shaky 97 es 300

meohmy · Lexus Owner Joined: Jun 03, 2005 Posts: 3

Just got it 1 month ago. Has 76,000 on it. Clean inside and out. Engine runs like new. BUT the staring wheel starts shaking at 70mph and the front end feels unstable at hiway speeds. So far had all 4 tires balanced, laser 4 wheel alingment, brake inspection, front end inspection. Balancing the tires made the shaking be a little less, so did the alingment, but there still is noticable shaking at hiway speeds. Brakes checked out as being 'perfect'. Struts are not leaking. Mechanic recommended that I change out the cheap S rated tires that came with the car, and I agree, but does that sound like it will solve the shaking, or mabey something else is causing it?

bk4ju25 · Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:25 am Post subject:

tires-maybe.....

ask a mechanic to check your engine mounts.

jsin · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:36 am Post subject:

did u change the rims recently, or bang a pothole, curb, etc. latley? but i would try hubcentric rings, that may help...

jsin · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:44 am Post subject:

::scratchs head:: bent rim, cracked rim umm

bk4ju25 · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 5:10 am Post subject:

warped tire...it's in the tire/rim area most likely.

meohmy · Lexus Owner Joined: Jun 03, 2005 Posts: 3

just happened to be peeking under the hood today and i noticed that when i closed the hood that it locks and closes but it doesn't shut all the way tight, like there's about a quater inch of play when the hood is shut so if i pull up on the grill there's allot of play. this must be causing havoc on the cars stability at 70+ mph. gonna get that fixed then look into tires and suspension more if it doesen't cure prob.

still luv the lexo thou specially seeing my last ride was a 99 mirage.

jsin · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 5:56 am Post subject:

i doubt it , but could be...

redzeppelin · Lexus Owner Joined: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 8

I never had a problem with shakiness in my 97 es, until i changed the brake pads that the local car shop told me were oem. What the problem might be is that after awhile the pads have a tendancy to stick in the caliper, during highway driving or anything above 100mph(in my case) it causes shakiness and also pulling to the right, I bought new tires, installed new pads that I bought from a lexus dealer and now it rides smooth as silk, even topping out at 140.

meohmy · Lexus Owner Joined: Jun 03, 2005 Posts: 3

I checked the hood while driving at hiway speeds and there is no movement there so that's probally not it. But then looking more under the hood I see that the engine is braced with mini shocks, cool but i've never seen that before and the entire radiator housing was loose so i tightened it. Also last week the ES sprang an exhaust leek. Took it to Monroe muffler and was quoted $1,000 to fix, they wanted to replace the entire exhaust, cat and all. So I took it to at small muffler shop and got the exhaust link that leads from the engine to the rest of the exaust replaced for $140. now it's running much smoother. But still not as smooth as silk.