SQOD Squad - Stupid Question Of the Day (7 Viewers)

[GOLIGHTLY]

when your labor rate is $160/hour why does a dealer feel the need to charge 3-4x the number of actual hours on a repair?

Not Chicago, and not a dealer, but had a place in The Woodlands, TX (Rooster Ridge Car Care -- avoid) quote me 8hrs of labor at $195! an hour for an upper ball joint, saying that "Lexus has the job booked at 8 hours"... 90% sure that's probably not accurate, and just s***ty practice by a shop.

Pardon the digression, but saw $160/hr and thought "at least thats a little more reasonable" lol. Needless to say, an Oreillys rental tool and an hour or so with a breaker bar and we're good.

 

[m12345y]

I feel the LX steering wheel is super, or overly, responsive to road imperfections, especially on highways. I can feel the steering wheel forced slightly left and right whereas my VW/MercI wont respond as such, in both cases they do still drive straight. Is that normal?

 

[TeCKis300]

I feel the LX steering wheel is super, or overly, responsive to road imperfections, especially on highways. I can feel the steering wheel forced slightly left and right whereas my VW/MercI wont respond as such, in both cases they do still drive straight. Is that normal?

Are you on factory wheels and tires? I suspect an aftermarket wheel and tire package. What tire size and wheel offset are you running?

 

[trudd]

Needed to honk at a dumb driver - horn isn’t working.

Is there any reason it wouldn’t be the clock spring? Horn was working two days ago, and wasn’t working yesterday. Only variable is that we’ve had some big rain between then and now.

• I have no history of leaking cowl or sunroof drains. I found no moisture in the cabin air filter / recirc flap. Sunroof drains seem fine
• Can get the horn to work sometimes when turning the wheel while driving
• Security horn works, even when steering wheel horn doesn’t.
• Cruise control works, steering wheel buttons work (and pretty sure they light up)
• No airbag lights

I see 84306-48030 on Partsouq @ $105. Good price for OEM. Before pulling the trigger, is there anything else to consider?

I’ve done this replacement on my ‘07 Tundra. Anything special to know about a 2010 200?

 

[radman]

I feel the LX steering wheel is super, or overly, responsive to road imperfections, especially on highways. I can feel the steering wheel forced slightly left and right whereas my VW/MercI wont respond as such, in both cases they do still drive straight. Is that normal?

Did she have an alignment recently?

 

[m12345y]

Did she have an alignment recently?

Alignment was done by dealer in Sep '23, based on myLexus service history (before i bought it); since then I've replaced with (balanced and mounted) rock warriors + 285/70/R17 back country A/T2.

The truck is not shaking, and it's not like persistently shaking, just when there are road imperfections, I will feel the steering wheel pulling slightly but surely left and right.

 

[bryson]

Alignment was done by dealer in Sep '23, based on myLexus service history (before i bought it); since then I've replaced with (balanced and mounted) rock warriors + 285/70/R17 back country A/T2.

The truck is not shaking, and it's not like persistently shaking, just when there are road imperfections, I will feel the steering wheel pulling slightly but surely left and right.

What air pressure is in your tires? Those symptoms could be from over-inflated tires.

 

[m12345y]

What air pressure is in your tires? Those symptoms could be from over-inflated tires.

it's P rated tires that comes with the rock warrirors; I have them at 38psi (spec max at 44psi I think), and goes up to 42psi when hot and when I happen to check.

 

[brian az]

it's P rated tires that comes with the rock warrirors; I have them at 38psi (spec max at 44psi I think), and goes up to 42psi when hot and when I happen to check.

If you do the fancy RCTIP calculation you’ll get some crazy low recommended pressure, like 26 or 28. Try dropping the pressure to 33, which I think is the pressure recommended on the door sticker. There’s a good argument that you should use the higher of the RCTIP or the door sticker.

Also, tire pressure drama is one of my favorite pastimes. Can’t wait to see how this plays out.

 

[Heckraiser]

I agree 38 sounds high for a p-rated tire.

 

[m12345y]

but then wouldn't I have the same issue with E rated tires at 38+ psi again?

 

[brian az]

but then wouldn't I have the same issue with E rated tires at 38+ psi again?

Yeah probably, but that’s the compromise that is often made with E rated tires. They’re stronger and that can affect the ride quality

 

[bloc]

but then wouldn't I have the same issue with E rated tires at 38+ psi again?

Not necessarily. Much more internal friction in an E-load tire and that can have a big impact on tire dynamics.

 

[TeCKis300]

it's P rated tires that comes with the rock warrirors; I have them at 38psi (spec max at 44psi I think), and goes up to 42psi when hot and when I happen to check.

Gotcha. That fitment should be pretty solid. I do agree with others that the tire pressures are a bit high.

What else do you have modified? Lift, possibly contributing to bump steer?

More minor potential contributors if pressure doesn't resolve it
- Alignment to @radman s point can have an influence on bump steer
- Rock Warrior +50 offset was optimal for pre-2016s with factory offset of +60, and accomodating that size tire. Later 2016+ went to a +56 offset, probably due to a minor geometry tweaks. So +50 would be a tad high at this tire size, but this should be in the noise
- Lift?

I could be a stackup of all the contributors including tire pressure causing your symptoms but should be resolvable.

 

[Qwaarjet]

Anyone have the part number for the AHC access panel that by the rear passenger wheel for the LX570? It's missing which is strange, I did open it up months ago before bolting it back closed. Not sure why it would now suddenly be missing months later.....

 

[m12345y]

Gotcha. That fitment should be pretty solid. I do agree with others that the tire pressures are a bit high.

What else do you have modified? Lift, possibly contributing to bump steer?

More minor potential contributors if pressure doesn't resolve it
- Alignment to @radman s point can have an influence on bump steer
- Rock Warrior +50 offset was optimal for pre-2016s with factory offset of +60, and accomodating that size tire. Later 2016+ went to a +56 offset, probably due to a minor geometry tweaks. So +50 would be a tad high at this tire size, but this should be in the noise
- Lift?

I could be a stackup of all the contributors including tire pressure causing your symptoms but should be resolvable.

2018 LX at ~80k miles with no mods and lifts (yet); just replaced with RW wheels, no spacer added (nor required).

"Aired down" the tires yesterday and had a short drive around; it definitely improved but still can feel it at lower speed (<25mph). I guess that's probably normal. Will continue to watch out. Thank you all for the inputs. I'm glad as it doesn't seem to indicate a big problem based on all your replies.

 

[bloc]

Anyone have the part number for the AHC access panel that by the rear passenger wheel for the LX570? It's missing which is strange, I did open it up months ago before bolting it back closed. Not sure why it would now suddenly be missing months later.....

View attachment 3556690

What year? They're probably the same but maybe not worth assuming.

(if you put your model year in your signature it'll help in the future)

 

[Qwaarjet]

Ah sorry, it's a 2018

 

[bloc]

Ah sorry, it's a 2018

Looks like...

Flap 77278-60020
Screw 90105-06321

 

[Qwaarjet]

Looks like...

Flap 77278-60020
Screw 90105-06321

Thanks man, parts ordered