner tie rod ends $984.27
Total $2154.27

KyleXscore's garage prices
Front brakes - pads and rotors $115 a set
Rear Brakes- pads and rotors set $140 ( already bought some R1 concepts)
Rear Axle Seals - ??? Ive never done them, is it hard? I have a hefty air impact wrench and plenty of tools
Inner and outer tie rods - Looks like its not hard? Ive never done them but shouldnt I do both inner and outer, It looks like they run about $25 each for inner and outer so 4 would be ablut $100. What about the steering rack? What else should I replace on a truck with 180k on the odometer while I'm in there?

Total = $725 or so if I pay to have the axle seal replaced $450 if I do it myself + price of an alignment

I also want to put a small lift, probably bilsteins , then some all terrain tires on it so it I can do light offroading / mud but still have a decent daily driver.


What should I try to do all at once?



Is the gx460 sport edition a real thing? what does it mean?

 

[r2m]

Congrats on your new (to you) rig and welcome to the forum!

The nice thing about your GX is you have a LOT more room to work when crawling under than the Porsche or Bimmer. And a lot more room for shopping, travel, friends, family, camping, whatever! One of the reasons of getting rid of my first Porsche was having a kid. Car seat wouldn't fit in the "2+2" configuration.
To address your primary questions, in consideration of your other vehicles, myself, I'd just have the shop do it all along with a major maintenance, meaning ALL fluids, filters, hoses, etc. Assuming if you can afford the German toys, you should be able to have a shop bring the GX up to par. This will set a base line for all future maintenance. We do this anytime we purchase a used vehicle.
After years of doing work myself on my own vehicles, considering what my time is worth ($$$) vs having a legit mechanic do the same work in a fraction of the time, I've relegated myself to fun stuff like tinkering and adding mods.

Don't discount the GX as a beater, unless it truly is trashed and abused. You'll still get more miles from that "beater" GX after the 178K (that's already on the clock) than you'll probably get out of the Porsche and BMW.
Also, you'll probably start enjoy being able to actually see several cars in front of you instead of always hugging one side of the lane or the other to see what's ahead. I know, I've had a Bimmer and a couple Porsche's in my stable before. The GX is just a pleasure to drive. Although, sometimes I do miss mountain road twisties in a little road hugging car.

 

[KyleXScore]

Congrats on your new (to you) rig and welcome to the forum!

The nice thing about your GX is you have a LOT more room to work when crawling under than the Porsche or Bimmer. And a lot more room for shopping, travel, friends, family, camping, whatever! One of the reasons of getting rid of my first Porsche was having a kid. Car seat wouldn't fit in the "2+2" configuration.
To address your primary questions, in consideration of your other vehicles, myself, I'd just have the shop do it all along with a major maintenance, meaning ALL fluids, filters, hoses, etc. Assuming if you can afford the German toys, you should be able to have a shop bring the GX up to par. This will set a base line for all future maintenance. We do this anytime we purchase a used vehicle.
After years of doing work myself on my own vehicles, considering what my time is worth ($$$) vs having a legit mechanic do the same work in a fraction of the time, I've relegated myself to fun stuff like tinkering and adding mods.

Don't discount the GX as a beater, unless it truly is trashed and abused. You'll still get more miles from that "beater" GX after the 178K (that's already on the clock) than you'll probably get out of the Porsche and BMW.
Also, you'll probably start enjoy being able to actually see several cars in front of you instead of always hugging one side of the lane or the other to see what's ahead. I know, I've had a Bimmer and a couple Porsche's in my stable before. The GX is just a pleasure to drive. Although, sometimes I do miss mountain road twisties in a little road hugging car.

Thanks R2m,
I actually enjoy doing easier stuff like brakes etc. plus I know they are done right. I'm not sure about the rear seal. I recently had a wrangler and an old h3 i used to go 4wheeling ( light wheeling) in uwarrhie and brown mountain up in NC. The H3 was crap and the wrangler is a beast offroad but it was constantly broke down until my kid totalled it. The wrangler had to die so the Gx could be born! This truck will be used off road for my wife, she is building glamping cabins in rural Ga, right now we have a kubota trv1140 to get out to the cabins but she likes to go in style so I told her she needs a lexus. I inherited an 08 es350 and ever since i tell anyone who listens that lexus is the best bang for your buck in "luxury" cars.

 

[185]

Congrats and welcome!

Whats the tire depth?

 

[WVU fan]

gx460 sport edition a real thing

No such animal although $10 will make it real. Congrats on the GX

 

[KyleXScore]

No such animal although $10 will make it real. Congrats on the GX

Thanks, I've never seen the badge before and wondered what it meant!